Social and Behavioural
Explore Social and Behavioural
Investigating the Darker Side of AI and Its Impact on Human Relationships
Scientists are developing increasingly sophisticated systems designed to replicate human interaction, ranging from chatbots to robots that offer companionship to humans. While AI systems are useful, they also have a darker side that we do not fully grasp yet. Anne Zimmerman, Joel Janhonen, and Emily Beer recently explored the ethical implications of developing machines with increasingly human-like characteristics and deploying them in human-AI relationships.
Dr. Jill Ordynans | How Collaborative Critical Reflection Amongst Teachers is a Powerful Tool for Creating Change
The pandemic was a stressful time for both students and teachers, leading to a worldwide call for improving how education is conceptualized and carried out in schools. As a result, there is a need for more supportive and effective teacher development approaches, as the voice of teachers is vital in deciding how to move forward. In a recent study, Dr. Jill Ordynans of Touro University and colleagues investigated how critical reflection can be incorporated in collaborative teaching communities. These communities have been offered as a humanizing way to support teachers in improving education.
Dr Richard Gunton | A Pluralistic Evaluation Framework that Responds to the Complex Challenges We Face
Societies across the world are facing complex sustainability challenges. We are changing the climate, over-consuming resources, and failing to appreciate the connections between water, energy, and food systems. However, well-meaning policy responses can often produce unintended consequences and controversy, because important factors are overlooked. Many existing evaluation methods focus on accountability and whether a policy has achieved stated objectives. This does not address whether the outcomes have delivered real benefits in the eyes of all stakeholders. There is an urgent need for a more inclusive tool to shape and evaluate policies.
Professor Deborah Bleviss | Why a Long-admired Brazilian Public Transport System is More Relevant Than Ever
The Brazilian city of Curitiba became famous in the 1980s for its environmental strategies and public transportation system, introduced by three-time mayor, Jaime Lerner. Many leaders from around the world travelled to Curitiba to observe and try to copy what the city had accomplished. In recent years, however, with the political scandals, economic malaise and social problems that have dogged Brazil, some now question whether Curitiba remains a relevant model. In a recent paper, Professor Deborah Bleviss explains why the city’s experiences remain relevant today.
Professor Anup Basu | Exploring Gender Inequality in Aging Couples’ Financial Management
Among couples, gender inequality in financial decision-making remains prevalent, with men traditionally having more control over household finances. This issue is further complicated as couples age. Old age is associated with cognitive difficulties, resulting in a reduced capacity to make financial decisions. Professor Anup Basu at Queensland University of Technology studies the intersection of age, financial decision-making and gender. In a recent study, Professor Basu and colleagues examined how older married individuals delegate financial decision-making tasks to their spouses.
Dr. Matthew Sherrer | The Infinite Game: Changing an Adversarial Mindset in Anesthesia and Beyond
Anesthesia in the US is commonly delivered by physician anesthesiologists who medically direct certified registered nurse anesthetists in a collaborative care team model. However, in over 20 states, there is no requirement for nurse anesthetists to be medically directed, allowing them to work independently. This has resulted in a bitter turf war over the rights and responsibilities of physicians and advanced practice nurses, leading to a toxic working environment. This mindset can be compared with a ‘finite game’, where there are clear winners and losers. Unfortunately, the patient is the ultimate loser.
Dr. Ze (Mia) Zhu | The Promise of Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions in Organizational Settings
The emotional state and job performance of an employee can greatly fluctuate over minutes, hours and days. Towards supporting employee wellbeing and maximizing productivity, Dr. Ze (Mia) Zhu at the University of Nebraska Omaha and her colleagues at George Mason University recently explored the potential of Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions – or JITAIs. JITAIs encourage positive change in organizations, by intervening at the right moment and in the right context.
Dr Claudia Manzi – Dr Eleonora Crapolicchio | How Companies Can Retain Young Workers
Younger workers will have a far higher number of jobs throughout their careers, compared to previous generations. Accordingly, they display lower organisational commitment than the baby boomer generation. It is thus more important than ever for companies to understand how to attract and retain talent. The person-organisation fit theory is often used to assess the relationship between an organisation and its employees. It measures the compatibility between workers and organizations in terms of needs, values, interests, and behaviour, taking into consideration the company’s culture, mission, and strategy.
Dr Thomas Molony – Dr Robert Macdonald | How do Citizens View Election Observers in Zambia, The Gambia and Kenya?
Across the world, citizen and international election observers have been deployed to watch over polls, to improve electoral quality and transparency. Their presence is designed to reduce problems such as election-day fraud, voter suppression, and political violence. In African countries, observers have been commonly deployed since the 1990s. However, during recent elections across the continent, their role has been questioned. Some feel that their methods are flawed, while others have accused them of bias. Nevertheless, it is not clear how widespread these views are, as citizens’ perspectives are often missing from debate.
Dorothy Goulah-Pabst | Navigating Suicide Loss: A Survivor Study
Those left behind after the suicide of a loved one often experience complex grief that can involve feelings of self-blame, abandonment and rejection. The stigma surrounding suicide can also underly rejection by their community, further increasing the psychological burden that survivors face. Understanding the challenges of suicide loss survivors, and identifying the most effective ways to support them, is important in helping survivors to heal and move forward with their lives. Towards this aim, Dorothy Goulah-Pabst from California State University Northridge conducted a study to learn more about the experiences of suicide loss survivors.
Professor Mark Pickup | Cultivating Canadian National Identity to Reduce Trump’s Influence on Social Norms
Many researchers today are dedicated to the discovery of new medicines. Over the past few decades, their tireless efforts have culminated in a database of around 100 million known drug molecules. This value may already sound vast, but by current estimates, the true number of small drug-like molecules could actually range anywhere between 1023 – already more than the number of grains of sand on Earth – and 1060 – comparable to the number of atoms in an entire galaxy. With existing approaches, researchers ultimately need to test the medical potential of these molecules individually, taking up vast amounts of time and computing power.
Jostein Mattingsdal | Understanding How Police and Military Cooperate in a Time of Hybrid Warfare
Hybrid warfare refers to military strategies that blend conventional warfare with practices such as insurgency, terrorism, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns. This has blurred the lines between wartime and peace in an unprecedented way. As a consequence, decision-makers in both the police force and the military are required to cooperate and accommodate each other’s differences. This makes it difficult for police and military commanders to identify the strategic context in which they are operating. Many experts are now asking the question: Are existing security concepts compatible with the challenges of today’s hybrid warfare?
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