The Institute for Social Research is home to a new center that brings together researchers from the biological, health, and social sciences to create research methods that effectively integrate biological and social science data. Richard Gonzalez, from ISR’s Research Center for Group Dynamics, serves as the center’s founding director.
Project: RCGD
U-M collaborative sparks integration of biological and social data
The BioSocial Methods Collaborative, based at the U-M Institute for Social Research, is funded in part by the U-M Office of the Provost. Partners include the U-M Life Sciences Institute and the U-M Medical School. “We aim to be a catalyst for new research methods that link the social and health sciences, and that will… Continue reading U-M collaborative sparks integration of biological and social data
Bad Boys: Research helps predict whether boys will grow out of it—or not
ANN ARBOR — Using the hi-tech tools of a new field called neurogenetics and a few simple questions for parents, a University of Michigan researcher is beginning to understand which boys are simply being boys and which may be headed for trouble. “When young children lie or cheat or steal, parents naturally wonder if they’ll… Continue reading Bad Boys: Research helps predict whether boys will grow out of it—or not
Manipulative and empathetic people both adept at reading emotions
ANN ARBOR—People shouldn’t assume that someone who can easily read their feelings always has their best interests at heart. Although good emotion-recognition skills might seem like concern and empathy, some people might use these skills to manipulate others, new University of Michigan research suggests. Both manipulative and empathetic people are equally capable of reading others’… Continue reading Manipulative and empathetic people both adept at reading emotions
Revolution in brain science demands Higgs Boson-type collaboration
ANN ARBOR—Social and life scientists from the University of Michigan and other universities are calling for a new model of cross-disciplinary collaboration to advance understanding of the human brain. Their paper, titled “Neuroscience meets population science: What is a representative brain?” appears this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The group’s collaboration… Continue reading Revolution in brain science demands Higgs Boson-type collaboration
EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Seminar series launches on causes and prevention of violence
EVENT: Seminar series launches on causes and prevention of violence DATE: Monday, September 9, 2013, 3:30 P.M. PLACE: U-M Central Campus, Institute for Social Research, 426 Thompson Street, Room 6050, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106-1248 Twitter Hashtag: #RCGDseminar DESCRIPTION: This seminar series on the causes and prevention of violence and aggression launches on Monday, September 9,… Continue reading EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Seminar series launches on causes and prevention of violence
Facebook use predicts declines in happiness, new study finds
ANN ARBOR — Facebook use predicts declines in subjective well-being instead of enhancing it, a University of Michigan study shows. The study is the first published research examining the influence of Facebook on how happy people are and how satisfied they are with their lives over time. It appears online in PLOS ONE. “On the… Continue reading Facebook use predicts declines in happiness, new study finds
Buying behavior can be swayed by cultural mindset
ANN ARBOR—There are some combinations that just go well together: Milk and cookies, eggs and bacon, pancakes and syrup. But new research reveals that people with individualistic mindsets differ from their collectivist counterparts in ascribing value to those perfect combinations. The collection of new studies, published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for… Continue reading Buying behavior can be swayed by cultural mindset
You’re so vain: Study explores links between social media and narcissism
ANN ARBOR—Facebook is a mirror and Twitter is a megaphone, according to a new University of Michigan study exploring how social media reflect and amplify the culture’s growing levels of narcissism. The study, published online in Computers in Human Behavior, was conducted by researchers Elliot Panek, Yioryos Nardis and Sara Konrath. “Among young adult college… Continue reading You’re so vain: Study explores links between social media and narcissism
Panapasa comments on negative health effects for Samoans of some high-fat imported foods
Sela Panapasa says inexpensive high-fat foods imported to the Republic of Samoa — for example, Spam, mutton flaps, and turkey tails — are the kinds of foods that have contributed to Samoa’s high rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. A 2007 ban on several such products, however, is being lifted to comply with WTO rules… Continue reading Panapasa comments on negative health effects for Samoans of some high-fat imported foods