Blog Archives

Math teachers in virtual classes tend to view girls and Black students as less capable

Math teachers in virtual classes tend to view girls and Black students as less capable

In virtual classrooms, math teachers deem Black students as less capable than white students. They also view girls as less capable than boys. That’s what we found after we conducted an experiment with 1,000 teachers in schools throughout the United States. For our experiment, we had teachers evaluate student answers to various math problems. Those answers were […] … learn more→

The unexpected joys of collaborative writing

The unexpected joys of collaborative writing

There are solid lists and words of advice out there on what makes a collaboration successful or how to be a co-author. I’m not seeking to recreate or evaluate that sort of guidance here. Rather, I’d like to take a moment during this Academic Writing Month (AcWriMo) to acknowledge the joys of writing together. Partly because, when I reflect on […] … learn more→

Is your teen a night owl? Their sleep pattern could shape their brain and behaviour years later

Is your teen a night owl? Their sleep pattern could shape their brain and behaviour years later

It’s 11 pm on a weeknight and your teenager still has their bedroom light on. You want them to get enough sleep for school the next day, but it’s a struggle. Our new research shows what happens to the brains and behaviour of young teenagers, years after they’ve become “night owls”. We found this shift in sleep […] … learn more→

So, you’re new to research impact?

So, you’re new to research impact?

The impact that research generates in society is a hot topic internationally. It can be a complex topic and poses different challenges depending on whether you are a researcher, research professional, funder, or research user. Over the last year, the four authors of this article have settled into an informal community of practice, meeting roughly […] … learn more→

Do sports or video games make children happier?

Do sports or video games make children happier?

Research in developmental psychology has shown the importance of lifestyles in the health and well-being of children and adolescents, as well as their influence on later stages of the life cycle. In childhood and adolescence, the developmental benefits of sports and physical activity as a protective factor follow a dose-response relationship. At least one hour a […] … learn more→

Nobel prizes most often go to researchers who defy specialization – winners are creative thinkers who synthesize innovations from varied fields and even hobbies

Nobel prizes most often go to researchers who defy specialization – winners are creative thinkers who synthesize innovations from varied fields and even hobbies

Experts often recommend that people specialize in one field of work or research to maximize their chances of success. Yet our recently published research indicates that successful innovators take a broader path. We looked at the careers of Nobel Prize winners, who are arguably among the most innovative people in the world. We found that they are unusually likely to be […] … learn more→