Science; SAT (Educational test); Education; Social research
In this presentation Dr. Atkinson discusses his experience to convert country’s most widely used admissions examination, the SAT 1, to a more advanced test, the SAT 2. Dr. Atkinson was seeking a new test for college admission because he was...
Social sciences Research; Science and society; Education; Public policy; Social research
In this presentation, Halpern emphasizes the importance of social science research to inform public policies. She emphasizes benefits of social science research such as improving quality of life, motivating learning, reducing crimes and many...
Science and society; Stem cells Research; Global warming; Science and religion; Evolution; Social research
Dr. Alan Leshner discusses the role of science and scientists in major social issues, such as religion, evolution, stem cell research, global warming, and political agendas. He suggests that it is important for scientists not only to educate the...
Social psychology; Conformity; Bandura, Albert, 1925-; Milgram, Stanley; Abu Ghraib Prison; Influence (Psychology); Persuasion (Psychology)
Social psychologist Philip Zimbardo offers an overview of the psychology of evil and his experience studying the phenomenon. Zimbardo defines evil as the exercise of power to do harm, and describes how good people can become evil. Zimbardo suggests...
Evaluation; Social sciences; South Africa; Malaysia
Dr. Ross Conner, President of the Board of the International Organization for Cooperation in Evaluation, in his Keynote Address discusses IOCE’s commitment to building a worldwide evaluation community. Dr. Conner gives a brief history and...
Social action; Personality; Social psychology; Collective behavior
In many ways, working alone and together, people often take action for the benefit of other people, their communities, and for society at large. For example, as individuals, they serve as volunteers and give to charities; and, as members of groups...
In this talk Dr June Tangney (George Mason University) will relate her findings regarding questions such as how do we reduce recidivism after release from prison and how do we discourage substance abuse and HIV risk behavior among one of the most...
Gambling; Casinos; Cost; Family; Pathological gambling; Social psychology; Behavior disorders in adolescence
Dr. Dean Gerstein discusses the socioeconomic impacts of commercial gaming such as casino, lottery, and Internet sectors. He reveals steady declines in other wagering businesses along this flourishing retail market and how gambling losses now...
Evaluation; Social sciences; Nonprofit organizations; Non-governmental organizations; Social problems; Psychology, Applied; Philanthropy
When we tackle important social problems, how do we know what will work? This question is central for government agencies, NGOs, business leaders, philanthropists, and universities. This panel opens a daylong workshop entitled "What Works?" ...
Evaluation; Social sciences; Nonprofit organizations; Non-governmental organizations; Social problems; Psychology, Applied; Philanthropy
When we tackle important social problems, how do we know what will work? This question is central for government agencies, NGOs, business leaders, philanthropists, and universities. This is the second panel discussion in the daylong workshop "What...
Religion; Frustration; Uncertainty; Panic; Anxiety; Psychology; Threat; Hate
Dr. Ian McGregor’s most recent research investigates personality and social psychological causes of religious extremism. Based on over a dozen laboratory experiments he has found that various psychological threats cause people to go to extremes....
Bullying in schools;Harassment in schools; Ethnic diversity;Social anxiety; Social psychology
Bullying or peer harassment is recognized as a substantial public health and educational problem in American schools. In this talk, Dr. Juvonen presents findings of collaborative research on bullying conducted primarily in Los Angeles area public...
The primary foci of Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky’s presentation are the cognitive and motivational processes that distinguish individuals who show exceptionally high and low levels of happiness. By exploring the levels and benefits of happiness, she...
Uncertainty; Globalization; Languages; Fundamentalism; Fear
Dr. Fathali M. Moghaddam states that collective uncertainty has a central role in terrorism as emanating from Islamic communities. To examine this, he developed a macro, cultural-evolutionary analysis of Islamic terrorism. Fractured globalization...
Psychology, Applied; Social sciences; Law Psychological aspects; Law and the social sciences; Recovered memory; Judicial error; False memories
Elizabeth Loftus, distinguished professor of the University of California at Irvine overviews her groundbreaking research on memory in the area of law for this symposium on applied psychology. Particularly, she focuses on research regarding the...
Social psychology; Social deviance; Uncertainty; Social exclusion; Morality; Loyalty
Dr. Dominic Abrams presents his research on the way people react to extreme, or 'deviant' members of their own and other groups. Group psychology has long established that deviants tend to be rejected within groups, but there are many times when...
Social psychology; Intergroup relations; Bigotry; Tolerance; Prejudice; Hate
Dr. Todd Pittinsky’s research investigates the social psychology of positive intergroup attitudes: the conditions under which they develop, and how they shape the ways people think, feel, and behave. He discusses the three forms of his research:...
Social psychology; Terrorism; Uncertainty; Threat; Leadership; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001; Counterterrorism
Arie Kruglansky presents his theoretical and empirical work on the need for assured knowledge and the central role it plays in human social behavior, on individual and group levels of analysis. The need for assured knowledge labeled more...
Social Psychology; Terrorism; Genocide; Uncertainty; Fear; Threat; Anxiety; Humiliation; Security
Dr. Staub explores the roots of altruism, the origins of violence including genocide and mass killing, as well as prevention, and psychological recovery and reconciliation. Dr. Staub discusses various conditions that can create uncertainty on...
Social Psychology; Uncertainty; Threat; Patriotism; Leadership; Authoritarianism; Security; Terrorism; Immigration
Dr. Merolla discusses how different types of threats can make individuals come to feel anxious, insecure, and uncertain about the world around them. There are many studies predicting that citizens may exert control over such uncontrollable...
