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Everybody Is Stupid Except You

The truth about learning and memory.

Punishment
Wait, There’s Spinach in That?

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on April 18, 2016

I must kill her buzz whenever I feel like it because it is just simply my right. There’s a big-sister handbook and this rule is the title.

I must kill her buzz whenever I feel like it because it is just simply my right. There’s a big-sister handbook and this rule is the title.

ADHD
The Day My Friend Took Adderall Before a Track Meet

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on April 8, 2016

During the warm-up I remember making a comment about how he looked locked in and he replied, “thanks, I scored some Adderall for the first time to give me an extra boost too.”

During the warm-up I remember making a comment about how he looked locked in and he replied, “thanks, I scored some Adderall for the first time to give me an extra boost too.”

Resilience
Maybe Lecture Fluency Isn't So Misleading

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on January 5, 2016

I helped publish a study in which more "fluent" (i.e., clear, engaging) lecturers were rated as more effective, but they weren't. A new, more realistic study failed to replicate.

I helped publish a study in which more "fluent" (i.e., clear, engaging) lecturers were rated as more effective, but they weren't. A new, more realistic study failed to replicate.

Parenting
What Artistic Pigeons Tell Us About Superstitious Parents

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on July 16, 2015

Like most first-time parents, we had a set of baby-care rules that was more complicated than the federal tax code and more sacred than the Bible. We wanted everyone to follow it to a T.

Like most first-time parents, we had a set of baby-care rules that was more complicated than the federal tax code and more sacred than the Bible. We wanted everyone to follow it to a T.

ADHD
ADH—Squirrel

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on May 14, 2015

A college student on why she is happy to be living with ADHD even though it's a struggle

A college student on why she is happy to be living with ADHD even though it's a struggle

Psych Careers
Stop Worrying About Starting Grad School

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on April 22, 2015

Your knowledge and skills on the first day are almost irrelevant 4 years later. What matters more is how much your skills are going to improve. That depends on your talent, attitude, and work ethic.

Your knowledge and skills on the first day are almost irrelevant 4 years later. What matters more is how much your skills are going to improve. That depends on your talent, attitude, and work ethic.

Environment
Come Play: It's the Bluff the Psychologist Challenge

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on December 10, 2014

With apologies to NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! It is time to play the Bluff the Psychologist Challenge. Two of these effects are made up. Which one is real?

With apologies to NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! It is time to play the Bluff the Psychologist Challenge. Two of these effects are made up. Which one is real?

Education
Four Things Scientists Get Wrong About Spacing Effects

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on November 18, 2014

When I tell an audience about the benefit of spaced practice I always ask them to think of an example from their own life. When they do, certain misunderstandings always come up.

When I tell an audience about the benefit of spaced practice I always ask them to think of an example from their own life. When they do, certain misunderstandings always come up.

Education
Why Does Retrieval Enhance Learning? It's All About Trying

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on October 26, 2014

Why do tests enhance learning? A new study shows that whether you successfully retrieve or not doesn't seem to matter. As long as you make a retrieval attempt, and find out the answer, getting it right or wrong doesn't much matter.

Why do tests enhance learning? A new study shows that whether you successfully retrieve or not doesn't seem to matter. As long as you make a retrieval attempt, and find out the answer, getting it right or wrong doesn't much matter.

Sex
Is Being Male a Talent or an Opportunity?

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on October 18, 2014

Treating people with different levels of talent differently is an inevitable, and in many ways beneficial, part of society. But men should not get more opportunities than women simply because they are men. And unlike talent, we can control how much opportunity we give each other.

Treating people with different levels of talent differently is an inevitable, and in many ways beneficial, part of society. But men should not get more opportunities than women simply because they are men. And unlike talent, we can control how much opportunity we give each other.

Career
K-12 Tenure Rates = Elite College Graduation Rates

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on October 8, 2014

K-12 teacher tenure rates are around 95%. That's seen as bad. Elite college graduation rates are around 95%. That's seen as good. How is that not hypocritical?

K-12 teacher tenure rates are around 95%. That's seen as bad. Elite college graduation rates are around 95%. That's seen as good. How is that not hypocritical?