Nudging Ahead

Friends

How to Make Friends and Stay in School

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on April 30, 2024

Some students today struggle with the social skills necessary to make friends. Here are four evidence-based tips for the most effective ways to spark lasting friendships.

Some students today struggle with the social skills necessary to make friends. Here are four evidence-based tips for the most effective ways to spark lasting friendships.

Education

How to Get Students to Engage

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on March 21, 2024

Changing how we present opportunities and resources could change social norms around student help-seeking.

Changing how we present opportunities and resources could change social norms around student help-seeking.

Career

How to Get Students to Use Resources

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on January 11, 2024

How do we get students to take advantage of the help available to them? Changing norms around these resources can motivate students to get the support they need.

How do we get students to take advantage of the help available to them? Changing norms around these resources can motivate students to get the support they need.

Psych Careers

Advice for Aspiring Behavioral Scientists

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on December 14, 2023

Behavioral science is an exciting and growing profession for Ph.D.s who want to make an impact outside of academia.

Behavioral science is an exciting and growing profession for Ph.D.s who want to make an impact outside of academia.

Education

The Power of Self-Reflection

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on November 2, 2023

Self-reflection is a powerful tool for enriching learning. We can use it to help students get the most out of college and prepare for their careers.

Self-reflection is a powerful tool for enriching learning. We can use it to help students get the most out of college and prepare for their careers.

Education

What Quitting Tells Us About Persistence

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on October 3, 2023

Our society celebrates perseverance and scorns quitting, yet tens of millions of people have quit college. The book "Quit" suggests how to help more students graduate.

Our society celebrates perseverance and scorns quitting, yet tens of millions of people have quit college. The book "Quit" suggests how to help more students graduate.

Education

What Good Is College?

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on September 12, 2023

Many people question the value of college, with some seeing college as simply a means to finding work. A report highlights the benefits of college for health and happiness.

Many people question the value of college, with some seeing college as simply a means to finding work. A report highlights the benefits of college for health and happiness.

Empathy

How to Listen With Empathy

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on July 24, 2023

Students often quit without us truly understanding why. Listening with empathy can reveal what core needs of theirs are not being met and how to motivate them to persist.

Students often quit without us truly understanding why. Listening with empathy can reveal what core needs of theirs are not being met and how to motivate them to persist.

Education

What Ted Lasso Teaches Us About College Success

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on June 13, 2023

Ted Lasso always had a folksy lesson to teach us. How Ted motivated his players to seek help and grow can teach us how we do the same for our students.

Ted Lasso always had a folksy lesson to teach us. How Ted motivated his players to seek help and grow can teach us how we do the same for our students.

Education

A Simple Way to Show Your Students You Care

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on May 1, 2023

Students perform better when they believe that teachers care about them. Something as simple as a personal email may be enough to show students that you care.

Students perform better when they believe that teachers care about them. Something as simple as a personal email may be enough to show students that you care.

Intelligence

The Case for Automatic Course Enrollment

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on April 18, 2023

Many college students get lost when denied entry into an exclusive academic pathway. Leveraging automatic enrollment may keep them on the path to a credential and career.

Many college students get lost when denied entry into an exclusive academic pathway. Leveraging automatic enrollment may keep them on the path to a credential and career.

Education

Difference Education for College Students

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on March 14, 2023

Educating incoming students about how each other's different backgrounds will shape their ensuing experience can have a profound impact on students' college life.

Educating incoming students about how each other's different backgrounds will shape their ensuing experience can have a profound impact on students' college life.

Career

3 Lessons About Communicating With Students

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on January 31, 2023

Wonder how to write more impactful messages that students will read and actually respond to? Here are 3 lessons I've learned to improve student messaging.

Wonder how to write more impactful messages that students will read and actually respond to? Here are 3 lessons I've learned to improve student messaging.

Trauma

When There's No Going Home for the Holidays

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on December 5, 2022

Many college students are excited to go home for the holidays. But some face serious threats, if they even have somewhere to go. Colleges must support all students over breaks.

Many college students are excited to go home for the holidays. But some face serious threats, if they even have somewhere to go. Colleges must support all students over breaks.

Gratitude

The Power of Gratitude

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on November 2, 2022

Expressing gratitude can actually boost our mood, relieve stress, and help students learn more.

Expressing gratitude can actually boost our mood, relieve stress, and help students learn more.

Education

How Elite Colleges Divide Us and What We Can Do About It

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on October 5, 2022

A new book argues that elite institutions are drivers of residential and educational segregation; several incremental changes may help.

A new book argues that elite institutions are drivers of residential and educational segregation; several incremental changes may help.

Forgiveness

Should We Stop Talking About Student Loan "Forgiveness"?

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on September 21, 2022

Borrowers are excited that some or all of their student debt may be wiped away. But how we discuss loan relief may reinforce the stigma often associated with carrying debt.

Borrowers are excited that some or all of their student debt may be wiped away. But how we discuss loan relief may reinforce the stigma often associated with carrying debt.

Stress

When Educational Interventions Find Synergy

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on August 23, 2022

What happens when you combine two evidence-based educational interventions? New research indicates that growth mindsets and stress reframing create good synergy for students.

What happens when you combine two evidence-based educational interventions? New research indicates that growth mindsets and stress reframing create good synergy for students.

Growth Mindset

The 4 Types of Academic Help-Seekers

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on July 18, 2022

We all want struggling students to ask for help, but that can look different depending on the type of help-seeker they are.

We all want struggling students to ask for help, but that can look different depending on the type of help-seeker they are.

Motivation

The Pros and Cons of Deadlines

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on June 27, 2022

Deadlines can be a help or a hindrance depending on how they're used. Behavioral science provides important insights in how best to deploy deadlines for achieving our goals.

Deadlines can be a help or a hindrance depending on how they're used. Behavioral science provides important insights in how best to deploy deadlines for achieving our goals.