Nudging Ahead

Health

How to Get College Students to (Maybe) Check Their E-mail

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on May 15, 2019

College students have at least one thing in common: They don't check e-mail. Customizing your messaging will prevent students from tuning you out.

College students have at least one thing in common: They don't check e-mail. Customizing your messaging will prevent students from tuning you out.

Growth Mindset

Nurturing a Culture of Growth

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on April 23, 2019

Programs that teach a growth mindset are great—but if we want these beliefs to persist we need to build growth mindsets into our homes, our schools, and our workplaces.

Programs that teach a growth mindset are great—but if we want these beliefs to persist we need to build growth mindsets into our homes, our schools, and our workplaces.

Education

Eliminating the Pitfalls of Higher Education

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on March 11, 2019

Video games are more fun with obstacles. College should not be the same way. Innovative programs are eliminating the traps that lead students to a Game Over.

Video games are more fun with obstacles. College should not be the same way. Innovative programs are eliminating the traps that lead students to a Game Over.

Growth Mindset

Growth Mindsets Around the Globe

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on February 4, 2019

Growth mindsets are a major force in modern education, but what do we know about how mindsets impact students outside of the U.S.? Recent studies shed light on this question.

Growth mindsets are a major force in modern education, but what do we know about how mindsets impact students outside of the U.S.? Recent studies shed light on this question.

Growth Mindset

6 Tips for Keeping Your New Year’s Resolution

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on January 3, 2019

Want to succeed at your New Year's resolution this time? Here are six tips derived from behavioral science to help you get started, stick to your plan, and handle setbacks.

Want to succeed at your New Year's resolution this time? Here are six tips derived from behavioral science to help you get started, stick to your plan, and handle setbacks.

Career

Why Interventions Work Is as Important as If They Work

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on December 3, 2018

Evaluation of a new program is often more concerned with if it works rather than why it works. But asking "why?" can provide a lot of hidden benefits.

Evaluation of a new program is often more concerned with if it works rather than why it works. But asking "why?" can provide a lot of hidden benefits.

Friends

#NudgeTheVote

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on November 5, 2018

Half of America won't vote tomorrow. Behavioral science offers strategies for getting more people (including yourself) to show up to the polls.

Half of America won't vote tomorrow. Behavioral science offers strategies for getting more people (including yourself) to show up to the polls.

Career

How to Get More Students to Participate in Programs

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on October 4, 2018

Asking students to sign up can be a bigger obstacle than you think. Automatic enrollment can help increase participation and equity.

Asking students to sign up can be a bigger obstacle than you think. Automatic enrollment can help increase participation and equity.

Sleep

The Secret to Getting A’s? Getting More Z’s

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on September 5, 2018

Many college students are not getting enough sleep to be at their best. These evidence-based strategies can help them sleep better.

Many college students are not getting enough sleep to be at their best. These evidence-based strategies can help them sleep better.

Education

Innovative Ways to Help First-Generation Students Thrive

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on August 6, 2018

Graduating more first-generation students is key to reducing economic inequality. Three recent interventions provide unique approaches to helping these students succeed.

Graduating more first-generation students is key to reducing economic inequality. Three recent interventions provide unique approaches to helping these students succeed.

Education

We Need More Behavioral Research at Community Colleges

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on July 11, 2018

More interventions for community college students are leveraging behavioral science. But we need researchers to study how interventions work in this context.

More interventions for community college students are leveraging behavioral science. But we need researchers to study how interventions work in this context.

Education

The Power of Stories to Teach and Motivate STEM Students

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on June 5, 2018

STEM students learn all about scientists like Einstein, Newton, and more. But what they learn about these famous figures may affect whether they, too, want to pursue science.

STEM students learn all about scientists like Einstein, Newton, and more. But what they learn about these famous figures may affect whether they, too, want to pursue science.

Growth Mindset

3 Ways a Growth Mindset Benefits Companies and Employees

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on May 1, 2018

Think growth mindsets just affect students in the classroom? Think again. Whether your employer has a growth mindset can impact both you and them.

Think growth mindsets just affect students in the classroom? Think again. Whether your employer has a growth mindset can impact both you and them.

Students can't succeed in math when their math anxiety takes over. A simple, 10-minute writing exercise can help students set aside those intrusive thoughts.

Career

3 Ways to Get More Students to Visit Career Services

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on March 12, 2018

Study shows that many college graduates never take advantage of Career Services. Behavioral science offers ideas for getting more students to sit down with a career counselor.

Study shows that many college graduates never take advantage of Career Services. Behavioral science offers ideas for getting more students to sit down with a career counselor.

Self-Esteem

Using Self-Affirmation to Support Struggling Students

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on February 8, 2018

Students underperforming in the classroom? A short exercise could alleviate the threat impairing their performance.

Students underperforming in the classroom? A short exercise could alleviate the threat impairing their performance.

Motivation

Behavioral Science on the Homepage

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on January 8, 2018

College websites say a lot about who belongs there, and not all of it is intentional. Leveraging social psychology in your website's design may help increase student success.

College websites say a lot about who belongs there, and not all of it is intentional. Leveraging social psychology in your website's design may help increase student success.

Education

3 Ways Behavioral Science Is Impacting College Students

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on December 4, 2017

A group of student success experts recently took to the stage to discuss how their campuses are leveraging behavioral science to bolster persistence and graduation.

A group of student success experts recently took to the stage to discuss how their campuses are leveraging behavioral science to bolster persistence and graduation.

Growth Mindset

Helping College Students Cross the Finish Line

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on November 7, 2017

Many college students leave school only a few credits from a degree. A new study shows that proactive nudges for near completers could prevent more of them from falling just short.

Many college students leave school only a few credits from a degree. A new study shows that proactive nudges for near completers could prevent more of them from falling just short.

Alcoholism

Put Down That Beer and Pick Up Your Phone

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on October 10, 2017

Colleges have tried a million ways to reduce students' binge drinking. Could behavioral science offer another approach?

Colleges have tried a million ways to reduce students' binge drinking. Could behavioral science offer another approach?