Nudging Ahead

Mindfulness

Fostering Better Student Mental Health Through Mindfulness

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on January 19, 2021

Anxiety and depression are peaking among college students during the pandemic. Mindfulness-based interventions may be a way to help students cope with the stress.

Anxiety and depression are peaking among college students during the pandemic. Mindfulness-based interventions may be a way to help students cope with the stress.

Education

Who Is Generation Z?

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on December 8, 2020

Gen Z has different strengths and challenges than their Gen X and millennial predecessors. Recent perspectives offer guidance on how to help these students thrive educationally.

Gen Z has different strengths and challenges than their Gen X and millennial predecessors. Recent perspectives offer guidance on how to help these students thrive educationally.

Persuasion

Using Self-Persuasion to Improve Educational Equity

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on November 12, 2020

Colleges use inspirational student stories to encourage more underrepresented students to attend. But a moment of self-persuasion may be necessary to internalize that message.

Colleges use inspirational student stories to encourage more underrepresented students to attend. But a moment of self-persuasion may be necessary to internalize that message.

Career

3 Strategies to Help College Students Find Employment

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on October 6, 2020

College students need to be ready for the job market, both now and when they graduate. These simple interventions can motivate their search and help them land the job.

College students need to be ready for the job market, both now and when they graduate. These simple interventions can motivate their search and help them land the job.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Who Says I Should Wear a Mask?

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on August 27, 2020

Convincing people to wear masks and socially distance has proven challenging. New research suggests that leaning on trusted sources of public health information may help.

Convincing people to wear masks and socially distance has proven challenging. New research suggests that leaning on trusted sources of public health information may help.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Four Tips to Boost Enrollment Using Behavioral Science

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on August 20, 2020

College enrollments are down but there's still time to recover. Here are some science-backed tips for getting the attention of undecided students and nudging them to sign up for fall.

College enrollments are down but there's still time to recover. Here are some science-backed tips for getting the attention of undecided students and nudging them to sign up for fall.

Education

Supporting Student Parents' Success in College

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on July 7, 2020

Over one-fifth of undergrads are parents, and they face a number of obstacles to earning their degree. Research points to one problem we can address right now: feelings of guilt.

Over one-fifth of undergrads are parents, and they face a number of obstacles to earning their degree. Research points to one problem we can address right now: feelings of guilt.

Health

How to Make Sure Your Social Norms Campaign Doesn't Backfire

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on June 9, 2020

Social norms are a common tool in public policy and on college campuses, but they can easily backfire. Follow these guidelines to ensure that norms work for your next campaign.

Social norms are a common tool in public policy and on college campuses, but they can easily backfire. Follow these guidelines to ensure that norms work for your next campaign.

Stress

Helping Students Cope With Coronavirus Stress

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on May 11, 2020

High school and college students need good stress management tools more than ever. Here are four evidence-based tips for effectively implementing a tool for your students to use.

High school and college students need good stress management tools more than ever. Here are four evidence-based tips for effectively implementing a tool for your students to use.

Career

How to Change Behavior for Good

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on April 7, 2020

Many interventions help people change their behavior, but only for a short time. A new model explains how we can design better interventions that create lasting behavioral impact.

Many interventions help people change their behavior, but only for a short time. A new model explains how we can design better interventions that create lasting behavioral impact.

Health

How Self-Affirmations Could Help Improve Hygiene

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on March 17, 2020

We're being bombarded with health information, which can be scary and put us on the defensive. A simple self-affirmation intervention, however, may help us change our behavior.

We're being bombarded with health information, which can be scary and put us on the defensive. A simple self-affirmation intervention, however, may help us change our behavior.

Aging

The Paradox of A/B Testing

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on February 13, 2020

People object to feeling like "guinea pigs." How can organizations experiment with new policies while maintaining public acceptability?

People object to feeling like "guinea pigs." How can organizations experiment with new policies while maintaining public acceptability?

Health

Scientific Strategies for Healthier Eating

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on January 7, 2020

Nearly half of Americans' New Year's resolutions will involve healthier eating. The choices restaurants, cafés, and shops offer could have everything to do with their success.

Nearly half of Americans' New Year's resolutions will involve healthier eating. The choices restaurants, cafés, and shops offer could have everything to do with their success.

Motivation

How Aspirational Targets Can Backfire

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on December 10, 2019

The internet is filled with inspirational stories of people's amazing accomplishments. Recent research suggests that these stories may actually discourage people from their goals.

The internet is filled with inspirational stories of people's amazing accomplishments. Recent research suggests that these stories may actually discourage people from their goals.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

A Culture of Caring for Faculty and Staff

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on November 19, 2019

Mental health issues are on the rise among college faculty and staff. How do we help the people whose mission is to help our students?

Mental health issues are on the rise among college faculty and staff. How do we help the people whose mission is to help our students?

Motivation

Is Advice Better to Give than to Receive?

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

It may seem obvious to give advice to someone facing a challenge. But new research suggests the opposite: allowing them to give advice can motivate them to tackle their problem.

It may seem obvious to give advice to someone facing a challenge. But new research suggests the opposite: allowing them to give advice can motivate them to tackle their problem.

Career

Nudges Increase STEM Persistence at Community Colleges

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on September 25, 2019

STEM programs at community colleges offer a pathway to well-paying jobs, but most students don't finish. A new study shows nudges can help.

STEM programs at community colleges offer a pathway to well-paying jobs, but most students don't finish. A new study shows nudges can help.

Intelligence

Designing the College Experience to Fight Scarcity

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on August 5, 2019

Many college students face challenges like food insecurity and homelessness. What do these mean for students' ability to learn and how can we design college to help them succeed?

Many college students face challenges like food insecurity and homelessness. What do these mean for students' ability to learn and how can we design college to help them succeed?

Environment

The Unexpected Effects of Nudging

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on July 24, 2019

Even the best-designed nudges can lead to unexpected outcomes. But there are lessons we can learn from interventions that did not work as intended.

Even the best-designed nudges can lead to unexpected outcomes. But there are lessons we can learn from interventions that did not work as intended.

Smoking

Healthier College Students Through Texting

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on June 6, 2019

College students engage in all kinds of risky behaviors, from smoking to excessive alcohol use. Could colleges use text messaging as a way to motivate students to be healthier?

College students engage in all kinds of risky behaviors, from smoking to excessive alcohol use. Could colleges use text messaging as a way to motivate students to be healthier?