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Behavioral

A Simple Thumbs Up or Down Eliminates Racial Bias in Online Ratings‌‌

Yale SOM’s Tristan Botelho and his co-authors found that the ubiquitous five-star rating system could subtly propagate discrimination. But they also found a surprisingly simple fix: switching to a two-point scale (thumbs up or thumbs down) eliminated subtle racial bias in customer ratings of gig workers.‌‌

An illustration of people wearing glasses in the shape of thumbs up and thumbs down
  • Could Be Worse: When You See Others Losing More, You’re More Likely to Take Risks

    What induces people to take greater risks in certain situations—such as sitting at the blackjack table in a glitzy casino? A new study from Yale SOM’s Nathan Novemsky and Guy Voiche reveals that we experience losses as less painful when we see examples of bigger losses.

    Sean Connery (left) as James Bond in a casino scene from the 1965 film Thunderball.
  • Now It’s Personal: How Knowing an Ad Is Targeted Changes Its Impact

    A consumer’s knowledge that an advertisement has been tailored to their interests changes how they respond, according to a new study co-authored by Yale SOM’s Jiwoong Shin. Firms evaluating marketing strategies should factor consumers’ inferences about targeted ads into their advertising decisions, Shin says.

    An illustration of a bald man looking at an ad for a hair growth product that includes a version of himself with hair
  • What Separates the Ideas that Endure from Those That Fade?

    For a study of the evolution of management concepts, Prof. Balázs Kovács and his co-author tracked keywords in 90 years of Harvard Business Review articles. Their conclusion: concepts get an initial boost from being similar to popular ideas, but need to distinguish themselves to last.

    A vintage photo of a horse race
  • A Key Factor in Well-Being: Others’ Apparent Wealth

    Money may not lead to happiness, but according to a new study co-authored by Yale SOM’s Michael Kraus, our perceived wealth and status relative to others does affect how happy we are.

    Two goldfish in separate bowls, one empty and one with toys and decorations
  • Advice for a Better 2021—According to the Research

    We asked faculty with expertise in psychology, entrepreneurship, healthcare, economics, and more for their best ideas to bring the lessons of the last year to the next.

    A crocus growing out of snow
  • For Holiday Cheer, Switch Off Zoom and Pick Up the Phone

    After an extraordinarily difficult year, we are all looking for respite from the isolation and uncertainty of pandemic life. We asked Marissa King, who studies personal and team dynamics, to share some quick tips for making this year’s holiday season a little brighter.

    A rotary phone on a table
  • No Matter What We Earn, We Believe Our Richer Neighbors Have More to Give

    According to a new study co-authored by Yale SOM’s Gal Zauberman, people of a wide range of income levels believe that they are giving what they should to charity—but that even richer people have more spare income and a greater obligation to give.

    An illustration showing progressively richer neighbors, each pointing to the next
  • How to Keep Your Sense of Purpose While Working Remotely

    Yale SOM’s Amy Wrzesniewski, an expert in how people find meaning in their jobs, says that working remotely can diminish our sense of community and structure—and offers suggestions for staying anchored.

    A cat sitting next to a laptop on a sofa
  • Rational Order from ‘Irrational’ Actions

    Prof. Shyam Sunder outlines a strain of research, drawing on complexity theory, that suggests that outcomes of a social system can be rational even if its individual participants are not rational.

    A crowd of people.
  • A Passionate Startup Pitch Is Powerful—But Can Be Misleading

    According to a new study co-authored by Yale SOM’s Song Ma, those with cheerful and enthusiastic presentations are more likely to get venture capital funding—and less likely to build successful ventures.

    An illustration of an entrepreneur leaping in the air and wearing pom-poms while presenting