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.
We’re Not Sure What Authenticity Is, But We Know We Like It
Foodies, employees, and art lovers all prize authenticity—but each means something a little different when they say that something or someone is authentic.
What We Talk about When We Talk about Stock Market Crashes
Yale SOM’s Robert Shiller examines how the stock market rise of the 1920s, the crash of 1929, and the Great Depression that followed came to be seen as a tale of recklessness and divine punishment.
A Few Seconds of Speech Sparks Class Bias in Hiring
New research by Yale SOM’s Michael Kraus shows that people can accurately assess a stranger’s socioeconomic position based on brief speech patterns and that these snap perceptions influence hiring managers in ways that favor job applicants from higher social classes.
When Prompting People to Make a Choice, the Consequence of Not Choosing Matters
In a new study, Yale SOM’s James Choi and his colleagues found that the implicit default—what happens if people don't make a choice—affects whether they make a choice at all.
Three Questions: Prof. Gal Zauberman on the Psychology of Taking Vacation Photos
In his research, Yale SOM’s Gal Zauberman has explored how taking photos affects an experience. We asked him whether documenting our summer adventures can actually improve them.
Study Finally Reveals How Many Cooks It Takes to Spoil the Broth
New research co-authored by Yale SOM’s Taly Reich looks at how we perceive collaborations of different sizes, and what those perceptions mean for how companies describe the creation of their products.
To Improve the Accuracy of Prediction Markets, Just Ask
In theory, prediction markets give the most accurate possible forecasts because they incorporate all available information. But a study by Yale SOM’s Jason Dana and his co-authors showed that in some cases, forecasts can be improved by simply asking people what they think will happen.
Can the Occasional ‘Nudge’ Make You Better at Your Job?
At Google, Laszlo Bock ’99 applied data analytics to human resources questions that have long been answered with hunches. His company Humu is now extending that approach for other organizations by providing AI-generated prompts to their employees.
How to Turn Your Mistakes into an Advantage
People and companies alike often try to hide their mistakes from public view. New research by Yale SOM’s Taly Reich reveals that sometimes you’re better off owning your gaffes.
The Illusion of Multitasking Improves Performance on Simple Tasks
Multitasking is inefficient—but we feel like we’re getting so much done. In a series of experiments, Yale SOM’s Gal Zauberman harnessed this mistaken impression.
