humanities and social sciences

Jul 28, 2014

Motivation May Explain Disconnect Between Cognitive Testing and Real-Life Functioning for Older Adults

A psychology researcher at North Carolina State University is proposing a new theory to explain why older adults show declining cognitive ability with age, but don’t necessarily show declines in the workplace or daily life. One key appears to be how motivated older adults are to maintain focus on cognitive tasks. 

Apr 29, 2014

Study Highlights Importance of Parents Talking to Kids About Money

A new study from North Carolina State University and the University of Texas finds that children pay close attention to issues related to money, and that parents should make an effort to talk with their children to ensure that kids don’t develop misconceptions about finance. 

Apr 22, 2014

Study: People Pay More Attention to the Upper Half of Field of Vision

A new study from North Carolina State University and the University of Toronto finds that people pay more attention to the upper half of their field of vision – a finding which could have ramifications for everything from traffic signs to software interface design. 

Apr 16, 2014

Study: The Trials of the Cherokee Were Reflected In Their Skulls

Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University of Tennessee have found that environmental stressors – from the Trail of Tears to the Civil War – led to significant changes in the shape of skulls in the eastern and western bands of the Cherokee people. The findings highlight the role of environmental factors in… 

Apr 14, 2014

Study Links Domestic Abuse to Mental Health Problems in New Mothers

A new study shows that domestic abuse is closely linked to postpartum mental health problems, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in mothers. The research also found that specific types of abuse are associated with specific mental health problems. The work was done by researchers at North Carolina State University, Simon Fraser University and… 

Mar 27, 2014

Study Finds Gaming Augments Players’ Social Lives

New research finds that online social behavior isn’t replacing offline social behavior in the gaming community. Instead, online gaming is expanding players’ social lives. The study was done by researchers at North Carolina State University, York University and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. 

Mar 11, 2014

NC State Experts Can Address Midterm Election Issues

Experts from North Carolina State University can offer insight into key issues facing House and Senate candidates in the 2014 midterm elections, including issues relating to race, gender, and the economy. 

Feb 25, 2014

Study Shows Mentally Ill More Likely to Be Victims, Not Perpetrators, of Violence

New research shows that almost one-third of adults with mental illness are likely to be victims of violence within a six-month period, and that adults with mental illness who commit violence are most likely to do so in residential settings. The study also finds a strong correlation between being a victim of violence and committing… 

Feb 3, 2014

Murderers Who Killed During Robberies More Likely to Return to Crime When Paroled

Murderers who committed homicide during robberies are more likely to commit crimes again when they are paroled, compared to murderers who committed homicide under other circumstances, according to research from North Carolina State University and Harvard University. 

Jan 31, 2014

Forensic Experts Compile Guide on How to ID Child Abuse, Starvation

Forensic science experts from North Carolina State University are publishing a comprehensive overview of forensic research that can be used to identify child abuse and starvation. 

Jan 14, 2014

Study: CT Scans Could Bolster Forensic Database to ID Unidentified Remains

A study from North Carolina State University finds that data from CT scans can be incorporated into a growing forensic database to help determine the ancestry and sex of unidentified remains. The finding may also have clinical applications for craniofacial surgeons. 

Jan 13, 2014

Higher Ed Leader Freeman Hrabowski to Speak at NC State

What: Dr. Freeman Hrabowski III, chair of President Obama’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans and president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will be speaking on “Institutional Culture Change: Fostering Inclusive Excellence and Academic Innovation.” Hrabowski was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by TIME Magazine… 

Jan 8, 2014

Study Shows ‘Readability’ Scores Are Largely Inaccurate

Teachers, parents and textbook companies use technical “readability” formulas to determine how difficult reading materials are and to set reading levels by age group. But new research from North Carolina State University shows that the readability formulas are usually inaccurate and offer little insight into which age groups will be able to read and understand… 

Dec 10, 2013

Study Raises Questions About Longstanding Forensic Identification Technique

Forensic experts have long used the shape of a person’s skull to make positive identifications of human remains. But those findings may now be called into question, since a new study from North Carolina State University shows that there is not enough variation in skull shapes to make a positive ID. 

Dec 4, 2013

Working Odd Shifts Can Hurt Parent-Child Relationships

Research from North Carolina State University shows that working a job that doesn’t keep 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours can hurt the relationships between parents and adolescents, increasing the likelihood that children will engage in delinquent behaviors. However, the researchers found that in some circumstances, an unconventional work schedule can be a benefit for…