Social Sciences

James Doty and Scotty McLennan/L.A. Cicero

Stanford center highlights the benefits of compassionate workplaces

The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford brought together leaders in business and academia to talk about the role of compassion in business.


Women hold the power in dating encounters / wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock

New Stanford research on speed dating examines what makes couples 'click' in four minutes

At Stanford, a sociologist and a computational linguist team up to analyze the encounters of men and women during four-minute speed dates to find out what makes couples feel connected.


Denise Pope portrait / Photo: L.A. Cicero

Are AP courses worth the effort? An interview with Stanford education expert Denise Pope

Denise Pope, a senior lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, explains the findings of a new paper that reviews the data on Advanced Placement courses and offers suggestions to students and parents.


Sillouette of a man punching /Photo: Zemler, Shutterstock

Stronger reaction to masculinity threats tied to testosterone, Stanford sociologist says

Professor of sociology Robb Willer says men overcompensate when their masculinity is threatened. Willer's new research suggests that the higher the man's testosterone level, the stronger the reaction.


Stanford survey: Americans back preparation for extreme weather and sea-level rise

The majority of Americans express support for stronger coastal development codes, according to a Stanford survey.


Stanford exhibit of San Jose's lost Chinatown brings archaeology out of the laboratory

The "City Beneath the City" installation at the Stanford Archaeology Center combines history and art for an insightful examination of local Bay Area history.


Alvin Roth speaking at SIEPR summit / Photo: Steve Castillo

From house calls to tax reform: SIEPR summit gathers leading economists at Stanford

Economists and business leaders tackle health policy, tax reform, the future of the euro, online learning and other top money matters at the SIEPR Economic Summit.


John Limbert at the Stanford Law School / Photo: L.A. Cicero

Argo tore open a wound, says former hostage in Iran during visit to Stanford Law School

John Limbert tells Stanford Law students what it was like to be a hostage in Iran, gives his prescription for renewing relations with that country, and offers a frank assessment of the film Argo.


Historic photo of Hans and Pauline Gabrielsen / Photo courtesy of Paul Gabrielsen

Stanford economist learns lessons from yesterday's immigrants

As Congress debates the future of immigration in America, a Stanford economist is learning lessons from immigration's past.For example, Norwegian and U.S. census records provide a snapshot of 19th-century immigration, when poor, unskilled workers migrated to America en masse in an age of open borders.


High school students from nearby Redwood City participate in an intensive course at the FabLab at the Graduate School of Education./Photo: C. Wesselman

Stanford 'Makers-in-Residence' program gives teens taste of real-world engineering

New research aims to shed light on how "FabLabs" may enhance the way high school students learn science, technology, engineering and math.


Illustration showing stock chart and DNA strand

Stanford scholar looks to genes to make sense of the dollars you invest

Researchers say how much risk you're willing to take in your investments may be linked to genetics. The results may help investors understand how emotions affect their choices.


Carol Dweck portrait/ Photo: Mark Estes

Save your teens, save your marriage: Stanford's brief interventions

Short psychological interventions can change preconceptions, altering how people interact with their world. Effects are potent, cumulative and long lasting. Recent Stanford research reveals the benefits of brief interventions in both aggressive teens and antagonistic spouses.


Three girls in a classroom / Photo: Dawn Shearer-Simonetti, Shutterstock.com

Inequality in schools threatens U.S. prosperity, Stanford scholars say

Decades of reform have failed to create a strong and fair school system in the United States, with poor and minority students at an increasing disadvantage. This is according to a new report by a commission that includes three Stanford scholars.


Young Latino student studying / Photo: Marilyn Nieves, iStock

Simple interventions bridge the achievement gap between Latino and white students, Stanford researcher finds

A study led by researchers at Stanford and UC-Santa Barbara shows that certain "value-affirmation" assignments help bridge the achievement gap between Latino and white students.


Mariano-Florentino Cuellar portrait /Photo: Rod Searcey

Stanford law prof, security expert to lead university's international studies institute

Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar will take the helm of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies in July.