Despite what we teach in our courses, there is considerable disagreement about how we judge the scientific merit of research findings. One method we might consider is whether scientific results are reproducible. Separate initiatives in psychological science and cancer biology suggest, though, that reproducibility of published findings isn't great.
Read MoreAn article on Slate.com recently highlighted the importance of replication in the scientific process–especially when it comes to what we know about peoples' abilities to exert self-control in difficult situations.
The Social Cognition Lab at Massey contributed to some forthcoming research mentioned in this article: an international collaboration of 24 laboratories to test the predictions of a theory about willpower called Ego Depletion. We had more than eighty people participate in this research in our lab. The results of the study are soon to be released in May 2016 at the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science.
Are there psychological benefits to swearing out-loud? Laboratory evidence suggests that it might help you cope with physical and social distress.
Recently Siena Yates discussed this topic (and some of our lab's research) on stuff.co.nz
