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Tune In and Learn from our Experts - The Science of Decision Making

Did you know the average adult makes more than 35,000 decisions each day? The Science of Decision Making is the most recent episode available on The Goizueta Effect podcast. Emory University's Goizueta Business School Professor Ryan Hamilton shares how a better understanding of the human mind can help you make the best decisions in your own life – and position your products, services, and teams for growth. On the podcast you’ll find out more about: Grounding Tenets: The 4R’s of Decision Making How Cognitive Resources Impact the Decision-Making Process The Mental Load of COVID Importance of Reference Points for Businesses Halo Effects: Impact on Perceived Prices and Satisfaction Levels Impact on Satisfaction Levels Impact on Individual Perception Does Hamilton’s Research Influence His Behavior? The link to the podcast is attached below and if you are a reporter interested in learning more about Ryan Hamilton’s research – we’re here to help. Ryan Hamilton, associate professor of marketing at Emory’s Goizueta Business School. He is available to speak with media regarding brands and brand reputation – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.

A powder keg ready to blow? Georgia Southern's expert on Russia and Ukraine are ready to help with your coverage

Tension are rising in Eastern Europe as troops, tanks and weapons are piling up on both sides of the border separating Russia and Ukraine. And with each passing day, the invasion of Ukraine and the possibility of outright war seems to be increasing. Is war inevitable? How did this situation escalate so quickly? Is this a power-play but Vladimir Putin? Should other neighboring countries be worried? And what is the strategic and historical significance of Ukraine when it comes to Russia wanting to invade? How could this affect the U.S.? There's a lot of questions to be answered - and if you are a reporter covering this escalating news story, then let our experts help. Jacek Lubecki, Ph.D., is an associate professor of political science and international studies at Georgia Southern University. He is also expert in Polish and European military history. Lubecki is available to speak with media regarding this topic - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Ask an Expert - Are American Fan-Based Businesses at Risk for Decreased Revenue?

Modern fandom, according to Mike Lewis, is about having a passion for something—a sports team, entertainer, politician, fashion brand, a university—something. Lewis, professor of marketing and faculty director, Emory Marketing and Analytics Center (EmoryMAC) and host of the podcast, Fanalytics, considers fandom important because what people are fans of defines a modern culture. We can laugh at the sports fan with the painted face and the open shirt and the spikes on the sleeves, but the reality is, the traits that drive that level of enthusiasm and commitment are the traits that change the world outside of the arena. Mike Lewis, professor of marketing and director of EmoryMAC To better understand modern fandom and its effect on culture, Lewis, along with Yanwen Wang, Associate Professor of Marketing and Behavioral Science, and Canada Research Chair in Marketing Analytics, University of British Columbia, created EmoryMAC’s “Fandom Analytics Initiative.” The Fandom Analytics Initiative’s first report, Next Generation Fandom Survey, Generation Z: The Lost Generation of Male Sports Fans, published in September 2021, examines the results of a national survey the initiative commissioned. Nearly 1,400 people across four demographic groups—Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers—participated in the survey. Is Gen Z the Lost Generation of Male Sports Fans? The results reveal a somewhat troubling trend: Generation Z males (those born between 1990 and 2010) “seem to be increasingly indifferent and negative to traditional sports,” Lewis and Wang write in their report. “Generation Z’s relative lack of passion for sports and other categories is troubling for fandom-based businesses and a curiosity for those interested in the state of American society.” While only 23 percent of Generation Z defined themselves as “avid sports fans,” 42 percent of Millennials did, along with 33 percent of Gen Xers and 31 percent of Baby Boomers. Perhaps even more revealing is the percentage of respondents who considered themselves “anti-sports fans”—a startling 27 percent of Generation Z tagged themselves as “anti-sports” compared to 7 percent of Millennials, 5 percent of Gen X, and 6 percent of Baby Boomers. “That was unexpected,” says Lewis, who thought Generation Z would line up similar to Millennials, given that both groups are digital natives. “I’m still more and more surprised at how different Generation Z is than Millennials and, frankly, everyone else.” When Lewis and Wang took a look at the differences between male and female Generation Zers, things got even more interesting. In traditional sports categories (football, basketball, hockey, baseball, soccer), more Generation Z females defined themselves as “avid sports fans” than did their male counterparts. When it came to football, 20 percent of both Generation Z males and females described themselves as avid fans (the lowest percentage of all the demographic groups). But in every other traditional sport, Generation Z “avid sports fan” females outnumbered males by a discernable margin. Only when it came to eSports did Generation Z males outnumber Generation Z females. “I think there’s a very deep issue going on,” says Lewis. “Something fundamental has shifted.” The survey included questions about fandom-related psychological traits, specifically, community belonging and self-identity. On both, Generation Z males scored lower than Millennials. “The findings related to sports are particularly germane from a cultural perspective,” states the report. “Part of the lack of Generation Z fandom is due to younger individuals having less intense feelings of group belonging in general.” Beyond the Playing Field, How Does Loyalty Shine? While the report doesn’t take a deep dive into the psychology behind Generation Z’s fandom differences, it does note that Generation Z came of age during a time of “ubiquitous social media, dramatic demographic changes, and a hyper-partisan political environment,” they write. “These dramatic changes may fundamentally alter how members of Generation Z engage with cultural industries.” Overall, Millennials were shown to have the “highest preference across all sports,” according to the report. Millennials are not only willing to watch games, but they also enthusiastically wear team gear. Baby Boomers are up for watching games but are less interested in following teams on social media. As it turns out, note the authors, Generation Z isn’t totally disconnected. Across the entertainment categories, Generation Z is similar to other generations. “Sports fandom is the outlier,” they state. In addition to sports, Lewis and Wang looked at six other fandom segments: new and now celebrities, social justice culture, athletic excellence, old school personalities, brand fanatics, and Trump Fans. Lewis points to the fact that whatever one thinks of Donald Trump, he does generate fandom. “That passion for whatever it is—sports, politics, movies, music—that’s really what drives the world,” says Lewis. Because of its importance, fandom is, notes the study, “increasingly actively managed,” whether to garner viewers, money, or votes. Recent trends such as streaming across devices, the ubiquity of social media, an increase in demographic diversity (not to mention a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic), have affected mainstream sports and entertainment. As a result, Lewis believes it’s important to study how fans are changing across generations. Leagues, teams, networks, studios, celebrities, and others need to understand why there is less engagement to formulate strategies for acquiring the next generation of fans. Authors Mike Lewis and Yanwen Wang As sports leagues and teams see more growth opportunities with women and increasingly diverse fan bases, Lewis wonders if some sports teams may alienate their current fan bases by marketing to non-traditional groups. “If you’re a league or a team, you’ve got a real dilemma at this point,” he explains. “If the NFL wants positive press, it has to market to the non-traditional fan segments. If they do that, are the traditional fan segments going to be less interested? Perhaps.” EmoryMAC’s research on fandom in the modern age is ongoing. A study into how eSports’ fandom differs from traditional sports fandom is also in process—as is research on how younger demographic groups see colleges and universities as institutions worthy of fandom. EmoryMAC will continue to make data and insights available on its fandom analytics website. “Looking at the fandom and passion of young groups now will tell you a lot about what the world will look like in 20 years,” says Lewis. I suspect that the era of sports being a mass marketing product and also a cultural unifier is probably going to end. Mike Lewis While that strikes Lewis as sad, he and EmoryMAC are merely following the data. “It may be the reality of where this is going,” he adds. If you're a reporter looking to know more - then let us help. Professor Michael Lewis is an Associate Professor of Marketing at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. In addition to exploring trends in the overall marketing landscape, Lewis is an expert in sports analytics and marketing. He is available for interview - simply click on his icon to arrange a discussion today.

Aston University bioenergy expert appointed to Department for Transport Science Advisory Council

Professor Thornley is director of the Energy and Bioproducts Institute at Aston University and the national Supergen Bioenergy Hub She is an international leader in assessing the sustainability of energy systems The Science Advisory Council provides independent, strategic advice and challenge to the Department for Transport. Bioenergy expert and director of the Energy and Bioproducts Institute at Aston University, Professor Patricia Thornley, has been appointed to the science advisory council of the Department for Transport (DfT). Professor Thornley is an international leader in assessing the sustainability of energy systems. Her work contributes to the understanding of how to best use low-carbon technologies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change. Her work is particularly influential in advising government on energy policy and supporting engineering deployment of low-carbon energy solutions in the UK and worldwide. The Science Advisory Council is a council of external experts who provide independent, strategic advice and challenge to the DfT on science and technology – speaking directly to decision-makers on some of the most important issues of the day that are relevant to the department’s policy and operations. Speaking on her appointment, Professor Thornley said: “I am delighted to take up this role and further develop the links between Aston University and the Department for Transport. "We already engage closely with departments across Whitehall to ensure policy is sustainable and fit for purpose in a net zero world. I’m excited to work with such esteemed colleagues on the DfT Science Advisory Council and to deepen the important relationship between policy and research.” The council examines how science and innovation can support policy in specific areas, working with officials to frame the policy issue and consulting additional subject-specific experts to bring new thinking and evidence into DfT. As a member of the Science Advisory Council Professor Thornley will support the Chief Scientific Adviser in ensuring departmental activity is informed by the best external expertise and evidence, advising and challenging the nature and quality of the DfT’s use of science and technology and identifying relevant emerging issues and trends. Professor Thornley has been recruited alongside four other new members and a new Chair, joining six continuing members. Department for Transport Chief Scientific Adviser, Sarah Sharples, said: “I’m pleased to welcome the new members appointed to the Science Advisory Council. They bring significant additional expertise in key areas that will support DfT’s effective use of science and engineering. "I look forward to working with them.” Professor Thornley’s appointment is for a four-year term ending in 2025.

Aston University opens applications for Midlands’ Pitch Up investment competition

The Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up Competition is aimed at small business leaders looking for support with gaining investment Ambitious business leaders can improve their ability to win investment while boosting their profile The final will take place at Venturefest on 24 March 2022 at Eastside Rooms. Applications to Minerva Birmingham’s Pitch Up 2022 competition have opened. Formerly known as ‘Pitchfest WM’ and now in its 7th year, participating businesses have the chance to pitch head-to-head to a variety of investors to win a cash prize, and the ultimate accolade of Pitch Up Champion. Pitch Up is a collaboration, co-delivered by the Aston Centre for Growth, University of Birmingham Enterprise, and Minerva Business Angels, part of the University of Warwick Science Park Ltd. The competition provides the opportunity for ambitious business leaders to improve their ability to win investment while simultaneously boosting their business profile. Interested business leaders can apply here, applications close on 28th February. Shortlisted applicants will be supported through a workshop to refine their pitch deck, sharpen their pitching skills and receive valuable feedback in order to improve. The first workshop will take place on 20 January 2022. A select number of successful applicants will then advance to the next stage of the competition and have the opportunity pitch to an investor-led panel to gain more practice and receive more feedback. The best performing businesses will then be selected to pitch at the prestigious Pitch Up Final. This will take place as part of Venturefest WM on 24 March 2022 at Eastside Rooms, Birmingham. Venturefest attracts some 300 delegates including investors, entrepreneurs and innovators. The overall winner will be decided by audience vote and crowned Pitch Up Champion 2022, they will receive a cash prize and the option of additional support from Minerva Birmingham. Last year’s winner, Mark Platt Founder and CTO of Figura Analytics, said: “I was really amazed to win last year’s competition and delighted at the new connections and networks I made as part of the process. “The support received through the competition was fantastic; each workshop I attended allowed me to meet new people, learn new skills and left me energised and eager for more. Our winning pitch was definitely the result of some really insightful advice and feedback from the team and panel members.” The event has put more than 125 entrepreneurs directly in front of investors and helped bring in excess of £40,000,000 of investment to the region's small businesses to date. Paula Whitehouse, director of Aston Centre for Growth, said: “We are delighted to continue this collaboration, Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up exists to boost access to finance for the region’s most exciting and innovative young businesses. “The competition continues to play a crucial role in unlocking opportunities and investment for the future of high growth companies within the region.” Alex Toft, head of Minerva Business Angels, part of the University of Warwick Science Park Ltd. said: “It’s great to be part of such a collaborative relationship building not only support for our entrepreneurs but helping to build that support structure of finance and experience provided by investors. “This is a great opportunity for those earlier in their development cycle who would otherwise struggle to get noticed. We also continue to call on those who have never considered angel investing to join to reach out to us to find out more.” David Coleman, CEO of University of Birmingham Enterprise said: “Within the Midlands, there is a clear disparity between the large proportion of the UK's high-growth companies that are based here, and the investment secured. “That's why collaborative programmes like Pitch Up, which engage a diverse range of investors, are so important to increasing the likelihood of companies securing the funding they need.” Find out more about Pitch Up, by contacting centreforgrowth@aston.ac.uk, visiting Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up or apply now here.

Ask an Expert: Should Gaming Companies Release Their Latest, Greatest Platform Updates Early?

Late last year, Emory Business published an excellent article featuring research by Emory’s Ramnath K. Chellappa. An excerpt is included below and an attachment to the full article is attached as well. In June 2016, Xbox executive Phil Spencer told technology blog The Verge that it might be “crazy to announce something this early” as he unveiled the release of Xbox One X. It was a full year before the gaming console was set to hit the market. But Spencer, executive vice president of gaming at Microsoft, did so to arm customers with “as much information as possible.” He also wanted to communicate to developers what tools they’d have at their disposal. However, new research by Ramnath K. Chellappa, professor of Information Systems & Operations Management; associate dean and academic director for the MS in Business Analytics at Goizueta Business School, and Rajiv Mukherjee, assistant professor of information and operations management, Texas A&M University Mays Business School, shows that these types of preannouncements, no matter how informative, may not always be in a company’s best interests. According to Chellappa and Mukherjee, the value of preannouncing the latest and greatest features of a gaming console isn’t nearly as straightforward as the value gained by alerting customers to a new version of a Ford F150. While it may sound counterintuitive, as Chellappa and Mukherjee explain in their recent paper, “Platform Preannouncement Strategies: The Strategic Role of Information in Two-Sided Markets Competition,” sometimes the best way to announce new features in a platform-based world is by saying nothing at all. “We’re dealing with an ecosystem when we buy platforms,” Chellappa explains. “There’s a big difference between how products provide utility to an end-user versus how platforms provide utility to two sides of a market, one of which might be end-users.” When a company unveils a new version of a bicycle or television, there isn’t an ecosystem associated with those products. “But when you buy a gaming console, the value of you owning that console goes up as more of your friends play the same console,” Chellappa says. In their paper, the authors refer to this type of value as “same-side network effects.” In the platform world, Chellappa adds, there are also “cross-side network effects” in play—that the value of the gaming console goes up as more games are developed for that console. While many studies in marketing have focused on product preannouncements, the pair’s paper, published in Management Science earlier this year, is the first to study the use of preannouncements as a strategic lever for platforms rather than products. To conduct their research, the authors used game theoretic analysis to study three specific preannouncement strategies: formal (advertising, participating in tradeshows, developer training programs); informal (releasing information on a user or developer forum); and no announcement at all. The authors use Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation gaming consoles as the primary setup in their paper (although their findings are generalizable to similar platforms). What Chellappa and Mukherjee found was that there were scenarios where it made sense to preannounce, but other scenarios where companies would be better off making either a lackluster preannouncement or none at all. “You would think that if I’m going to put out a new platform that has a lot of new features, I should inform the market about all those things,” explains Chellappa. “But what we find is that sometimes the competitive effects can force you not to announce much about the products you’re releasing because it might create a kind of a price competition.” For instance, a headline in an August 2020 blog in tomsguide.com comparing Xbox One X to Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro, stated: “The Xbox One has more power than the PlayStation 4 Pro, but Sony fights back with an incredible game lineup and a lower price.” The article also includes insight including: Agents and Developers Create Business Model for Two-Sided Markets and Strategic Preannouncements Push Prices and Licensing Fees Higher The article is attached here – it’s well worth reading the entire piece. Gaming is a billion-dollar business – and if you are looking to know more about this subject – then let our experts help. Dr. Ramnath K. Chellappa is Associate Dean and Academic Director of the Master of Science in Business Analytics program. He is also the Goizueta Foundation Term Professor of Information Systems & Operations Management at the Goizueta Business School, Emory University. Ramnath is available to speak with media regarding this topic – simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Redrawing the electoral map – did redistricting even the playing field for Virginia voters?

Along with a new governor, Virginia voters will soon have new Congressional districts. The new map shows an altered state, leaving several incumbents living outside the areas they represent. When any state redraws its lines, it is often met with skepticism and complaint. The true purpose of redistricting is to ensure that representation by population is achieved. But too often, efforts have been met with accusations of marginalizing pockets of voters or giving an added electoral advantage to one party or the other. The Commonwealth of Virginia just went through the process of redistricting, and when journalists needed expert insight, they turned to UMW Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth to help with their coverage. Dr. Stephen Farnsworth is a sought-after political commentator on presidential politics. He has been widely featured in national media, including The Washington Post, Reuters, The Chicago Tribune and MSNBC. If you are a reporter covering the midterms and especially Virginia politics, simple click on his icon to arrange an interview today.

The Day the Universe Changed: A Conversation With Scott Engle, PhD

In the opening to last week's 60 Minutes episode, host Scott Pelley remarked, "this December 22 may become known as the day the universe changed." December 22, today, is the day the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launches the James Webb Space Telescope, the largest and most expensive instrument ever flown. A hundred times more powerful than the Hubble Space Telescope, Webb can see back in time to the formation of the earliest galaxies in the universe in order to study how our solar systems have evolved. Villanova University's Scott Engle, PhD, is an expert in the field of astrophysics and planetary sciences. He recently joined us to answer a few burning questions: Q: 60 Minutes pegged this as "the day the universe changed." Do you think that's overstated or accurate? Dr. Engle: Well, it's mostly accurate. They naturally want to keep it concise, so it sounds a bit better, but it's definitely going to be the day when our understanding of the universe started to change. Webb's capabilities and the quality of data it promises to deliver are going to at least refine, but in the end likely redefine, several theories about the universe. Q: Relatedly, from your knowledge, what do you think are the impacts this type of project will have? DE: The satellite has its primary science goals, but I'm sure a project this large will wind up impacting all areas of astronomy. Theories and models are continually improving, and pairing any of them up with some of the best data possible is always going to produce exciting results and advances in the field. Q: Had you or anyone else in the department (that you're aware of) applied for any research as a part of this project? DE: I don't believe that anyone in the department has applied to Webb yet, but I'm looking to during one of their future calls for proposals. Q: As an astrophysicist, is this something that can be a 'superfan' moment? Is this comparable to any other experiences or projects in your career? DE: There's simply a lot of anticipation and nerves. They've done rigorous testing, so it should all go to plan, but at this point I'm just waiting to see that everything has gone well and observations are underway. After that, it's incredible every time a new satellite is launched and you see the great data it can produce and the new studies that data is allowing astronomers to carry out. It makes me think of when the Kepler satellite first started producing data. It sounds simple enough—Kepler simply stared at thousands of stars and repeatedly measured how bright they were—but the data it produced was a huge leap forward. The number of stars it was observing, the continuous measurements and their excellent precision all combined to produce a dataset that I was amazed to see. Q: What else are you looking forward to about this initiative? Certainly, seems like it was a long time coming. DE: One area of results I'm personally looking forward to are the exoplanet studies and what Webb can tell us about the atmospheres of planets orbiting other stars.

Is it better to give than receive? Our expert explains the science behind holiday gift giving

It's the holiday season -- full of merriment and cheer and gift giving. But why do we give gifts? And why is it a ritual that cuts across cultures on just about every continent on Earth? UConn professor Dimitris Xygalatas, an expert in human rituals, details the social science behind the centuries old tradition of exchanging gifts in a new essay for The Conversation: From the shells exchanged by Pacific islanders to the toys and sweaters placed under Christmas trees, sharing has always been at the center of many ritual traditions. This is fundamentally different from other forms of material exchange, like trade or barter. For the Massim, exchanging a shell necklace for a shell armband is not the same as trading yam for fish, just as giving a birthday present is not the same as handing a cashier money to purchase groceries. This speaks to a more general rule of ceremonial actions: they are not what they appear to be. Unlike ordinary behaviors, ritual actions are nonutilitarian. It is this very lack of obvious utility that makes them special. Professor Xygalatas is an anthropologist and cognitive scientist at the University of Connecticut who specializes in some of the things that make us human, including ritual, sports, music, cooperation, and the interaction between cognition and culture. He is available to speak with media, answering all your holiday ritual questions. Click on his icon to arrange an interview today.

Is there such a thing as ‘a little cheating’ in American schools? Let our expert explain.

Cheating … it’s a universal tactic that seems to be a part of every academic institution regardless of subject, program or geography. Recently, Inside Higher Ed took a look at how students view cheating – and how their perspective of just what constitutes cheating is viewed. UMW’s David Rettinger provided his expert take on just what is going on in American schools. How acceptable is it to use study websites, or Google, to find answers to test or homework questions? What about using unapproved technology or tools to assist in an online exam? And would it be OK to give credit to another team member on a group project even if that person did not participate? These are a few ways the latest Student Voice survey, conducted in mid- to late October by Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse with support from Kaplan, explored the nuances of academic integrity and what students view as unethical… When David Rettinger, president emeritus of the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI), looked over the Student Voice data, he was drawn to the numbers that showed how much students realize certain actions would be considered cheating. “Some of [the unacceptable responses] are a little lighter for sure, but students generally would describe these behaviors as unacceptable,” says Rettinger, a professor of psychological science and director of academic integrity programs at the University of Mary Washington. “Their institutions talk about these things, and students know what they’re supposed to do, yet students cheat a fair bit.” He can imagine a stressed-out student saying, “I know it’s unacceptable, mostly I don’t do it, but in this situation, I’m going to do something I generally don’t believe in.” “That poses a problem for us as administrators,” he adds. December 07 – Inside Higher Ed Professor of Psychological Science David Rettinger oversees Academic Integrity Programs at the University of Mary Washington. He is available to provide expert insight into this study and the concept of students who cheat while attending at American colleges and universities. Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.