FABBS reports on items of interest to many communities – scientists, policymakers, and the public. In our news, you will see updates on science funding and policy, articles that translate research for policy, and descriptions of the research contributions of scientists at all stages of their research careers.
Why “Just Say No” Programs Don’t Prevent Alcohol Misuse
September 21st, 2017
Youth programs with a “just say no” approach to preventing substance use have proven largely ineffective. Researchers have known this for over a decade, but now studies are helping to explain why. Alcohol misuse results from a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and developmental factors, those studies find. There is no one reason problems develop “and no one-size-fits all solution to solving them,” according to Jeanne Savage and colleagues in a review
read moreFABBS Honors Robert Siegler
September 21st, 2017
Robert S. Siegler is currently Teresa Heinz Professor of Cognitive Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University; as of September 1, 2018, he will be Schiff Foundation Professor of Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. His research focuses on how children learn mathematics and how theoretical understanding of mathematical development can be applied to improving that learning. Among his contributions are demonstrating the variability of strategy use, the
read moreBetter Risk Literacy = Better Decisions
September 21st, 2017
Studies have suggested a correlation between good decision-making and intelligence, but scientist Edward Cokely and his colleagues have found there is a much better predictor of whether people will make decisions that benefit them, regardless of their intelligence level: their understanding of risk and statistical concepts. Understanding how probability works has been found to predict the quality of decision-making in a wide range of areas, from using credit cards
read moreHouse, Senate Seek Increases for NIH; Slightly Lower Levels for IES in Senate
September 21st, 2017
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3354 on September 14th, an eight-bill spending package that would provide funding for most of the federal government for FY 2018. Included in the package was the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education bill, which the House Appropriations Committee approved on July 19. The Committee recommended $35.2 billion (a $1.1 billion increase) for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and $605.3 million for the Institute for
read more