Social Sciences | University Categories | CAS in the Media

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Psychology prof to lecture on public project success, failure

September 20, 2013

Psychology Professor Craig Parks will present “Build the Skate Park and Kill the Swimming Pool: Why People Want Some Societal Projects to Succeed and Others to Fail” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23, in the Honors Hall Lounge. His presentation will explore the reasons some public projects succeed or fail.

Parks is the inaugural program speaker in the Honors College Distinguished Lecture Series. A branch of his research examines the conditions under which people will work for the common good or actively oppose a collectively beneficial endeavor, and the ways cooperation is affected by individuals’ personality and influence.

“We are pleased that Dr. Parks will be our first guest speaker. His research into human cooperation is ground-breaking,” said M. Grant Norton, dean.

Learn more about the Honors College distinguished speaker

Washington State lawmakers not subject to tickets?

September 19, 2013

Carolyn Long

The Washington State Patrol says lawmakers should be shielded from arrest or civil process during the session, except for serious offenses.

But Carolyn Long, associate professor of politics, philosophy, and public affairs, disagrees. “I think it’s a terrible idea in this time when the public has a lot of mistrust in politicians and believe they get favored treatment,” she said. “So we ought to re-evaluate the application of the law and make sure it’s consistent.”

Number of female DUIs soaring across the country, statistics show

September 16, 2013

Associate Professor of Sociology Jennifer Schwartz told the Chicago Tribune that women are drinking about as much as in the past but are driving more. Women might also be more likely to be arrested since many states stiffened the legal definition of intoxication.

“They may be getting caught more often now for behavior they’ve always had,” Schwartz told the Tribune.

Work, stress and health

September 11, 2013

Psychology Professor Tahira Probst studies both job insecurity and the safety climate of organizations. She presented results of a recent study investigating the intersection of those two interests during the 10th International Conference on Occupational Stress and Health.

Three million work-related injuries and illnesses are reported in the United States each year, Probst said, but some studies have found more than three-quarters of workplace injuries go unreported. She hypothesized that when workers feel their jobs are insecure, they are less likely to report accidents and injuries.

Online psychology program ranked third in nation

September 6, 2013

The Best Schools

The online bachelor’s degree in psychology has been ranked third in the nation.

The award from TheBestSchools.org cited the Department of Psychology’s accreditation, the Global Campus’ use of academic consultants to guide students, and the online program’s student government, which offers face-to-face student events.

Best Schools also mentioned WSU’s consistent ranking in the top tier of public schools both nationwide and across the globe. “The Times Higher Ed report named the institution as one of the best in the world,” the group said.