https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Columbia Business School The power and proliferation of fake online news stems not only from its apparent ubiquity but also from a sense of the presence of others that social media sites create, according to new research conducted by Gita Johar, the Meyer Feldberg Professor of Business at Columbia Business School, along with doctoral students Rachel Meng and Youjung Jun. The researchers found that when people are presented with claims whose veracity is ambiguous they are less likely to fact-check the claims when the information is consumed in a group setting. https://phys.org/news/2017-09-fake-news-online-due-lowered.html Internet Mon, 18 Sep 2017 16:24:03 EDT news424970634 A sad TV drama comes to conclusion, fading to black as music swells, and leaving the audience emotionally torn about the future of the main characters. Suddenly, the TV cuts to a peppy commercial and viewers are faced with the relentless cheer of an insurance spokesperson pitching their latest money saving product. This is a common occurrence in today's prime time-driven entertainment culture, but new research from Columbia Business School shows that this juxtaposition of emotions can leave TV viewers puzzled at the swing in content and emotion, so much so that these potential consumers may ignore the ad altogether and will be unlikely to recall the advertiser. https://phys.org/news/2015-04-align-emotions-ads-tv-consumers.html Economics & Business Mon, 06 Apr 2015 16:28:34 EDT news347556505 Whether you are an executive, an entrepreneur, or even an MBA student, the ability to bridge cultural gaps and leverage foreign ideas and opportunities is critical to success in today's increasingly global business environment. However, this skill is more elusive than many think. https://phys.org/news/2015-02-culture-individuals.html Social Sciences Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:30:59 EST news344014245 For decades, almost all negotiation scholars and teachers would have advised that making a range offer, such as asking for a "15 to 20%" discount rather than proposing a single number, would be a bad move—harmless at best, maybe even damaging. But new research from Columbia Business School suggests those scholars and teachers have gotten it at least partly wrong. A series of studies published this month shows that using certain range offers can have meaningful benefits. https://phys.org/news/2015-02-bargaining.html Social Sciences Wed, 18 Feb 2015 11:16:49 EST news343480443 Growing older leaves many with a gloomy prognosis, namely that cognitive aging will slow the mind and the ability to make decisions. However, when it comes to making financial decisions, many baby boomers would be pleased to know that experience, knowledge, and expertise can compensate for the challenges that age-related deterioration present in finance, according to new research from Columbia Business School.The study, "Sound Credit Scores and Financial Decisions Despite Cognitive Aging" recently published in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), found evidence that "crystallized intelligence," which is gained through experience and accumulated knowledge, can be more important that "fluid intelligence," the ability to think logically and process new information. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-01-debunking-aging-myths-financial-decisions.html Psychology & Psychiatry Wed, 14 Jan 2015 17:22:37 EST news340478547 With the National Football League in full damage-control mode, there are many questions about how the NFL's leader handled the Ray Rice case. Was Goodell ignoring the pleas of stakeholders—former NFL players, the media and domestic violence groups—when deciding on a two game penalty? The answer may lie in a study out today by Columbia Business School. https://phys.org/news/2014-09-power-isnt-reveals-link-effective.html Social Sciences Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:07:10 EDT news330188821 The keyword term a consumer uses in their search engine query can predict the likelihood that they will click on an organic or paid advertisement. That's according to new research by Columbia Business School that takes a unique look at a consumer's behavior between the keyword search and the point-of-click. The new information may give marketers the edge in converting even more consumer clicks on their sites. https://phys.org/news/2014-08-paid-advertising-mind-online-browser.html Economics & Business Mon, 25 Aug 2014 12:01:06 EDT news328186851 Brands spent $8.4 billion on mobile advertising in 2013, and that number is expected to quadruple to $36 billion by 2017, according to eMarketer. But do mobile display ads—those tiny banner ads that pop up in your smartphone's web browser—actually work? Researchers at Columbia Business School have found that, despite their size, mobile ads can have a big effect on consumers who are in the market for certain types of products. https://phys.org/news/2014-07-smarter-ads-smartphones-dont.html Economics & Business Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:59:46 EDT news324647966 Jill Abramson was recently ousted from her position as the executive editor of The New York Times for being, among other things, too "pushy." But did Abramson—who has also been described by the media as "polarizing" and "brusque"—know during the course of her tenure that others viewed her as being overly assertive? A new study from the Columbia Business School suggests that there's a great chance she didn't. https://phys.org/news/2014-06-reveals-people-oblivious-counterparts-colleagues.html Economics & Business Mon, 30 Jun 2014 12:51:25 EDT news323351459 Widespread finger-pointing in the fallout from the 2008-2009 financial crisis is only exacerbated by the continuing legal battles between the big banks and SEC. Fair value accounting (FVA) is often cast as the culprit for accelerating the economic downturn, but a new study from Columbia Business School, published in the Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, examines FVA's role in the financial crisis and considers the advantages it offers relative to other methods of accounting. https://phys.org/news/2014-06-insights-factors-financial-crisis.html Economics & Business Mon, 30 Jun 2014 12:42:53 EDT news323350961 It's a historic year for Major League Baseball, as the organization introduces its expanded use of instant replay, allowing umpires to review home run calls, forced plays, foul balls and more. But the one decision still left fully in the hands of umpires is the calling of the strike zone. Should the rules be expanded for review of those calls? A new study from Columbia Business School's professor Jerry Kim says reviewing strike zone calls may be the one call All-Stars pitchers would want reversed. https://phys.org/news/2014-06-all-star-pitchers-instant-replay.html Social Sciences Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:47:31 EDT news322750037 With everyone from the federal government to corporate America working to encourage more women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, you would think the doors would be wide open to women of all backgrounds. A new study from Columbia Business School shows that this could not be further from the truth and that gender bias among hiring managers in STEM fields is extraordinarily prevalent. https://phys.org/news/2014-06-gender-bias-extraordinarily-prevalent-stem.html Social Sciences Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:20:05 EDT news322744794 Right now, many consumers are signing up for healthcare via the new health insurance exchanges set up by the federal and state governments. Using simulated exchanges modeled on the design of the actual exchanges, alarming new research from Columbia Business School suggests that more than 80% of consumers may be unable to make a clear–eyed estimate of their needs and will unknowingly choose a higher cost plan than needed. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-12-consumers-health-care.html Health Thu, 19 Dec 2013 14:53:51 EST news306687220 With the holiday season upon us, companies across the country are excitedly coordinating holiday office parties to celebrate a year's worth of work and provide a social setting that can build stronger bonds among employees. But a Columbia Business School study reveals that these once-thought positive encounters may elicit serious unintended consequences: members of racially diverse groups are not only uncomfortable during the parties, they could feel even more disconnected from their colleagues once the party is over. https://phys.org/news/2013-12-office-holiday-parties-highlight-racial.html Social Sciences Wed, 11 Dec 2013 11:33:00 EST news305983968 Big box retailers may have had the secret to combatting online retailers all along: instant gratification. A new study from Columbia Business School that is published in the Journal of Consumer Research warns that the positive feelings consumers experience when receiving a discounted price fades dramatically if the consumer is then forced to wait for the product. https://phys.org/news/2013-11-memo-big-retailers-goodwill-shelf.html Social Sciences Tue, 26 Nov 2013 11:25:28 EST news304687514 New research from scholars at Columbia Business School and the University of Pittsburgh questions the sustainability of Twitter, the social network that has more than 500 million registered users. The research was recently published in the journal Marketing Science. https://phys.org/news/2013-07-twitter-big-tv-screen.html Internet Thu, 25 Jul 2013 12:29:43 EDT news293974170 Wear your lucky Yankees jersey. Hold your breath. Expect nothing less than a World Series win. Certain routines are routine for millions of baseball playoff fans desperate to meet victory. In fact, a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research says fans are so deep in their traditions, they will drop brand loyalty-if it means a win. https://phys.org/news/2013-07-superstition-rich-baseball-playoff-fans-arent.html Social Sciences Mon, 22 Jul 2013 12:50:02 EDT news293715179 A newly transferred associate from the Shanghai office nails his presentation to Mr. Smith from Chicago but stumbles in his pitch to Mr. Chen from San Francisco. A visiting professor from Taiwan lectures fluently about a slide of a Grecian urn, but falters and struggles to recall the word "translucent" when discussing a Ming vase. What is it about seeing a Chinese face or even a Chinese vase that can disrupt a Chinese immigrant's fluency in English? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-06-home-culture-images-impair-second-language-skills.html Psychology & Psychiatry Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:01:28 EDT news291470472 A new study from researchers at leading business schools reveals that expansive physical settings (e.g. having a big desk to stretch out while doing work or a large driver's seat in an automobile) can cause individuals to feel more powerful, and in turn these feelings of power can elicit more dishonest behavior such as stealing, cheating, and even traffic violations. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-06-person-physical-environment-affects-likelihood.html Psychology & Psychiatry Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:08:49 EDT news291301721 With so much on the line for job seekers in this difficult economic climate, a lot of new hires might be wondering how—or whether at all—to negotiate salary when offered a new position. A recently published study on the art of negotiation by two professors at Columbia Business School could help these new hires—and all negotiators—seal a stronger deal than before. https://phys.org/news/2013-05-precise-upper.html Social Sciences Fri, 31 May 2013 22:06:35 EDT news289256786 From banks to telecom providers, various industries are moving to pricing plans that offer a certain amount of "free" service. Bank customers are allowed a certain number of free ATM withdrawals each month, and cell phone users receive free minutes. These three-part plans—which also include a regular (usually monthly) access fee as well as a usage fee if the customer exceeds the free allotment—are replacing older two-part plans that charged an access fee and a usage price for every unit of consumption. https://phys.org/news/2013-02-free-effects-pricing-consumer-demand.html Economics & Business Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:38:51 EST news279373119 In 2009, the Securities and Exchange Commission mandated that public companies submit portions of annual (10-K) and quarterly (10-Q) reports—in a digitized format known as eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). The goal of this type of data was to provide more relevant, timely, and reliable "interactive" data to investors and analysts. The XBRL-formatted data is meant to allow users to manipulate and organize the financial information according to their own purposes faster, cheaper, and more easily than current alternatives. https://phys.org/news/2013-01-sec-mandated-xbrl-irrelevant-investors-analysts.html Economics & Business Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:15:36 EST news278082930 Users of Facebook and other social networks should beware of allowing their self-esteem—boosted by "likes" or positive comments from close friends—to influence their behavior: It could reduce their self-control both on and offline, according to an academic paper by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Columbia Business School that has recently been published online in the Journal of Consumer Research. https://phys.org/news/2013-01-social-networks-inflate-self-esteem-self-control.html Social Sciences Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:06:50 EST news277391201 A research study on online social networks reveals that networking sites can drive advertising revenue by encouraging the density of social ties, or boosting the level of friendship or social connections between users. According to the findings, in a forthcoming paper in Management Science, more connected users prompt increases in visitation and browsing on the site, which helps stimulate online advertising revenue growth. https://phys.org/news/2012-12-social-ties-user-content-online.html Economics & Business Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:11:08 EST news274450260 Racial and gender stereotypes have profound consequences in almost every sector of public life, from job interviews and housing to police stops and prison terms. However, only a few studies have examined whether these different categories overlap in their stereotypes. A new study on the connections between race and gender – a phenomenon called gendered race – reveals unexpected ways in which stereotypes affect our personal and professional decisions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-gender-overlapping-stereotypes-affect-personal.html Psychology & Psychiatry Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:51:47 EST news273772299 For decades, "bigger is better" has been the conventional path to efficiency in industries ranging from transportation to power generation. Food once grown on small family plots now comes overwhelmingly from factory farms. Vessels that carried 2,000 tons of cargo have been replaced by modern container ships that routinely move 150,000 tons. But now, new research shows, we are on the cusp of a radical shift from building big to building small—a change that has profound implications for both established and emerging industries. https://phys.org/news/2012-11-small-industries-economies-size-shifting.html Economics & Business Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:58:21 EDT news271087083 Thanks to blogs, online forums, and product review sites, companies and marketers now have access to a seemingly endless array of data on consumers' opinions and experiences. In principle, businesses should be able to use this information to gain a better understanding of the general market and of their own and their competitors' customers. https://phys.org/news/2012-10-business-text-insights-social-media.html Economics & Business Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:39:12 EDT news269102340 Consider a Japanese-American woman strolling through a mall. If she passes by a UNIQLO store, is she more likely to opt for sushi than a hamburger when she reaches the food court? Would this cue of Japanese culture draw out her Japanese side? The answer, according to new research from Columbia Business School's Michael Morris, the Chavkin-Chang Professor of Leadership, and Aurelia Mok, Assistant Professor, City University of Hong Kong (she received her Ph.D. from Columbia Business School in 2010), depends on the degree to which she has integrated her cultural identities. https://phys.org/news/2012-10-reveals-bicultural-consumers-cues.html Social Sciences Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:23:40 EDT news268575811 Much of our daily lives are spent completing tasks that involve a degree of waiting, such as remaining on hold while scheduling a doctor's appointment or standing in line at an ATM. Faced with a wait, some people postpone, avoid, or abandon their task. Others endure the wait but feel dissatisfied and frustrated by the experience. https://phys.org/news/2012-09-virtual-boundaries-environmental-cues-affect.html Social Sciences Fri, 21 Sep 2012 11:40:42 EDT news267446422 Sally and Harry are about to invest in their company's 401(k) plan. Sally chooses the best performing mutual fund, which has high risks but boasts a 25 percent year-to-date return. Harry, after considering the tradeoffs between risks and rewards, opts for a lower performing fund with an 8 percent year-to-date return. When they receive their next quarterly performance reports, both Sally and Harry discover that their funds have met their initial expectations. Are they satisfied? If not, why? And how could their levels of satisfaction be improved? https://phys.org/news/2012-09-consumers-shift-goals.html Social Sciences Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:54:12 EDT news267281631