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Television Drove Viewers to the Web to Explore Obama-Muslim Rumors

September 28, 2010 coms 0

A study examining Americans’ interest in the rumor that Barack Obama is a Muslim shows that the mainstream media – particularly television – still influences the topics that engage the public. Researchers found that online searches about the Obama-Muslim rumor spiked on days that the topic was heavily covered on national television networks, and that searches declined on days when there was less coverage.

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Being An Only Child Does Not Hurt Social Skills

September 24, 2010 coms 0

Growing up without siblings doesn’t seem to be a disadvantage for teenagers when it comes to social skills, new research suggests. A study of more than 13,000 middle and high school students across the country found that “only children” were selected as friends by their schoolmates just as often as were peers who grew up with brothers and sisters.

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Children of LGBTQ Parents Exhibit Healthier Behavior, Says New Research

September 24, 2010 coms 0

New research on the children of LGBTQ people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) has unequivocally revealed that they are not only psychologically healthy, but often appear to exhibit better social and academic adjustment and a significantly lower incidence of social problems than their peers. A new article published in the journal Family Process critically examines this research, and how it impacts LGBTQ families.

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For Teens, Early Sex and Media Exposure Not Linked

September 22, 2010 coms 0

The prevalence of sex in the mainstream media has led many researchers to study its effect on impressionable adolescents. Several published, peer-reviewed studies have indicated that there is a link between exposure to sex in the media and the early onset of sexual activity among teens. However, a study led by Temple psychologist Laurence Steinberg questions these findings.

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What Consumers Will Do For Social Acceptance

September 21, 2010 coms 0

People who feel excluded will go to any length to try to become part of a group, even if it involves spending large sums of cash, eating something dicey, or doing illicit drugs, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.