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In this Perspective, Fjell and Walhovd argue that, to account for considerable interindividual variability in sleep need, future research must consider environmental, individual and situational factors when studying the impact of sleep on cognitive and brain health.
Time is running out to prevent our closest living relatives—the great apes—from being driven to extinction at our own hands. Mitani et al. advocate for substantial changes to policy and research practices before it is too late.
Hatzenbuehler et al. argue that cognitive neuroscience should take more interest in the consequences of social inequality, and discuss various research methods for accomplishing this goal.
In this Perspective, the authors examine the psychological factors that shape attitudes towards AI tools, while also investigating strategies to overcome resistance when AI systems offer clear benefits.
Artificial intelligence tools and systems are increasingly influencing human culture. Brinkmann et al. argue that these ‘intelligent machines’ are transforming the fundamental processes of cultural evolution: variation, transmission and selection.
Behavioural science is increasingly used in the public and private sectors, but it has been subject to several criticisms. This Perspective proposes a manifesto for behavioural science, addressing these criticisms and describing a way forward for the field.
Biased research is wasteful, undermines the credibility of science and prevents cumulative knowledge. Hardwicke and Wagenmakers explain how preregistration, when carefully and transparently used, can help to reduce bias.
The coming years are likely to see slowing economic growth, which has significant consequences for developed democracies. This Perspective by Burgess et al. considers the implications of slowed growth and proposes a guided civic revival approach to addressing challenges.
Wagenmakers and colleagues describe seven statistical procedures that increase transparency in data analysis. These procedures highlight common ground among data analysts from different schools and find inspiration in Merton’s ethos of science.
Although intellectual humility is a prerequisite for credible science, it is rarely practised. Hoekstra and Vazire make recommendations on how to increase intellectual humility in research articles and highlight the crucial role of peer reviewers in promoting intellectually humble manuscripts.
Behavioural science increasingly informs policy, but findings are not always replicated. Bryan et al. describe an emerging heterogeneity revolution. They recommend that researchers use heterogeneity in treatment effects to develop more robust theories of causality and strengthen the field.
Risk-pooling systems have been developed as a way to collectively manage risk and can protect against loss in times of crisis. Cronk and Aktipis present seven design principles for risk-pooling systems and discuss how they are used by human communities worldwide.
Nielsen et al. argue for more involvement of behavioural scientists in addressing the challenge of globally increasing biodiversity loss, identifying important gaps in existing knowledge and outlining core components for a robust evidence base.
How can we determine the best way of measuring a psychological construct? Bach et al. propose a ‘retrodictive validity’ approach, in which candidate methods are ranked based on their sensitivity to detect known effects, with the most sensitive then being favoured for use in novel scenarios.
Dubois and colleagues describe how a testable framework for personality research, delineating personality’s causal and constitutive relations with genes, environment, brain, mind and behaviour will benefit the field.
Giurge and Whillans et al. highlight the problem of time poverty, explore the factors that drive it, discuss its personal and social consequences, and call for more research attention to this pervasive form of poverty.
Thirty-two experts propose ten considerations for managing the de-escalation of COVID-19 containment measures while still maintaining public adherence to social and physical distancing.
Lorenz-Spreen et al. argue that effective web governance is needed to empower individuals online. They describe two classes of behavioural interventions—nudging and boosting— that can help redesign online environments for informed and autonomous choice
Leroi et al. argue that neutral models, which are evolutionary models that do not involve a process of natural selection, must be applied with care, and that alternative methods are often needed to conclusively explain the diversity of variants.