Social Sciences

Can you judge trustworthiness based on looks? Rice research says no

How many times have you heard someone say, “He looks trustworthy”? As it turns out, you can’t trust appearances..

Rice political scientist Mark Jones available to discuss fight over next speaker of the House

As the U.S. House of Representatives continues to debate over who its next speaker will be, Rice University political scientist Mark Jones is available to discuss how the high-stakes fight impacts the Republican and Democratic parties.

DesRoches outlines 2023 goals to faculty

President Reginald DesRoches delivers his inaugural State of the University

Religious violence increases anxiety among Muslims and Jews, even if they have never been personally targeted

Fear of hate crime looms especially large in the minds of Jews and Muslims, even if they have never been personally targeted, according to a new study from Rice University and West Virginia University.

Businesses backing #BlackLivesMatter are more attractive to workers, have better bottom lines

Businesses that offer public declarations of support for the Black community after violent events like the murder of George Floyd and other serious incidents are more attractive to prospective employees and have bigger bottom lines, according to new research from Rice University.

Rice scholar available to discuss missile strikes in Poland

Amid news reports that rockets or missiles have landed in Poland near the Ukrainian border and killed two people, Rice University political scientist Ric Stoll is available to discuss the situation as it unfolds.

World Series smile

Thomas Avalos, a Lovett College senior majoring in sport management at Rice University, is all smiles while working during the World Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Avalos is a ticket experience ambassador for the team. The Astros won the World Series in six games over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Rice’s Luz Garcini named to American Psychological Association’s board of directors

Luz Garcini , an assistant professor of psychological sciences at Rice University, has been named a member at large of the board of directors of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Why some Latino communities fear the COVID-19 vaccine, and what can be done to help

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, some people in medically underserved Latino communities avoided getting vaccinated due to fears of side effects, mistrust of health officials and vaccine manufacturers and discrimination from health care workers, according to a new study from Rice University.

Rice expert: GOP road to House control runs through South Texas

The Republicans’ path to winning control of the U.S. House passes through South Texas, according to Rice political scientist Mark Jones, who is able to discuss the stakes of the 2022 midterm elections.

Rice’s Eduardo Salas receives lifetime achievement award from Association for Psychological Science

Eduardo Salas , department chair and a professor of psychological sciences at Rice University, has received the coveted James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award from the Association for Psychological Science in recognition of his outstanding career achievements.

Biden appoints Rice's Ruth López Turley to National Board for Education Sciences

President Biden has appointed Ruth López Turley, director of Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research and professor of sociology, to the National Board for Education Sciences.

New study to examine effectiveness of antidepressants by analyzing brain MRIs

Antidepressants only have about a 30% rate of effectiveness, and it can take a month or longer for them to fully take effect in patients. In addition, patients often have to try several different drugs before finding one that works.

Nobel laureate Tom Sargent to discuss soaring inflation and how to combat it at Rice lecture

For decades, the United States’ inflation rate hovered comfortably around the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%. That changed in 2021, when inflation begin to rise at an alarming pace. For Americans under 40, it’s now the highest they’ve seen in their lives .

New motorcycle lighting design could save lives

Motorcycle drivers are 27 times more likely to die in an accident than those in regular passenger vehicles. Night driving is especially dangerous, accounting for nearly half of all fatal crashes.