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Keeping it real
A Vancouver Sun story on Nov. 2 described a new study by Associate Professor of Psychology Chris Wright that suggests job applicants modify their test answers when warned that lies would be detected. "People may be tempted to make themselves look as attractive as possible to employers, but honesty is always the best policy, since many pre-employment tests have ways to spot fakers," Wright said. "Warning applicants can be a simple and cost-effective way for employers to influence people to provide honest responses, which will ultimately provide more accurate test results to inform hiring decisions."
High tea
Associate Professor of History Charles Postel, in a Nov. 1 Christian Science Monitor article, explained the dilema Tea Party conservatives face in deciding whether to vote for marijuana legalization in California. "There's a very strong conservative tradition in this country, and part of it has been libertarian on questions of the economy (but) has always had a very strong repressive streak on other issues," Postel said. "I don't think it's ever been easy to separate those two things."
Unbalanced boards
In a 3-minute interview for the Nov. 1 San Francisco Examiner, Assistant Professor of Raza Studies Belinda Reyes explained the results of a study that showed a lack of diversity on school boards when compared to the student population. The study, which she co-authored, "looks at how many Latinos there are -- the diversity -- and why there are barriers and whether it makes a difference in terms of policy…"
Educational overload
Associate Professor of Secondary Education Judith Kysh, in a Nov. 1 San Francisco Examiner article, commented on the appropriateness of San Francisco Unified School District's daily target of 20-30 minutes of homework for K-5 children. "Unless they are doing a report of some kind, it tends to be busy work," Kysh said. "It's counterproductive and tends to alienate students."
Polar politics
In an Oct. 29 "Delaware Online" election story, Associate Professor of History Charles Postel characterized questions about President Obama's birth, religion and loyalty to the country as attacks on his legitimacy as a leader and a part of today's increasing political polarization. Referring to the Delaware senate primary defeat of moderate Rep. Mike Castle, Postel said, "For the first time in history, one of two major parties purged itself of any mediating forces."
Unexpected consequences
Assistant Professor of Public Administration Eric Zeemering discussed the likely impact of a Half Moon Bay ballot proposition to increase the local sales tax in an Oct. 27 Half Moon Bay Review story. Counterintuitively, Zeemering says the tax increase may make politicians more responsive to business interests and he does not anticipate passage will cause major economic changes, "…it’s unlikely people will make the calculation that it’s worth their gas and time to shop elsewhere," he said. "Over time, I think people will fall back in the habit of shopping locally."
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