Last spring, Research Matters set out to show how Cornell scholarship routinely bursts out of the lab and library. Now the video podcast series, back for a second season, ranges even further, from an emergency room to a courtroom, from a basketball court out to the universe itself. The 18-episode season launches with “Why Don’t We Do the Things We Know We Should?” In it, Cornell behavioral economist Suzanne Shu – an electrical engineer turned behavioral economist – breaks down the psychology behind procrastination, overspending and our strange attachment to stuff in order to illustrate why willpower isn’t the problem, and what actually helps. “Cornell researchers devote their careers to solving the world's hardest problems,” said Monica Yant Kinney, associate vice president for communications in University Relations. “Research Matters pulls back the curtain so everyone else can see what that work actually looks like. Whether it’s why we procrastinate, how tipping got so confusing or what's really driving up health insurance costs, this is where big research turns into everyday, useful knowledge.”
Cornell behavioral economist Suzanne Shu — a former electrical engineer turned behavioral economist — breaks down the psychology behind procrastination, overspending and our strange attachment to stuff. It's a funny, sharply researched look at why willpower isn't really the problem, and what actually helps.
