We instinctively add on new features and fixes. Why don’t we subtract instead? News Across a series of studies published this month in the journal Nature, Batten’s Gabrielle Adams, Benjamin Converse and co-authors demonstrated that people tend to overlook the option to subtract parts when asked to change or improve something. In an op-ed for The Washington Post, they explore why ‘less is more’ is a hard insight to act on.
Why People Forget that Less is Often More News Why, when solving problems, do people prefer adding things to getting rid of them? In an article for The Economist, Batten’s Gabrielle Adams and Benjamin Converse explain their research on subtractive improvements.
Why Our Brains Miss Opportunities to Improve through Subtraction News In a new paper featured on the cover of Nature, Batten’s Gabrielle Adams, Benjamin Converse and co-authors explain why people systematically overlook subtractive improvements.
People systematically overlook subtractive changes Research A series of problem-solving experiments reveal that people are more likely to consider solutions that add features than solutions that remove them, even when removing features is more efficient.
Batten Faculty and Students Elevate UVA's Virtual January Term Offerings News Batten Professor David Leblang's "Pandemics Beyond the Headlines: COVID-19" and Professor Gabrielle Adams' "Leadership in Athletics" were among the standout virtual course offerings from UVA this January. Contributions from Batten's Center for Leadership Simulation and Gaming and Batten student Terrell Jana (BA '21) brought an experiential lens to some of today’s critical issues, preparing students to meet future challenges.
Batten Hosts Candidate Forum with Democratic Contenders for Virginia’s 5th District Seat News Earlier this week, Batten professors moderated a discussion between the four candidates on issues ranging from racial justice to gun control.
The Case for Regifting News Many think the move is shameful—but research from Batten's Gabrielle Adams and Harvard's Michael Norton suggests the problem is all in the regifter’s head.
Professor Spotlight: Gabrielle Adams News When it comes to social psychology, Professor Gabrielle Adams’s knowledge and experience belie her age.