Social & Behavioral Sciences

ILR researchers demystify disability stats

Researchers at the K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Institute on Employment and Disability released the Disability Statistics Status Report Jan. 30, revealing 41 million noninstitutionalized people are living with disabilities.

Lecture series to examine ‘The Difficulty of Democracy’

A semesterlong series of lectures, “The Difficulty of Democracy: Challenges and Prospects,” begins Feb. 9.

Annelise Riles receives lifetime achievement award

Annelise Riles, professor of anthropology and of law, will receive the Anneliese Maier Award from the German government.

An outdoor cat can damage your sustainability cred

A new study shows birders who allow pet cats out of the house are judged to be less concerned about the environment by other birders.

Lactation hormone cues birds to be good parents

Toppling a widespread assumption that a “lactation” hormone only cues animals to produce food for their babies, Cornell researchers have shown the hormone also prompts zebra finches to be good parents.

Sociologist to speak on inequality and stigmatization

Sociologist Michèle Lamont will discuss economic inequality and recognition for stigmatized minority groups on campus Feb. 2.

Simpler grammar, larger vocabulary: a linguistic paradox explained

New Cornell research explains why languages with many speakers, like English or Mandarin, have large vocabularies with relatively simple grammar – and why those with fewer speakers have the opposite characteristics.

Researchers learn the social function of babies’ babbling

New research shows that babies organize mothers’ verbal responses, which promotes more effective language instruction, and babbling is key.

Gifts create new Arts and Sciences professorships

Four new alumni gifts have helped the College of Arts and Sciences create three new professorships and fund a new graduate student position.