Introduction (What is Selective Attention?) Selective attention is a fundamental ability linked to human memory and cognition, and it plays a major role in academic understanding and achievement. It is the ability to selectively process information that is relevant and specific to a task at hand, while simultaneously avoiding the processing of irrelevant, distracting information. This filtering of information is essential in understanding [...]
Introduction In a traditional sense, a “focus group” is a common market research method to collect feedback from a group of people. A company will survey a small group of people, often having them discuss products or services that have yet to be launched. The expectation is that the company will gain valuable insight into what the public may think once the product [...]
Introduction to Virtual Reality (a.k.a. VR) Rock climbing, skydiving, extreme mountain biking, roller coasters, even tropical vacations: Thanks to VR, all these endeavors are now possible without leaving the comfort of your home. VR refers to the use of computer-generated imaging and stimuli to replicate a “real” environment. In their selected environment, users can experience sound, touch, and even 360-degree panoramic views, as [...]
According to a 2015 national survey, 70 percent of college students reported feeling stressed about their finances. Tuition alone has skyrocketed—during the 2019 to 2020 school year, researchers found a 180 percent increase in cost compared to 40 years ago—but this is merely the beginning. College students have a plethora of other expenses as well, such as meal plans, groceries, boarding, rent, travel, [...]
Language is always a topic of conversation at our office. We love words (no surprise there), but there are certain words that we love more than others. My favorite word is antidisestablishmentarianism because I love the way it sounds and I love that it’s a double negative. Antidisestablishmentarianism was a political ideology that opposed the withdrawal of state support from the Church of [...]
When I was in sixth grade, I got the chance to attend BEA, or BookExpo America, with my parents in New York City. The yearly convention offers members of the publishing industry a chance to “build relationships, learn tactics to bolster business and get the pulse of what’s trending in today’s shifting marketplace.” My mother was considering opening a bookstore at the time [...]
Title: The Power Author: Naomi Alderman Average PSG Rating: 4.3/5 Favorite Quote: “One of them says, ‘Why did they do it?’ . . . And the other answers, ‘Because they could.’ That is the only answer there ever is.” March was a long month (winter packed its bags then decided to stay a little longer), but that gave the PSG Book Club more [...]
Much like the seas incarnadine, the English language is multitudinous! We have so many words for various feelings and experiences, yet we’re missing some important ones. Luckily, many other languages have evocative words that perfectly describe common situations. Here’s a few I enjoyed! Tartle (Scottish) The moment of panic that happens when you can’t remember someone’s name when you’re about to introduce them. [...]
FEBRUARY Title: Life After Life Author: Kate Atkinson Average PSG Rating: 3.875/5 Favorite Quote: “Sylvie’s knowledge, like Izzie’s, was random yet far-ranging, ‘The sign that one has acquired one’s learning from reading novels rather than an education.’” Although the PSG Book Club was a little behind this month (we blame February) we’re excited to reveal our thoughts on our second pick—Life After Life [...]
After you’ve made your New Year’s resolutions on January 1, gather fortune and good luck to help you maintain your goals during Chinese New Year on February 5. Also called the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, it is a 15-day celebration to mark the beginning of the lunar year, reunite with family and start fresh. The holiday traditionally ends with the Lantern [...]