Roman Family Center for Decision Research

Why is it so hard to tell if you’re really making progress? What’s the real secret to staying motivated as you work toward your goals?

Research from Ayelet Fishbach (University of Chicago Booth School of Business) shows that concrete feedback on your progress boosts goal commitment far more than encouragement alone.

Read: https://www.psychologytoday.com/nz/blog/creating-successful-change/202606/why-its-so-hard-to-know-if-youre-really-making-progress via Psychology Today

Chicago Booth Review The University of Chicago

Why It’s So Hard to Know If You’re Really Making Progress It can be tough to tell if you're moving toward your goals. This isn't a character flaw. The answer lies in behavioral science.

On the Podcast: David Epstein, Emily Durham, and Nicholas Epley - Penguin Random House Audio S11 E23: Hear what recording their audiobooks was like for the authors of Inside the Box, Clock In, and A Little More Social.

A Little More Social: Understanding the Science of Everyday Interactions

Why do we so often choose to be alone when connecting with others makes us happier? Join us for a conversation with Nicholas Epley, the John Templeton Keller Professor of Behavioral Science, on his new book A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection. He will explore why we hesitate to reach out and how small acts of connection can transform our everyday lives.

📅 Wednesday, May 20, 2026
🕒 11:00–11:45 AM CT
📍 Online
Register here: https://ow.ly/F3uo50YUymc

The Roman Family Center for Decision Research is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Thaler–Tversky Independent Research Grant for Emerging Scholars!

Endowed by Nobel laureate Richard Thaler in honor of the late Amos Tversky, this annual grant provides up to $2,500 to support innovative, early-stage research led by The University of Chicago PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.

This year’s awardees are:

- Jake Embrey, Principal Researcher, Roman Family Center for Decision Research (RF-CDR)
- Jiabi Wang, PhD student in Behavioral Science, RF-CDR
- Aaron Leonard, PhD student, Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics at the University of Chicago

We’re proud to support these outstanding emerging scholars as they tackle some of the most pressing challenges in behavioral science.

Learn more about their research below, and join us in celebrating the 2026 Thaler-Tversky Grant winners! 👏

https://www.chicagobooth.edu/research/roman/stories/2025/thaler-tversky-2026

If being social is so good for us, why do we often choose to be unsocial?

Chicago Booth’s Nicholas Epley, in a recent opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal, points out that many of us are too pessimistic about how others will respond when we reach out.

Read: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-science-of-talking-to-strangers-eacab1f0

University of Chicago Booth School of Business Chicago Booth Review The University of Chicago

Opinion | The Science of Talking to Strangers People are too pessimistic about how others will respond when they reach out to connect with them.

Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for the Book Launch & Lunch with Professor Nicholas Epley! We were excited to host the unveiling of A Little More Social, a book that encourages us to embrace the joys of connecting with others.

A surprise book giveaway and book signing made the lunch even more special. We appreciate everyone who came out and helped build meaningful connections within The University of Chicago community.

💡 Watch Nick's TED Conferences 2026 talk: "The Simple Habit for a Happier Social Life.” https://www.ted.com/talks/nicholas_epley_the_simple_habit_for_a_happier_social_life

📘 Get your copy of A Little More Social today! https://sites.prh.com/a-little-more-social (Penguin Random House)

University of Chicago Booth School of Business Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab The University of Chicago Chicago Booth Review UChicago Hong Kong Campus UChicago Center in Delhi Penguin Random House Penguin Random House International USA

From the stage at TED 2026, Nicholas Epley (University of Chicago Booth School of Business) shares data from thousands of people who underestimated how good conversations with strangers would feel. Once they actually talked, their commutes and days became more pleasant. Could your next “awkward silence” be a missed opportunity?

💡 Learn more: https://www.ted.com/talks/nicholas_epley_the_simple_habit_for_a_happier_social_life

The University of Chicago Chicago Booth Review Mindworks Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab The University of Chicago

The simple habit for a happier social life We are wired for connection, and yet many of us spend most of our lives avoiding it, says behavioral scientist Nicholas Epley. Drawing on decades of research into happiness, loneliness and well-being, he reveals why we consistently underestimate how receptive others are to connecting — and invites...

Is small talk good for you? Nicholas Epley (University of Chicago Booth School of Business) joined Mary Dixon & Patrick Smith on WBEZ's Say More to discuss his new book, “A Little More Social.” Why do we choose to be unsocial when we get so much out of social connection?

🎙️ Listen: https://www.wbez.org/say-more-with-mary-dixon-patrick-smith/2026/05/19/is-small-talk-good-for-you

Why do we choose to be unsocial when we get so much out of social connection? Say More poses the question to listeners, and hears about what ways people are trying to connect with others.