Bulleted Lists & Memory

How can you make your writing more memorable? Whether it's an important email, presentation, or grocery list, you want your readers to remember what you wrote. Is a bulleted list the silver bullet?

Error Bars in Graphs

Statistical averages often come with a "margin of error," based on the sample size and variance between datapoints. This margin of error can be shown graphically via error bars. But do error bars increase rigor at the expense of understandability? Our experiment with an audience of over 1,000 people put it to the test.

Formatting - ALL CAPS

Putting words in ALL CAPS can signal importance. However, it can also feel like shouting. Does formatting text in all caps boost memory at the cost of a harsher tone? We used a randomized experiment with 1,200 email readers to find out.

Formatting - Bold Text

When sending emails, can bolding the key details make them easier to recall? If so, does it make other info less memorable? And how does it affect your perceived tone? We put all of these questions to the test in an email experiment.

Serif vs. Sans Serif Fonts

Serif fonts, with their decorative tapers, have historically been used in print media to help readers distinguish between letters. But in the digital age, sans serif fonts may be no less readable nor visually appealing, according to our 1,200-person email study.  

Statistics - Do They Persuade?

Can adding a statistic to support your claim convince others of its validity? We ran experiments across three contexts, including politics, business, and a college essay, measuring audience perceptions of claim believability and claim-maker competence.

Typos

We all make mistakes, especially when writing or typing. But making it a habit may affect your image. According to our workplace research study, typos in emails significantly affect how smart, likable, and trustworthy you seem.

Vertical vs. Horizontal Bar Graphs

Bar graphs are among the most popular types of graphs used in presentations and reports. While vertical bars are more traditional, horizontal bars have gained popularity. Which do audiences prefer? Our 1,200-person experiment has the answer.

Video Duration

Recording presentations as videos has become a popular practice, as has including videos within longer presentations. But attention spans have shortened. We investigated how video length affects audience interest and annoyance.

Zoom vs. Metaverse Meetings

Virtual meetings have skyrocketed in recent years, with Zoom and other video conferencing platforms now the standard. But if virtual reality becomes a feasible venue for such meetings, which would people prefer? We put it to the (preliminary) test.