Research With Impact

Part of a renowned research institution, SC Johnson College is home to innovators and experts who produce and share original knowledge. Here are some of those stories.

Christopher Barrett and David Rand
Dyson School

Research Matters’ video podcast debuts, translating ideas into impact

Professors Chris Barrett and David Rand spotlight Cornell research on real‑world challenges including food prices and AI

Workers hands on keboard
Johnson School

Search platforms rewrite the rules of online shopping

Johnson School professors offer perspective into how platforms design rankings and use behavioral and demographic information to influence consumer decisions.

Woman holding ropes beside a trainer
Johnson School

People use enjoyment, not time spent, to measure goal progress

Cornell professor Kaitlin Woolley ’12, found that people gauge goal progress more by enjoyment than time spent.

A young, happy couple budget together on their couch.
Johnson School

Want to strengthen your relationship? Try talking about money

Romance is usually the topic on Valentine’s Day, but financial conversations offer lasting benefits in long-term relationships.

Female professor with students
Johnson School

Could learning about happiness improve economics education?

Integrating happiness research into courses ranging from macroeconomics to electives can benefit students, according to Johnson School professor.

Smartphone and smartwatch on the table
Johnson School

What makes goal-setting apps motivate – or backfire?

Digital tools meant to aid goal‑setting can sometimes sap motivation, but new Cornell‑coauthored research shows how technology can do better

Inventors and engineers working in an office.
Dyson School

The talent spark: How inventors fire up startup ecosystems

New research from SC Johnson College examined how the arrival of inventors in U.S. counties influenced the growth of startups from 2000-2016.

Group of people in an office
Johnson School

Complex incentives shape worker effort, for better or worse

Johnson School professors used data to examine how workers respond to complex pay structures.

A young woman at a computer with bubbles of conversations around her head with AI chatbots
Johnson School

AI chatbots can effectively sway voters – in either direction

A short interaction with a chatbot can meaningfully shift a voter’s opinion about a presidential candidate or proposed policy in either direction, new Cornell research finds.