In the Media
Kennedy and Nixon hold first televised debate, Sept. 26, 1960
Politico -- 09/26/2017
“It’s one of those unusual points on the timeline of history where you can say things changed very dramatically — in this case, in a single night,” Alan Schroeder, a media historian and associate professor at Northeastern University who authored the book “Presidential Debates: Forty Years of High-Risk TV,” told Time magazine.
US murder rate rose in 2016 – but experts question claims of long-term trend
The Guardian -- 09/25/2017
The two years of increases in murders come after the national numbers hit “a level that’s as low as we’ve had in decades”, said James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University. Fox said it was not surprising that violence might increase after many years of success in reducing murders. “Two years is not a relevant trend,” he said.
Are you limiting the value of quantitative research?
Quirk's Media -- 09/25/2017
We feel quant is used too narrowly in marketing research, especially in light of today’s fast computers and rich array of statistical methods for analyzing data. Owing to small sample sizes and the high measurement error associated with coding verbatim comments, qualitative research can suggest hypotheses but cannot explore them beyond a certain point. Quantitative methods can also be used to develop hypotheses, not simply to test them. Many marketing researchers seem to have forgotten this in the rush to embrace new technologies which may or may not actually be useful.
Experts: Prez should take timeout on topic
Boston Herald -- 09/25/2017
But Dan Lebowitz of the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University, said the players’ stand could win some over. “The NFL is still America’s game, people love the game and find commonality in the game,” Lebowitz said. “While visceral reactions may happen, more people will understand the scourge of racism and how it is damaging the collective well-being in this country, more and more of this conversation will be had.”…
Violent crime is on the rise, but there’s still no “American carnage”
Vice -- 09/25/2017
“Two years are not a reliable trend,” said James Alan Fox, a professor of criminology at Northeastern University. “In the backdrop, homicide rates in this country are at a half-century low.” For an increase to be considered a “trend” rather than an aberration, according to Fox, it would have to be observed over a period of three or more years.
Are you too old to trick-or-treat on Halloween? In this Canadian city, you might be
Newsweek -- 09/24/2017
Northeastern University’s James Alan Fox wrote for Boston.com in 2011 that, locally, “the evening violent crime count on October 31 is about 50 percent higher than on any other date during the year, and twice the daily average.”…
Pharmacist on trial for deadly meningitis outbreak
WGBH -- 09/22/2017
“Because those steroids were sent through the mail out of state, it became a federal crime,” said Daniel Medwed, WGBH News legal analyst and Northeastern University professor. “The two biggest fish in this enterprise were Barry Cadden and Glenn Chin.”…
Boston’s electric vehicle effort needs a jolt
Boston Globe -- 09/22/2017
Boston has a car problem. Too many people commute by car. And because of air pollution regulations, we have run up against parking limits. A recent Boston Globe article suggests Boston should follow the lead of Amsterdam and Copenhagen in building underwater parking garages as part of the solution. But we need to think bigger, especially if Boston is to meet its goal of getting one-third of the proposed 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 from transportation.
Puerto Rico’s economy was a mess before Hurricane Maria. It will only make recovery harder
Fortune -- 09/22/2017
And even though its finances are now largely in the hands of the federal task force, the island’s track record could make it harder to officials to ask for more money. “With a Republican majority, they could attack [too large a package] as part of a bailout,” says Amilcar Barreto, an associate professor at Northeastern University.
Defiant Iran says it will boost missile capabilities
The Epoch Times -- 09/22/2017
Max Abrahms, assistant professor of Political Science at Northeastern University, said that Iran’s announcement of its new missile will likely lead to more escalation.
New chatbots will help people accept death
Vice -- 09/21/2017
Consider the chatbot developed by researchers at the Boston Medical Center and Northeastern University, which was recently presented at the International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents in Stockholm. According to the researchers’ paper, the chatbot is explicitly meant to replicate conversing with a “palliative care coach” that answers questions about things like preparing a will and funeral preparations. But there’s a twist: The chatbot can also be very spiritual, if you want it to be. The end goal is to reduce people’s anxiety about dying.
New chatbots will help people accept death
CNET News -- 09/21/2017
Consider the chatbot developed by researchers at the Boston Medical Center and Northeastern University, which was recently presented at the International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents in Stockholm. According to the researchers’ paper, the chatbot is explicitly meant to replicate conversing with a “palliative care coach” that answers questions about things like preparing a will and funeral preparations. But there’s a twist: The chatbot can also be very spiritual, if you want it to be. The end goal is to reduce people’s anxiety about dying.