early research findings

The first students to use Sway for regular course assignments discussed and debated many topics including: investing public resources to address educational disadvantages faced by boys and men, the appropriate response to gender-related distress in children, and whether Kamala Harris’s defeat is best explained by misogyny. 

In an early pilot study, 120 participants discussed a polarizing topic such as the 2020 election, January 6, Israel-Palestine, support for Ukraine, or abortion rights. All participants were paired with someone who disagreed with them about the topic. Trials like this teach us how to promote more informed, rational, and constructive discussions of important but challenging topics.