Dennis Nigbur
@dennisnigbur.bsky.social
Social psychology professional, amateur mandolin player, football fan. Posting in a personal capacity.
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
That this is now aspirational, rather than a reality in the U.S., is the saddest thing ever.
my vision of the US is I wake up in my neighborhood and all my neighbors are still in it, and all the kids feel safe to go to school, and I go to work and and no one’s waiting at the door to see if I’m someone coming to take them away, and I go to bed knowing the next day will be the same
@whstancil.bsky.social I would love for Mr Stancil, the Hero of Minnesota, to write a short story about a day in his vision of USA as it should be. I want to see Will’s Vision.
January 27, 2026 at 8:41 PM
That this is now aspirational, rather than a reality in the U.S., is the saddest thing ever.
Do you remember learning about good and evil? For me, it involved many years of conversations with parents, Christian teachings, school, stories in the media, discussions with friends and family, and a lot of soul-searching and reflection. An education in the fullest sense ... [1/4]
January 26, 2026 at 10:43 PM
Do you remember learning about good and evil? For me, it involved many years of conversations with parents, Christian teachings, school, stories in the media, discussions with friends and family, and a lot of soul-searching and reflection. An education in the fullest sense ... [1/4]
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
As always, a fantastic response from @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk :
wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/response-to-...
wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/response-to-...
Wheels for Wellbeing response to government announcement on pavement parking
Wheels for Wellbeing is an award-winning charity supporting disabled people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the benefits of cycling.
wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk
January 13, 2026 at 3:38 PM
As always, a fantastic response from @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk :
wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/response-to-...
wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/response-to-...
What a powerful statement!
Becca Good’s statement on the murder of her wife Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.
“On Wednesday, January 7th, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns.”
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
“On Wednesday, January 7th, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns.”
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Renee Macklin Good’s wife says she nurtured kindness
On Wednesday, Renee Macklin Good was fatally shot by a federal ICE agent. Becca Good, her wife, shared the following statement with MPR News.
www.mprnews.org
January 9, 2026 at 5:45 PM
What a powerful statement!
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Ahmed al Ahmed, the man who tackled one of the Bondi killers, became an Australian citizen 3 years ago.
His deed was "his way of conveying his gratitude for staying in Australia, for being granted citizenship."
He took 5 bullets, and fears he'll lose his left arm.
www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
His deed was "his way of conveying his gratitude for staying in Australia, for being granted citizenship."
He took 5 bullets, and fears he'll lose his left arm.
www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
December 15, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Ahmed al Ahmed, the man who tackled one of the Bondi killers, became an Australian citizen 3 years ago.
His deed was "his way of conveying his gratitude for staying in Australia, for being granted citizenship."
He took 5 bullets, and fears he'll lose his left arm.
www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
His deed was "his way of conveying his gratitude for staying in Australia, for being granted citizenship."
He took 5 bullets, and fears he'll lose his left arm.
www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
December 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
When political lies meet economic reality: Reform, which promised to keep Council tax low and cut spending, then increased it by the maximum permissible, and still its deficit is skyrocketing. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Reform UK council’s budget reveals ‘gaping’ £60 million deficit
Kent County Council (KCC), faces a projected debt increase of tens of millions of pounds, even with maximum council tax hikes
www.independent.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 8:26 AM
When political lies meet economic reality: Reform, which promised to keep Council tax low and cut spending, then increased it by the maximum permissible, and still its deficit is skyrocketing. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
I sit down in a café and on the wall opposite is a sign that says ‘I want you to know that there are brighter days waiting for you, even if it’s impossible to see that right now.’ And it is just a printed sign, written by someone I don’t know, and it’s not really for me, but it makes me feel good.
December 15, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I sit down in a café and on the wall opposite is a sign that says ‘I want you to know that there are brighter days waiting for you, even if it’s impossible to see that right now.’ And it is just a printed sign, written by someone I don’t know, and it’s not really for me, but it makes me feel good.
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
A man hailed as a hero for tackling one of the Bondi Beach suspects has been misidentified in posts circulating online.
The posts falsely claim that he’s named ‘Edward Crabtree’ - when his identity has been confirmed as Ahmed al Ahmed.
The posts falsely claim that he’s named ‘Edward Crabtree’ - when his identity has been confirmed as Ahmed al Ahmed.
Man who tackled Bondi Beach suspect misidentified online – Full Fact
Posts shared widely on social media have falsely claimed that the man who tackled one of the suspected gunmen was named ‘Edward Crabtree’.
fullfact.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:22 PM
A man hailed as a hero for tackling one of the Bondi Beach suspects has been misidentified in posts circulating online.
The posts falsely claim that he’s named ‘Edward Crabtree’ - when his identity has been confirmed as Ahmed al Ahmed.
The posts falsely claim that he’s named ‘Edward Crabtree’ - when his identity has been confirmed as Ahmed al Ahmed.
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Cars are a lot slower than people think. This driver commutes at 4 MPH. That's barely faster than walking (avg walking pace is around 3.3 MPH)
They could cut their commute to 15 minutes biking at 12 MPH, but they might not have a safe route to do so
We are forcing people into terrible car commutes
They could cut their commute to 15 minutes biking at 12 MPH, but they might not have a safe route to do so
We are forcing people into terrible car commutes
December 16, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Cars are a lot slower than people think. This driver commutes at 4 MPH. That's barely faster than walking (avg walking pace is around 3.3 MPH)
They could cut their commute to 15 minutes biking at 12 MPH, but they might not have a safe route to do so
We are forcing people into terrible car commutes
They could cut their commute to 15 minutes biking at 12 MPH, but they might not have a safe route to do so
We are forcing people into terrible car commutes
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
I’d rather go back to the days of n = 20 studies than this. At least we could meta-analyze results from real people
December 16, 2025 at 6:32 PM
I’d rather go back to the days of n = 20 studies than this. At least we could meta-analyze results from real people
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
I completely agree.
It feels like people are looking around themselves, thinking "What can I apply AI to next?"
I think history will show we really, really rushed into this one.
It feels like people are looking around themselves, thinking "What can I apply AI to next?"
I think history will show we really, really rushed into this one.
December 16, 2025 at 6:49 PM
I completely agree.
It feels like people are looking around themselves, thinking "What can I apply AI to next?"
I think history will show we really, really rushed into this one.
It feels like people are looking around themselves, thinking "What can I apply AI to next?"
I think history will show we really, really rushed into this one.
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Every so often when I read things about people using AI ‘participants’ in psychology, I think “that can’t be just what it sounds like, though. There must be some more to this; some complex epistemology I’m missing”.
But no, it seemingly is really is just “Whee!!! N= go brrrr!!!”
But no, it seemingly is really is just “Whee!!! N= go brrrr!!!”
A lot of psych is already conducted with online convenience samples & ppl are probably excited about silicon samples bc it would allow them to crank out more studies for even less 💸
How about we reconsider the idea that sciencey science involves collecting own data.
www.science.org/content/arti...
How about we reconsider the idea that sciencey science involves collecting own data.
www.science.org/content/arti...
AI-generated ‘participants’ can lead social science experiments astray, study finds
Data produced by “silicon samples” depends on researchers’ exact choice of models, prompts, and settings
www.science.org
October 1, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Every so often when I read things about people using AI ‘participants’ in psychology, I think “that can’t be just what it sounds like, though. There must be some more to this; some complex epistemology I’m missing”.
But no, it seemingly is really is just “Whee!!! N= go brrrr!!!”
But no, it seemingly is really is just “Whee!!! N= go brrrr!!!”
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
It’s data fabrication, plain and simple, FFS.
December 16, 2025 at 6:58 PM
It’s data fabrication, plain and simple, FFS.
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Every existing problem in survey research is about to look quaint.
Did you know that from tomorrow, Qualtrics is offering synthetic panels (AI-generated participants)?
Follow me down a rabbit hole I'm calling "doing science is tough and I'm so busy, can't we just make up participants?"
Follow me down a rabbit hole I'm calling "doing science is tough and I'm so busy, can't we just make up participants?"
December 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Every existing problem in survey research is about to look quaint.
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
'Love thy neighbour, as God loves you' – Bishops respond to rise in 'Christian nationalism'
www.oxford.anglican.org/news/bishops...
www.oxford.anglican.org/news/bishops...
Bishops respond to rise in 'Christian nationalism' - Diocese of Oxford
'Love thy neighbour, as God loves you' – Bishops respond to rise in 'Christian nationalism'
www.oxford.anglican.org
December 16, 2025 at 9:07 PM
'Love thy neighbour, as God loves you' – Bishops respond to rise in 'Christian nationalism'
www.oxford.anglican.org/news/bishops...
www.oxford.anglican.org/news/bishops...
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
"Migrants who came to the UK on skilled work visas in 2022-23 will make a net contribution of £47bn to the public finances over their lifetime, according to new estimates from the government’s Migration Advisory Committee."
Not surprising, but some observations (1/n)
www.ft.com/content/10da...
Not surprising, but some observations (1/n)
www.ft.com/content/10da...
December 11, 2025 at 6:09 PM
"Migrants who came to the UK on skilled work visas in 2022-23 will make a net contribution of £47bn to the public finances over their lifetime, according to new estimates from the government’s Migration Advisory Committee."
Not surprising, but some observations (1/n)
www.ft.com/content/10da...
Not surprising, but some observations (1/n)
www.ft.com/content/10da...
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Recently discovered, surprisingly good, slow shutter mode on my phone. #photography #Nature #landscape #shropshire #LandscapePhotography
December 10, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Recently discovered, surprisingly good, slow shutter mode on my phone. #photography #Nature #landscape #shropshire #LandscapePhotography
Last lecture before Christmas today. And now a whole cocktail of emotions: relief to have got through the term without illness, pleasure at seeing students' understanding grow, frustration about things that could have gone better, and gratitude for working in this amazing job.
December 9, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Last lecture before Christmas today. And now a whole cocktail of emotions: relief to have got through the term without illness, pleasure at seeing students' understanding grow, frustration about things that could have gone better, and gratitude for working in this amazing job.
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Impact of demographic change in one image.
December 9, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Impact of demographic change in one image.
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
15 years ago today the Tory & Lib Dem government tripled tuition fees.
Young people, our economy and society are robbed of the learning and skills universities offer- whilst graduates face average debt of £53,000.
Education should be a right, not a privilege. Scrap tuition fees.
Young people, our economy and society are robbed of the learning and skills universities offer- whilst graduates face average debt of £53,000.
Education should be a right, not a privilege. Scrap tuition fees.
December 9, 2025 at 5:00 PM
15 years ago today the Tory & Lib Dem government tripled tuition fees.
Young people, our economy and society are robbed of the learning and skills universities offer- whilst graduates face average debt of £53,000.
Education should be a right, not a privilege. Scrap tuition fees.
Young people, our economy and society are robbed of the learning and skills universities offer- whilst graduates face average debt of £53,000.
Education should be a right, not a privilege. Scrap tuition fees.
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Wow, this meta analysis was entirely fictional. This thread reveals that it appears to be AI generated bullshit loaded with fake citations.
We are entering a very worrisome situation where AI can generate papers that look real at a glance—this one fooled me too.
We are entering a very worrisome situation where AI can generate papers that look real at a glance—this one fooled me too.
So...my undergrad thesis student is doing a quality analysis of studies found in meta-analyses. She identified a few and we contacted the authors to request their effect sizes and other variables for the studies in their papers.
Here's what happened:
scientiapsychiatrica.com/index.php/Sc...
Here's what happened:
scientiapsychiatrica.com/index.php/Sc...
The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis | Scientia Psychiatrica
Introduction: The proliferation of social media has raised significant concerns about its potential effects on the mental health of adolescents. This meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive asse...
scientiapsychiatrica.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Wow, this meta analysis was entirely fictional. This thread reveals that it appears to be AI generated bullshit loaded with fake citations.
We are entering a very worrisome situation where AI can generate papers that look real at a glance—this one fooled me too.
We are entering a very worrisome situation where AI can generate papers that look real at a glance—this one fooled me too.
Even in the wind and rain, a visit to Canterbury Cathedral for our Canterbury Christ Church University carol service is something really special. We can be grateful for this.
December 5, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Even in the wind and rain, a visit to Canterbury Cathedral for our Canterbury Christ Church University carol service is something really special. We can be grateful for this.
Reposted by Dennis Nigbur
Again: the Purpose of LLM- type "AI" bullshit engines is not to tell you the truth or to lie to you, but to tell you something you are statistically determined to be more likely to accept, irrespective of facts— which makes them perfect for accelerating dis- & misinformation & persuasive propaganda…
AI dialogues shifted political support by 2 to 3 points in trials, eclipsing standard ads. Roughly one-third of this effect persisted for a month. However, models optimized for persuasion proved more factually error-prone.
#MLSky
#MLSky
AI chatbots can persuade voters to change their minds
Conversations with AI can sway people’s political views. Concerningly, a chatbot’s facts are not always accurate, especially when it supports right-wing positions.
www.nature.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Again: the Purpose of LLM- type "AI" bullshit engines is not to tell you the truth or to lie to you, but to tell you something you are statistically determined to be more likely to accept, irrespective of facts— which makes them perfect for accelerating dis- & misinformation & persuasive propaganda…