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The Reality Distortion Field Is Real

Posted by kdawson on from the roped-tied-and-branded dept.

TimeZone writes "Apparently, even subliminal exposure to the Apple logo can make you 'think different.' Researchers at Duke University subjected participants to subliminal images of the iconic Apple and IBM logos (during what subjects thought was a visual acuity test), and those who were shown the Apple logo generated more creative ideas after the test than did those who were shown the IBM logo. In a second test, subjects exposed to the Disney logo acted more honestly than those who saw an E! Channel logo." Here's a preprint of the paper (PDF) due for publication in the Journal of Consumer Research.

14 of 270 comments (clear)

  1. Just what slashdot needed. by timmarhy · · Score: 1, Insightful

    More apple wankery.

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  2. Re:Yaa! CreativIty can be measured now! by GoodbyeBlueSky1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Indeed. This is not a scientific study, it's a bunch of marketers trying to "prove" that what they do matters. Journal of Consumer Research? Surely no conflict of interest there. In other news, a study backed by McDonald's proves that their food is actually good for you! Film at 11.

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    why? forty-two.
  3. Apple is just the new Microsoft by Heembo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Apple is the new Microsoft, Microsoft is the new IBM.

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    Horns are really just a broken halo.
    1. Re:Apple is just the new Microsoft by Basilius · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And Google is the new Apple.

    2. Re:Apple is just the new Microsoft by Heembo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Facebook is the new Google.

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      Horns are really just a broken halo.
    3. Re:Apple is just the new Microsoft by KillerBob · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Sadly, that doesn't make Microsoft the new Dodo.

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      If you believe everything you read, you'd better not read. - Japanese proverb
  4. Um, guys... by Space+cowboy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Say WHAT ?

    This is humour - lay off the "insightful" mods, will you please ? It's starting to erode my confidence in my fellow man...

    Simon

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    Physicists get Hadrons!
  5. Re:Yaa! CreativIty can be measured now! by mikeabbott420 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    My rule of thumb is, unless the details of the methodology used are available and convincing, study means lie.

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  6. April issue by rbanffy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Seriously, it's in the April issue.

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    http://www.dieblinkenlights.com
  7. Re:Yaa! CreativIty can be measured now! by porcupine8 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Well then, exactly what in the methodology of this study did you take issue with?

    Seeing as how it's all laid out in the preprint linked to in the summary.

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    Warning: Apple/Nintendo fangirl. Likes her electronics cute & cuddly. May be rabid.
  8. Re:Yaa! CreativIty can be measured now! by porcupine8 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Because obviously if you didn't know about any ways of measuring creativity, it means that there can't possibly be an entire field devoted to creativity research that's spent decades operationalizing aspects of it and developing valid and reliable tests for it?

    Which isn't to say we can measure it with 100% accuracy or that there's no debate still about what it is, what should be included, etc etc. But it's so nice of you to completely dismiss out of hand the very idea of measuring it in any way.

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    Warning: Apple/Nintendo fangirl. Likes her electronics cute & cuddly. May be rabid.
  9. Re:Yaa! CreativIty can be measured now! by billcopc · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What ? You think peer-reviewed journals are immune to bias ? By their very nature they are biased, because you have a group of like-minded individuals reviewing each other's work. If they weren't like-minded, they wouldn't be collaborating on the project in the first place.

    It's quite possible that the test itself was slanted in favor of the desired outcome, if that's the general sentiment within the group. Nothing in this world is purely objective, nothing but math!

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    -Billco, Fnarg.com
  10. subliminal messaging? by Unlikely_Hero · · Score: 3, Insightful

    From what I recall subliminal messaging was dismissed as bunk a decade ago or earlier.

    Also...Disney...
    honest?...come on....

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    Happiness does not come from having much, but from being attached to little.
  11. Re:Yeah, but... by electrictroy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    When I stare at an Amiga logo, I cry.

    (so much wasted potential for such an awesome machine)

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    The government is not your daddy. Its purpose is not to raid middle-class neighbors' wallets and give it to you.