Interruptions are a common phenomenon in the workplace, with office workers frequently distracted by the conversations of their chatty neighbours. New ESRC-funded research has found that being interrupted whilst reading caused on average a 17 per cent increase in reading time.

ESRC-funded research shows that feeling anxious can improve the exam result – if the candidate has a good working memory. For candidates with poor memory, however, exam anxiety can have a negative effect.

ESRC-funded research has found that young football players can be at different stages of mental development, affecting their decision-making - with implications for football coaching methods.

A new ESRC-funded project chronicles the stories of those who choose to disappear and become a missing person. The findings will be used to train police, inform government policy and design services to support those who disappear and their families.

A new survey shows that Brits have become less tolerant of immigration in general, but discerning between types of immigrants - corroborating findings from ESRC-funded research on public attitudes.

'Women talk, men bottle things up' is a popular stereotype. But it's not simply a gender divide; age, generation and class are also important in how we deal with emotional issues, according to recent research.

Understanding how crowds behave is crucial for safety and security at big events. The Crowd Behaviour Network, part of an ESRC-funded research project, provides timely insights into crowd management in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Despite much focus on how people donate to charitable causes, there has been much less research on fundraisers and how their personal skills affect the performance. The research project 'The Formation of Fundraisers: the role of personal skills in asking for money' will interview fundraisers and volunteers who have raised significant sums to explore what makes a successful 'asker'.

A BBC online test uses research from the ESRC-funded Emotion Regulation of Others and Self network to explore how people handle tasks under stress.

It may not be altruism, but fear that encourages co-operation, findings show. We are inclined to work together because we are worried about the consequences of selfishly taking advantage of other people.