Here's what we've been talking about on 'Easy Mornings with Jeff Harkness'...

Monday - January 30th

Researchers say it may be easier for people to lie in a text message than when they communicate through video or in person because they don't feel as scrutinized.

The new study was led by David Jingjun Xu, assistant business professor at Wichita State University School of Business in Wichita, Kan. Working with colleagues at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada, he had 170 UBC business students conduct fake stock trades in person, by video or by sending texts.

The participants acting as brokers were told they would receive cash rewards for increased stock sales. They were also given inside information that the stock they were selling would lose half its value.

Meanwhile, buyers were told they would receive cash depending on their stocks' value, but they were not given any inside information before their transaction. Once the trades were completed, the buyers were asked if their brokers had been deceitful.

After examining which brokers were considered liars, the researchers took into account which form of communication the "broker" had used to make the trade.

The study revealed that buyers who received information through text messages were 95 percent more likely to report a deception than if they had communicated through video. They were also 31 percent more likely to report that they were deceived than those who made the transaction in person and 18 percent more likely than those who had a audio chat.

The researchers pointed out one possible explanation for significant drop in deception during the video communication is that video can make people feel as though they are being more closely watched -- a perception they called the "spotlight effect."

Xu's team also believe that the findings might help consumers avoid problems such as online fraud.

The findings are to be published in the March issue of the Journal of Business Ethics.

Tuesday - January 31st

The 10 Best

1. Burlington, VT

2. Madison, WI

3. Plano, TX

4. San Jose, CA

5. Boise, ID

6. Austin, TX

7. Virginia Beach, VA

8. Seattle, WA

9. Aurora, CO

10. Raleigh, NC

The 10 Worst

91. Kansas City, MO

92. Toledo, OH

93. Tulsa, OK

94. Cleveland, OH

95. Jackson, MS

96. St. Louis, MO

97. Detroit, MI

98. Philadelphia, PA

99. Burlington, AL

100. Memphis, TN

Wednesday - February 1st

GUY THINGS THAT WOMEN SHOULDN'T OVERREACT ABOUT (MadameNoire)

He fails to plan: You've been pestering him to reserve airline tickets, concert tickets or make a doctor's appointment he really needs. And he keeps forgetting. But remember, women are multi-taskers by nature, and that includes our ability to think about multiple things at a time. When a man steps into the work place, for the most part, his brain is on the work track and he barely thinks about another thing until he gets home. And then it's too late: you're already asking him if he made the call and he already forgot. But it's not that he didn't care about what you asked him to do.

When he doesn't act appreciative: Men don't get as gushy over nice things women do for them. Often, you make a man a meal, he kisses you on the cheek and says "Thanks baby" and sits down to happily eat. And silently. Somehow, men think we know how appreciative they are just by watching them enjoy what we've done for them. Women need more words to feel appreciated, but really should pick up from the smile on his face that he appreciates it.

When he doesn't invite you along: Women are more comfortable talking about most things with their friends or family, when their boyfriend is standing right there. Men, however, compartmentalize who they talk to about what. Sometimes they don't want to bring their girlfriend because they want to get to shoot the sh*t with their friends or family in the way they just don't feel comfortable doing in front of their woman.

When he abandons you at a party: He should definitely check in on you throughout the night and sit next to you if it's a dinner party. But, the two of you have plenty of time together alone. And at a party, you should be socializing with other people. Your boyfriend probably assumes you are able to fend for yourself, and you should be able to. If you are shy, that is not his fault. Let him enjoy himself.

When it seems like his friends don't know about you: You're hanging out with his friends, and when you tell them about a recent promotion at work, or the death of a loved one, they draw blanks. Your man clearly hasn't talked to them much about you. But, in general, women talk to their friends way more about their significant others than men do. It's nothing personal. It's just your man not wanting to annoy his friends by going on and on about his girlfriend.

When he doesn't overreact: You get into a fender bender. You have a cold. Your phone is stolen. And all he wants to know is how and when it can be fixed. But, he doesn't seem to feel for you. Keep in mind that men are fixers. So, they worry more about the solution, than the emotional ramifications of the problem.

Thursday - February 2nd

Can't see around the slew of papers at your desk? Before you clear your work zone, consider this: It may be helping you think more clearly. According to recent German research, clutter helps people focus. The study—which tested how efficiently people completed tasks like categorizing items in both messy and clean environments—found that chaos helped people simplify the tasks at hand.

Play Video Games

You might want to stop suggesting your children do something more productive—better yet, pick up a controller yourself. A Penn State study found that video games not only boosts your problem-solving skills, but also help us make accurate decisions faster. The best part? It doesn't matter if you win or lose. Students who took a creativity test after playing video games scored higher than those who hadn't played—whether the outcome was in their favor or not. Since we're guessing your office doesn't have an Xbox set up, try playing the night before a big meeting. Or if you head home at lunch, turn the game on for a half hour.

Chew Gum

Stock up on bubblegum 15 to 20 minutes before a big presentation. A study from St. Lawrence University found that students who chewed gum a few minutes before a test scored better than their gum-less counterparts. Researchers believe the boost in brainpower comes from a neural arousal that chewing can bring about.

Blast Your Favorite Jams

Research has shown that listening to tunes you like can improve your job performance by 10 percent. How? Researchers speculate that music taps into the part of the brain that drives our motivation.

Watch That Funny YouTube Video

Companies may have all the wrong websites blocked, according to research from the National University of Singapore. Researchers found that surfing the web can be refreshing for workers—more so than calling friends and texting. The study's authors believe that brief cyberloafing provides an instant recovery from the humdrum of day-to-day work helping people continue productive work for longer amounts of time.

Friday - January 27th