Juliana Schroeder

Headphones have a much greater impact on listeners than external speakers because they put voices "inside your head," a new study explains. The findings could have significant implications for training programs, remote work and advertising, according to the researchers. The findings – scheduled to be published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes – could make a mark in a number of areas, including remote work and workplace training, the researchers suggested. "Organizations may consider this research when designing their trainings or webinars," said study author Juliana Schroeder, associate professor of management, at the University of California, Berkeley. "For example, managers might encourage employees to listen to safety trainings or webinars using headphones, which may more effectively change their attitudes and behaviors, compared to listening via speakers."