I know scientists of all stripes choose to study things that may seem obvious to us in order to thoroughly understand why they happen, but somehow this one seems like a high school science fair project. A researcher “suspects novels can sometimes be life-changing.” Yes. Yes, they can be.
In other research news, people will judge a body by his facial hair. An online poll shows the soul patch and chinstrap beard are the most offensive.
I actually think of these projects as noble quests to educate those who will only believe something that “science” has proved.
Unfortunately, those people generally hold all forms of the social sciences in disdain.
I once tried to grow a soul patch for two weeks. Then I wised up and broke out the razor.