Study Finds Workers Impressed by Corporate Jargon May Struggle with Decision-Making

Cornell research reveals a link between susceptibility to 'corporate bullshit' and lower analytic thinking skills.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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A new study from Cornell University has found that employees who are more receptive to vague and impressive-sounding corporate jargon may actually struggle with practical decision-making and effective workplace performance. The research, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, introduces the Corporate Bullshit Receptivity Scale (CBRS) to measure an individual's susceptibility to empty organizational rhetoric.

Why it matters

This study highlights a potential disconnect between the type of employees who are often praised for their 'visionary' and 'charismatic' leadership, and those who may be better equipped to make sound, analytical business decisions. As corporate buzzwords and mission statements become increasingly ubiquitous, this research suggests that companies should be wary of prioritizing style over substance when evaluating talent.

The details

The study, led by cognitive psychologist Shane Littrell, involved creating a 'corporate bullshit generator' that produced meaningless but impressive-sounding sentences. More than 1,000 office workers were then asked to rate the 'business savvy' of these computer-generated statements alongside real quotes from Fortune 500 leaders. The results showed that workers who were more susceptible to corporate BS scored lower on tests of analytic thinking, cognitive reflection, and fluid intelligence. They also performed worse on a test of effective workplace decision-making, despite rating their supervisors as more charismatic and 'visionary'.

  • The study was published on March 8, 2026 in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.

The players

Shane Littrell

A cognitive psychologist at Cornell University who led the research on the Corporate Bullshit Receptivity Scale.

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What they’re saying

“Employees who are impressed by vague corporate-speak like 'synergistic leadership,' or 'growth-hacking paradigms' may struggle with practical decision-making, a new Cornell study reveals.”

— Shane Littrell, Cognitive Psychologist (Slashdot)

The takeaway

This research suggests that companies should be cautious about prioritizing charismatic leadership and impressive-sounding rhetoric over more practical decision-making skills when evaluating and promoting talent. Susceptibility to 'corporate bullshit' may actually be a red flag for weaker analytic abilities, which could undermine effective business performance.