Research finds telling someone "you're free to refuse" doesn't always help them genuinely feel OK saying "no."

In the study, getting a script of how to say no helped participants feel more comfortable refusing a request.

The script didn't change how many people refused; it changed how participants felt about the choice.

Most of us have said yes to a request when we would have rather said no. Maybe a neighbor asked you to pet sit his dog and, despite your busy schedule, you said yes. Or maybe a child’s friend asked to have a sleepover, and you agreed even though you were already tired. In these cases, saying no often feels harder than it should—not because we lack the right, but because we lack the script.

A study published in Scientific Reports by researchers at Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations puts that everyday experience under a microscope. The results are........

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