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Showing papers in "Public Understanding of Science in 2019"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results show a positive relationship between social media news use and trust in science across countries, and the between-country variation in this relationship is related to two cultural characteristics of a country, individualism/collectivism and power distance.
Abstract: The growing importance of social media for getting science news has raised questions about whether these online platforms foster or hinder public trust in science. Employing multilevel modeling, th...

93 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Analysis of the most popular science, engineering and mathematics–themed channels reveals a conspicuous absence of female communicators, with the hosts of just 32 of these channels presenting as female.
Abstract: YouTube has become the second most popular web search engine (see Alexa.com ) and the primary website for individuals and organisations to freely distribute video content. Popularity statistics indicate that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics-related content is of significant interest to YouTube audiences, yet analysis of the 391 most popular science, engineering and mathematics-themed channels reveals a conspicuous absence of female communicators, with the hosts of just 32 of these channels presenting as female. To help understand potential causes of this gap, analysis was conducted on popularity indicators and audience sentiments of 450 videos from 90 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics-related channels. Female hosted channels were found to accumulate more comments per view, and significantly higher proportions of appearance, hostile, critical/negative and sexist/sexual commentary.

88 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that the presence of jargon impairs people’s ability to process scientific information, and that this impairment leads to greater motivated resistance to persuasion, increased risk perceptions, and lower support for technology adoption.
Abstract: In this experiment (N = 650), we examine the negative consequences of jargon on individuals' perceptions of emerging scientific technology and aim to explain these effects. We find that the presence of jargon impairs people's ability to process scientific information, and that this impairment leads to greater motivated resistance to persuasion, increased risk perceptions, and lower support for technology adoption. These findings suggest that the use of jargon undermines efforts to inform and persuade the public through the cognitive mechanism of metacognition.

58 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that diffusion patterns of scientific articles can take very different forms, even when the number of times they are tweeted is similar, and suggests that most articles are shared within single-connected communities with limited diffusion to the public.
Abstract: The growing presence of research shared on social media, coupled with the increase in freely available research, invites us to ask whether scientific articles shared on platforms like Twitter diffuse beyond the academic community. We explore a new method for answering this question by identifying 11 articles from two open access biology journals that were shared on Twitter at least 50 times and by analyzing the follower network of users who tweeted each article. We find that diffusion patterns of scientific articles can take very different forms, even when the number of times they are tweeted is similar. Our small case study suggests that most articles are shared within single-connected communities with limited diffusion to the public. The proposed approach and indicators can serve those interested in the public understanding of science, science communication, or research evaluation to identify when research diffuses beyond insular communities.

58 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The findings suggest that scientists adjust their communication style to their audience: They use more neutral language when communicating with other scientists, and more words expressing negative emotions when communicate with journalists, civil society, and politicians.
Abstract: Scientific issues requiring urgent societal actions—such as climate change—have increased the need for communication and interaction between scientists and other societal actors. Social media platf...

51 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article compares 515 science engagement activities recorded in a 2012 Australian audit against the theorised characteristics of the three dominant models of deficit, dialogue and participation.
Abstract: Scholars have variously described different models of science communication over the past 20 years. However, there has been little assessment of theorised models against science communication pract...

50 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results show that if the person was introduced as a lobbyist, he was perceived as less trustworthy, however, the person’s professional affiliation did not affect the credibility of his information.
Abstract: Current scientific debates, such as on climate change, often involve emotional, hostile, and aggressive rhetorical styles. Those who read or listen to these kinds of scientific arguments have to decide whom they can trust and which information is credible. This study investigates how the language style (neutral vs aggressive) and the professional affiliation (scientist vs lobbyist) of a person arguing in a scientific debate influence his trustworthiness and the credibility of his information. In a 2 X 2 between-subject online experiment, participants watched a scientific debate. The results show that if the person was introduced as a lobbyist, he was perceived as less trustworthy. However, the person's professional affiliation did not affect the credibility of his information. If the person used an aggressive language style, he was perceived as less trustworthy. Furthermore, his information was perceived as less credible, and participants had the impression that they learned less from the scientific debate.

49 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that using a targeted recruitment strategy, it is possible and worth to recruit a diverse sample of citizen science volunteers.
Abstract: Despite the fact that citizen engagement in research is widely practised and regarded as one of the keys to maximizing the impact of research and innovation, empirical evidence on the value, potential and possibilities of engaging a broad diversity of citizens in practice is scant. The purpose of our article is twofold: (1) to provide more insight into the value and opportunities of engaging audiences that typically are not engaged with science and (2) to explore the effect of a targeted recruitment strategy versus a generic recruitment strategy on the profile, motivation and retainment of citizen science volunteers. Our empirical research is based on five citizen science projects in the domain of surface and drinking water research in the Netherlands. This article finds that using a targeted recruitment strategy, it is possible and worth to recruit a diverse sample of citizen science volunteers.

44 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that, while some of these problems exist in the North, they can have far more severe consequences on the progress of the South, where news plays an almost exclusive role in informing and engaging laypeople with science and its socio-cultural, economic and political implications.
Abstract: Based primarily on a systematic review of the relevant literature between 2000 and 2017, this article reflects on the state of journalism about science in developing countries, with a focus on its issues, challenges and implications for their developmental processes and causes. Five major themes emerge from our analysis: (a) heavy dependence on foreign sources, especially the media of the Global North; (b) the low status of domestic science news in newsrooms; (c) uncritical science reporting that easily lends itself to influences of non-science vested interests; (d) tight grip of politics on science journalism; and (e) ineffective relationships between science and journalism. We will demonstrate that, while some of these problems exist in the North, they can have far more severe consequences on the progress of the South, where news plays an almost exclusive role in informing and engaging laypeople with science and its socio-cultural, economic and political implications.

33 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggest that communication scholars shared some views with the scientists regarding scientists’ performance, factors that influence engagement activities, and communication objectives, but potentially important differences were observed as well.
Abstract: This study investigated how communication scholars view scientists’ public engagement as well as differences between how these scholars and natural and physical scientists think about the topic. Th...

33 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that in general, Cohen’s U3 is used when scientific findings are communicated, although the choice of the effect size may vary depending on what a researcher wants to highlight (e.g. differences or similarities).
Abstract: Transparent communication of research is key to foster understanding within and beyond the scientific community. An increased focus on reporting effect sizes in addition to p value-based significance statements or Bayes Factors may improve scientific communication with the general public. Across three studies ( N = 652), we compared subjective informativeness ratings for five effect sizes, Bayes Factor, and commonly used significance statements. Results showed that Cohen's U3 was rated as most informative. For example, 440 participants (69%) found U3 more informative than Cohen's d, while 95 (15%) found d more informative than U3, with 99 participants (16%) finding both effect sizes equally informative. This effect was not moderated by level of education. We therefore suggest that in general, Cohen's U3 is used when scientific findings are communicated. However, the choice of the effect size may vary depending on what a researcher wants to highlight (e.g. differences or similarities).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Based on the differential effects on “negative attitudes” toward genetically modified foods, this work provides further evidence that the measures of knowledge are separate concepts and argues against a one-dimensional view of scientific knowledge.
Abstract: The impact of knowledge on public attitudes toward scientific issues remains unclear, due in part to ill-defined differences in how research designs conceptualize knowledge. Using genetically modified foods as a framework, we explore the impacts of perceived familiarity and factual knowledge, and the moderating roles of media attention and a food-specific attitudinal variable (food consciousness), in shaping these relationships. Based on the differential effects on "negative attitudes" toward genetically modified foods, we provide further evidence that the measures of knowledge are separate concepts and argue against a one-dimensional view of scientific knowledge. We discuss implications for understanding the relationship between knowledge and science attitudes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Progress is identified in media representations of scientists in comparison to previous studies, however, there is still room for improvement, especially in the representation of scientists from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Abstract: This article examines contemporary representations of female and male scientists in The New York Times with a particular emphasis on stereotypes related to gender and science as a profession. The s...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Analysis of the impact of social media discussion on perceptions of vaccines revealed that source credibility and the civility of a discussion indirectly influence policy support requiring vaccinations, intention to vaccinate future children, and willingness to engage in discussion about vaccines.
Abstract: As individuals turn to social media sites for health information, it is important to understand the factors that influence their perceptions of this information. This study employed an experiment to investigate the impact of social media discussion on perceptions of vaccines. Analysis, using structural equation modeling, revealed that source credibility and the civility of a discussion indirectly influence policy support requiring vaccinations, intention to vaccinate future children, and willingness to engage in discussion about vaccines. This impact is mediated by message elaboration and attitudes of the value of vaccinations. As individuals think about a pro-vaccine message and understand the importance of receiving vaccinations, they are more likely to engage in pro-social vaccination choices.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The findings show that an institutional credibility gap exists in science communication and identical variables can produce different effects on the credibility of scientific information, depending on the institutional source to which it is attributed.
Abstract: This article analyses whether different institutional sources of scientific information have an impact on its credibility. Through a population-based survey experiment of a national representative ...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There is insufficient survey data available to strongly support any claims regarding public attitudes to experts, and the evidence that does exist suggests broadly positive public attitudes towards experts, rather than the somewhat bleak commentary associated with descriptions of a ‘post-truth’ era.
Abstract: Recent developments in contemporary politics have cast doubt on the status of expertise and led to the oft-repeated claim that the public have had enough of experts. In response, we review existing survey measures on experts and expertise in the European Union and United Kingdom with three main findings. First, there is insufficient survey data available to strongly support any claims regarding public attitudes to experts. Second, the evidence that does exist suggests broadly positive public attitudes towards experts, rather than the somewhat bleak commentary associated with descriptions of a 'post-truth' era. Third, there is scope for survey questions to provide improved macro-level descriptions of some of the attributes and expectations associated with experts, and that concepts from the academic literature can provide structure for such questions. Survey data has the potential to complement more granular, qualitative approaches as part of an interpretive social science approach.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The analysis reveals that though there were no significant attitude differences between scientists and laypeople, the two groups tended to frame genetically modified food from quite different perspectives.
Abstract: This study examines messages contributed by scientists and laypeople to an online discussion about genetically modified food in China with the aim to understand whether and how scientists and laypeople apply different communication strategies with regard to framing, interaction features, and writing style. Both answers (N = 100) and comments (N = 2416) related to genetically modified food on Zhihu, the most popular social Q&A site in China, were analyzed. The analysis reveals that though there were no significant attitude differences between scientists and laypeople, the two groups tended to frame genetically modified food from quite different perspectives. Also, although scientist users were not perfect rationalists during online discussions, they were more likely to be both high-quality content contributors and active discussion facilitators.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that Mark Lynas' conversion messages influenced attitudes by way of perceived argument strength, but not speaker credibility, which implies such messages induce greater elaboration, which may lead to durable attitudes that predict behavior.
Abstract: A conversion narrative recounts the process that led the speaker to reject one belief for a different, usually incompatible, alternative. However, researchers know little about whether, when, and, if so, how such messages affect audience attitudes about controversial science. Using a general US population-sample experiment, we assessed the attitudinal impact of three versions of a statement by Mark Lynas, an environmental activist who converted from opposing to championing genetically modified crops. Participants were exposed to (1) a one-sided pro-genetically modified message by Lynas, (2) a two-sided pro-genetically modified message in which Lynas indicates but does not detail his conversion, or (3) a two-sided pro-genetically modified message in which Lynas explains the process that prompted his conversion. We find that his conversion messages influenced attitudes by way of perceived argument strength, but not speaker credibility. This finding implies such messages induce greater elaboration, which may lead to durable attitudes that predict behavior.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Using regression analysis, it is shown that attitudes towards science are significant antecedents of respondents’ interest in participating in citizen science – but that gender and education are not.
Abstract: Driven by the proliferation of digital media, citizen science – the involvement of non-scientists in scientific research – represents one of the most important recent developments in science commun...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results show that receiving information does increase the general awareness of antibiotic resistance among respondents, yet these effects are most profound for those who are the most likely targets of such information: the least knowledgeable group and those who have a more apathetic worldview.
Abstract: In this study, we test to what extent an educational video on the intricacies of antibiotic resistance affects public attitudes towards antibiotic resistance and how such information is absorbed by the most likely targets of public health campaigns. We use a representative sample of 2037 individuals (from 2016) to test how people respond to a video educating them about antibiotic resistance. Our results show that receiving information does increase the general awareness of antibiotic resistance among our respondents. Yet, these effects are most profound for those who are the most likely targets of such information: the least knowledgeable group and those who have a more apathetic worldview. Our results are in line with suggestions made by the knowledge deficit model and show that the influence of cultural predispositions on the uptake of information about antibiotic resistance should not be ignored in future campaigns.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A collaborative and systematic application of segmentation analyses could result in truly relevant insights for science communication scholars and help to follow a demand for more systematic efforts.
Abstract: Science communication scholars are publishing more and more segmentation analyses as they further our understanding of different audiences and their characteristics. They follow different aims, are therefore difficult to compare and do not lend themselves to more generalisable and theoretical knowledge production. Our field has the potential to follow a demand for more systematic efforts by taking advantage of our high-quality representative data sets focusing on public perceptions of science. Beforehand, however, science communication scholars using segmentation analyses have to identify common goals and overcome a number of hurdles concerning variable selection, methodological approaches, and transparency. Ultimately, a collaborative and systematic application of segmentation analyses could result in truly relevant insights for our field.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is argued that it is no longer appropriate to approach anti-vaccination discourse as a stand-alone formation, and such sites are increasingly part of a wider proliferation of ‘anti-public’ discourse that contests fundamental democratic conventions, rules of argumentation and so on.
Abstract: Online media has provided unprecedented opportunities for anti-vaccination groups to spread their message. An extensive scholarly literature has consequently emerged to analyse such discourse and develop strategies for countering it. In this article, I take a different approach. My contention is that it is no longer appropriate to approach anti-vaccination discourse as a stand-alone formation. Such sites, I argue, building on work by McKenzie Wark and Bart Cammaerts, are increasingly part of a wider proliferation of 'anti-public' discourse that contests fundamental democratic conventions, rules of argumentation and so on. The article uses a mixed methods approach based on a systematic content survey supplemented by the presentation of qualitative examples from 56 anti-vaccination websites. By locating anti-vaccination discourse in these broader contexts, I argue, it is possible to understand it as related to a more general transformation in public deliberation.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Comparing broadsheet newspaper coverage about predictive genetic testing in the United Kingdom and Switzerland during the period of 2011–2016 regarding content, evaluations, stakeholder influence, and trigger events reflects a movement toward a more active public engagement with predictive Genetic testing.
Abstract: Predictive genetic testing often entails challenging decisions about preventive measures and uncertain health-related risk predictions. Because of its increasing availability, it is important to assess how to debate it publicly. Newspaper content analysis represents a common and reliable way to investigate public discourse retrospectively. We thus quantitatively compare broadsheet newspaper coverage about predictive genetic testing in the United Kingdom and Switzerland during the period of 2011-2016 regarding content, evaluations, stakeholder influence, and trigger events. British coverage was more extensive and positive and included more personal stories. Swiss coverage had more focus on political issues. Angelina Jolie's announcement about her double mastectomy was the most important coverage trigger. Researchers were the most frequently cited stakeholder group, but stakeholders from government and civil society were also represented. Our results thus reflect a movement toward a more active public engagement with predictive genetic testing. The findings help to improve and enrich public engagement regarding predictive genetic testing.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Christians’ institutional distrust in secularized science may derive largely from a perceived threat to the cultural status of religion, mediated by the belief that scientists are anti-religion, not by moral distrust toward atheists or fundamentalist religious beliefs.
Abstract: A history of perceived conflict between religion and science persists in the U.S. "culture wars" that juxtapose religious and secular worldviews. As modern societies grow increasingly secular, religion is often deemed an impediment to science-based policy-making, whereas science is increasingly associated with atheism. In the present research, we addressed how perceived science-atheism associations affect U.S. Christians' attitudes toward science. In study 1, participants' own estimates of atheists' prevalence in science uniquely predicted distrust in science, and study 2 revealed a causal effect of perceived prevalence of atheists on distrust in science. Studies 3-4 (the latter preregistered) manipulated the concept of science-atheism associations more generally, revealing the same effects. These effects were mediated by the belief that scientists are anti-religion, not by moral distrust toward atheists or fundamentalist religious beliefs. Hence, Christians' institutional distrust in secularized science may derive largely from a perceived threat to the cultural status of religion.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that people who become more interested in science over time but not those who becomes more knowledgable are more likely to favor increasing public support for scientific research, and the potential benefits of prioritizing science communication and science education efforts to increase public science interest.
Abstract: While most Americans recognize the importance of funding scientific research, many are satisfied with status quo funding, and only a minority see a need for increased federal support. This poses a ...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Using survey data from the United States, it is found that political ideology and science knowledge affect who the US public believes is a scientist in these domains and those with PhDs in Biology and Chemistry are most commonly seen as scientists.
Abstract: In an era where expertise is increasingly critiqued, this study draws from the research on expertise and scientist stereotyping to explore who the public considers to be a scientist in the context of media coverage about climate change and genetically modified organisms. Using survey data from the United States, we find that political ideology and science knowledge affect who the US public believes is a scientist in these domains. Our results suggest important differences in the role of science media attention and science media selection in the publics "scientist" labeling. In addition, we replicate previous work and find that compared to other people who work in science, those with PhDs in Biology and Chemistry are most commonly seen as scientists.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Analysis of data from 76,858 individuals in 41 countries finds that education is associated with greater appreciation of science cross-nationally and that improving science attitudes requires attention to both individual and country-level factors.
Abstract: Pressing environmental, social, and economic problems require interventions informed by scientific expertise yet skepticism of organized science runs high among some groups. Numerous studies show how individual-level experiences and identities translate into attitudes about science, but less is known about the contextual factors that shape these beliefs. We employ regression models using data from the International Social Survey Program and the World Development Indicators to examine how national levels of scientific activity influence public perceptions of science. Our analysis of data from 76,858 individuals in 41 countries finds that education is associated with greater appreciation of science cross-nationally. This relationship is amplified in countries with high levels of scientific activity and attenuated in countries with less scientific activity. These results underscore the importance of national context for understanding perceptions of science, and suggest that improving science attitudes requires attention to both individual and country-level factors.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Analyzing the recent investigation of public views on biobanking in the form of citizen-expert panels in the Austrian infrastructure of biobanks (BBMRI), this article traces this dynamic through citizens’ recurrent concerns that the research and consent practices related to biobank should be “appropriate.”
Abstract: While there is consensus on the essential importance of public engagement in further developments of biobanking, the related investigation of public views predominantly focused on the concerns expressed by the publics, and the concrete format of public engagement, without delving into the ways these concerns are constituted. In this paper, we synthetize recent research on public engagement in order to describe the constitution of respective concerns as ‘engagement of knowledges’. By shifting from ‘publics’ to ‘knowledges’, we draw attention to the interaction dynamic through which citizens embed the new knowledge they receive during expert interactions into the stock of knowledge they already possess. Analyzing our recent investigation of public views on biobanking in the form of citizen-expert panels (CEPs) in the Austrian infrastructure of biobanks (BBMRI.at), we trace this dynamic through citizens’ recurrent concerns that the research and consent practices related to biobanking should be “appropriate”.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The British and American media upheld the underlying norms that have long underpinned the existing Western-led order, while Chinese media coverage manifested a rising power in need of world recognition.
Abstract: Climate negotiations have increasingly resonated with global governance and world power relations. However, media studies of climate change have paid relatively less attention to media frames of th...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Contextual science knowledge emerged as the only predictor for having slightly better advocacy attitudes and knowledge, and general science knowledge was the best predictor of contextual knowledge, but it was not a direct predictor of advocacy knowledge and attitudes.
Abstract: Hearing-impaired children's chances of integrating into hearing society largely depend on their parents, who need to learn vast amounts of science knowledge in the field of hearing. This study characterized the role played by science knowledge in the lives of nonscientists faced with science-related decisions by examining the interactions between general science knowledge, contextual science knowledge in the field of hearing, and parents' advocacy knowledge and attitudes. Based on six semi-structured interviews and 115 questionnaires completed by parents of hearing-impaired children, contextual science knowledge emerged as the only predictor for having slightly better advocacy attitudes and knowledge (5.5% explained variance). Although general science knowledge was the best predictor of contextual knowledge (14% of explained variance), it was not a direct predictor of advocacy knowledge and attitudes. Science knowledge plays some role in the lives of hearing-impaired families, even if they do not list it as a resource for successful rehabilitation.