Showing papers in "Science Communication in 2018"
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of emotion, fear and hope in the effectiveness of environmental mental message effectiveness was investigated, focusing on the positive effect of emotion and fear on the message effectiveness.
Abstract: Substantial research examines the cognitive factors underlying proenviron-mental message effectiveness. In contrast, this study investigates the role of emotion, fear and hope specifically, in the ...
336 citations
TL;DR: A set of parallel surveys of scientists from multiple scientific societies found that the most consistent predictors of willingness to take part in engagement activities with the public are a set of variables as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A set of parallel surveys of scientists from multiple scientific societies finds that the most consistent predictors of willingness to take part in engagement activities with the public are a belie
157 citations
TL;DR: This paper found that Americans are polarized on climate change despite decreasing uncertainty in climate science, and that explanations focused on organized climate skeptics and ideologically driven motivated reasoning are likely to explain the polarization.
Abstract: Americans polarized on climate change despite decreasing uncertainty in climate science. Explanations focused on organized climate skeptics and ideologically driven motivated reasoning are likely i...
101 citations
TL;DR: This paper found that attitudes towards government and corporations are important predictors of trust in science across issues, including climate change and genetically modified foods, and that an individual's trust in the science varies across issues.
Abstract: Understanding public distrust of science is both theoretically and practically important. While previous research has focused on the association between political ideology and trust in science, it is at best an inconsistent predictor. This study demonstrates that two dimensions of political ideology—attitudes towards governments and corporations—can more precisely predict trust in science across issues. Using a survey in the United States and Germany on the science of climate change and genetically modified foods, we find that an individual’s trust in science varies across issues and that attitudes towards government and corporations are important predictors of this trust.
92 citations
TL;DR: The authors examine how exposure to one-sided versus two-sided sarcastic perspectives affects the effect of sarcastic content in online social media, and find that exposure to sarcastic content is associated with negative effects.
Abstract: Sarcastic content is prevalent in online social media, although little research has explored its effects. In this study, we examine how exposure to one-sided versus two-sided sarcastic perspectives...
78 citations
TL;DR: Two studies examined perceptions of scientific and social (social network and public) consensus on scientific issues and their impact on scientific beliefs, using samples of Japanese people as discussed by the authors, and found that Japanese people were more likely to accept scientific consensus than social consensus.
Abstract: Two studies examined perceptions of scientific and social (social network and public) consensus on scientific issues and their impact on scientific beliefs, using samples of Japanese people. In Stu...
62 citations
TL;DR: The authors investigates how modifying the message source enhances or dims the impact of the message on the target audience's response to the source of a message and shows that modifying the source can enhance or dim the impact on the message.
Abstract: Efforts to communicate risk reduction policies must consider how target audiences will respond to the source of the message. This study investigates how modifying the message source enhances or dim...
59 citations
TL;DR: Analysis of evaluations indicates significant improvements in trainees’ communication of science and it is concluded that the triangulated approach can be useful in science communication training.
Abstract: The authors describe a science communication training called “Decoding Science” and the steps taken to develop and assess program effectiveness. Evaluation is based on a triangulated framework invo...
39 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the conceptual linkages between individuals' uncertainty judgments and affective reactions (worry and anger) within the context of an environmental health risk were examined and analyzed.
Abstract: This study examines the conceptual linkages between individuals’ uncertainty judgments and affective reactions (worry and anger) within the context of an environmental health risk. It uses data fro...
37 citations
TL;DR: This article adopted a quantitative content analysis to examine how source attributes of opinion leaders and their message framing influenced user engagement in the public discourse of genetically-modified individuals, and found that they were more likely to engage with opinion leaders.
Abstract: This study adopted a quantitative content analysis to examine how source attributes of opinion leaders and their message framing influenced user engagement in the public discourse of genetically mo...
36 citations
TL;DR: The #overlyhonestmethods trend on Twitter is a space used by many scientists to peel back the curtain on their work and share observations and insights into the research world.
Abstract: The #overlyhonestmethods trend on Twitter is a space used by many scientists to peel back the curtain on their work and share observations and insights into the research world. We employ computer-a...
TL;DR: With its conceptual origins in marketing, design, and education, co-creation also has analogues in the fields of science and museology as discussed by the authors, reviewing its development in these different disciplines high...
Abstract: With its conceptual origins in marketing, design, and education, co-creation also has analogues in the fields of science and museology. Reviewing its development in these different disciplines high...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors use the framework of communication science for communicating science, which is well accepted that it is part of a scientist's duty to communicate science, yet most practicing scientists lack the training and opportunity to do so.
Abstract: It is well accepted that it is part of a scientist’s duty to communicate science, yet most practicing scientists lack the training and opportunity to do so. In this article, we use the framework of...
TL;DR: A method to map and analyze communication ecologies—defined as the networks of communication connections that individuals depend on in order to construct knowledge and achieve goals—as social networks is offered.
Abstract: The continued fragmentation of information and the proliferation of communication resources necessitate a shift toward perspectives that situate communication practices in a multilevel ecosystem. T...
TL;DR: The authors examines if and how news media contribute to manufacturing consent by disabling ideological disagreement about established social structures underlying climate disruption, which is a critical issue in climate change. But they do not discuss the role of the media in this process.
Abstract: This article examines if and how news media contribute to manufacturing consent by disabling ideological disagreement about established social structures underlying climate disruption. A critical d...
TL;DR: The potential of narratives to reach and influence audiences has been recognized by science communicators as mentioned in this paper, but do audiences recognize and consider this tactic when evaluating how such narratives can influence them?
Abstract: Science communicators are increasingly recognizing the potential of narratives to reach and influence audiences. However, do audiences recognize and consider this tactic when evaluating how such me...
TL;DR: The authors compared four possible treatments of a science blog post (text-only, humor, images and video) and found that nonscientists recall more information when images were included compared to humor, while scientists performed worse with text-only than with video.
Abstract: Science blogs have been advocated as potential mediators between science and nonscientist readers; however, they are mostly read by other scientists, with little research on how blogs can be made more appealing for nonscientists. We compared four possible treatments of a science blog post (text-only, humor, images and video). Nonscientists recalled more information when images were included compared to humor, while scientists performed worse with text-only than with video. Nonscientists enjoyed the images treatment most, while scientists preferred the video treatment. Adding images to blog posts is recommended as an easy method of increasing recall and enjoyment among readers.
TL;DR: Public divisions over contested science often arise due to individuals’ motivation to hold beliefs in line with others with whom they share a common social identity as mentioned in this paper, which is called social identity.
Abstract: Public divisions over contested science often arise due to individuals’ motivation to hold beliefs in line with others with whom they share a common social identity. To reduce the influence of thre...
TL;DR: This paper examined the impact of researchers' interaction and drama-based techniques when learning science on students' views of scientists and motivations for studying science through mixed-methods in five secondary schools in three countries.
Abstract: We examine the impact of researchers’ interaction and drama-based techniques when learning science on students’ views of scientists and motivations for studying science. We do so through mixed-methods in five secondary schools in three countries. Students changed their perception of scientists toward a less stereotyped image, particularly where their interaction with researchers was higher. Pupils’ interest for scientific careers significantly increased where drama-based techniques were more inserted into the pedagogical approach. Promoting long-term interaction with scientists in school settings combined with embedded drama-based methods in science learning/teaching can contribute to reconstructing students’ views on who can be engaged in science.
TL;DR: The authors explored responses to categories of images relevant to an environmental management issue (stormwater management) across three dimensions that influence engagement: emotional response, personal relevance, and topic congruence.
Abstract: This study explored responses to categories of images relevant to an environmental management issue—stormwater management—across three dimensions that influence engagement: emotional response, personal relevance, and topic congruence. Although images of oceans elicited positive emotions, most participants did not perceive such images as relevant to the topic. Images of traditional stormwater infrastructure evoked negative emotions and were perceived as topic congruent but not personally relevant. Images of flooding were ranked highly across all three dimensions. These findings have implications for the development of communication materials that appeal to the broader public.
TL;DR: Public engagement scholarship has explored science-policy settings at length as discussed by the authors, and this work is being complemented by growing scholarly attention to engagement outside of policy spaces, such as outside of public spaces.
Abstract: Public engagement scholarship has explored science-policy settings at length. This work is being complemented by growing scholarly attention to engagement outside of policy spaces. As this expandin...
TL;DR: A tool, called “Half-Life Your Message,” is described, which is adapted from a commonly used improvisational theater game and can be applied in three minutes to distill a central thesis for any communication effort.
Abstract: Academic writers and presenters need concrete activities to help them learn how to communicate more effectively. We describe such a tool, called “Half-Life Your Message,” which is adapted from a commonly used improvisational theater game and can be applied in three minutes to distill a central thesis for any communication effort. Users can increase the value provided by Half-Life Your Message by scaffolding its application with an introduction and opportunity to self-reflect and debrief. We emphasize the tool’s utility based on our experiences in using it ourselves and in teaching it to undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty.
TL;DR: Medical experts and researchers need to engage in more effective science communication about the nature of the research process and engage affected health communities more in the research agenda, particularly for conditions characterized by considerable unmet need.
Abstract: This study examines how a medically contested procedure for people living with multiple sclerosis was framed by the news media and challenged by user-generated Facebook content. While expected narr...
TL;DR: In this article, weather forecasts are a unique type of prediction rhetoric with inherent uncertainty and multiple potential interpretations from diverse audiences, and when forecasts are wrong, a prediction rhetoric is a kind of political rhetoric.
Abstract: Weather forecasts are a unique type of prediction rhetoric—science communication with inherent uncertainty and multiple potential interpretations from diverse audiences. When forecasts are wrong, a...
TL;DR: One Hundred Thousand Whys is a widely known popular science book in China, which has been developing people's systematic understanding of basic sciences for generations as mentioned in this paper, and has been used as an encyclopedic book cove...
Abstract: One Hundred Thousand Whys is a widely known popular science book in China, which has been developing people’s systematic understanding of basic sciences for generations. This encyclopedic book cove...
TL;DR: Textile-based crafts were used to engage young carers (under 18s providing care for another person) and accompanying adults in learning about underlying chemistry concepts, in an economically deprived area of northwest England as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Textile-based crafts were used to engage young carers (under 18s providing care for another person) and accompanying adults in learning about underlying chemistry concepts, in an economically deprived area of northwest England; the region of the United Kingdom with the highest number of young carers. This science-crafts collaboration was supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry Outreach Fund and a British Science Week Community Grant. Feedback from participants indicated strong positive impacts on interest in and understanding of chemistry and its relevance to everyday life, social benefits, and, for accompanying adults, increased confidence in engaging young people with learning about chemistry.
TL;DR: On April 22, 2017, millions of people marched for science in response to a growing sense of urgency for preserving scientific funding and knowledge, both perceived as threatened by the Trump administration.
Abstract: On April 22, 2017, millions of people marched for science in response to a growing sense of urgency for preserving scientific funding and knowledge, both perceived as threatened by the Trump admini...
TL;DR: This paper explored epistemic authority and engagement within a sustainability science collaboration, highlighting persistent contradictions in commitments to epistemic diversity and the privileging of science, demonstrating tensions between conceptual commitments to participatory approaches within sustainability science and practices of engagement.
Abstract: Transdisciplinary research is a central commitment in efforts to advance sustainability. Transdisciplinarity requires integrating knowledge from a variety of groups, including scientists, policymakers, and regulators. Success in integrating multiple ways of knowing is influenced by the relative authority that science, as an epistemology, holds within a collaborative effort. This study draws from the literature on epistemic authority and science communication to explore epistemic authority and engagement within a sustainability science collaboration. Our results highlight persistent contradictions in commitments to epistemic diversity and the privileging of science, demonstrating tensions between conceptual commitments to participatory approaches within sustainability science and practices of engagement.
TL;DR: The authors argue that these messages neutralize the effect of people's political world-view on scientific world-views, and use them to communicate politically polarizing issues, such as climate change.
Abstract: Messages emphasizing scientific agreement are increasingly used to communicate politically polarizing issues. Proponents argue that these messages neutralize the effect of people’s political worldv...
TL;DR: This paper analyzed 39 articles published within the first 48 hours of the announcement, in the Mexican, British, and U.S. press, and argued that as a media event, the articles performed the task of rendering SNT, a "cultural novelty", as culturally and technologically feasible.
Abstract: In 2016, the New Scientist announced the birth and good health of the world’s first baby conceived using spindle nuclear transfer (SNT). The story was immediately circulated worldwide. In this article, we analyze 39 articles published within the first 48 hours of the announcement, in the Mexican, British, and U.S. press. These articles constitute the initial press reactions to the announcement, and as such, they offer a narrative ground on which SNT could thereafter be discussed. We argue that as a media event, the articles performed the task of rendering SNT, a “cultural novelty,” as culturally and technologically feasible.