scholarly journals Uncertainty about the risks associated with microplastics among lay and topic-experienced respondents

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina J. Thiele ◽  
Malcolm D. Hudson

AbstractMicroplastics are contaminants of emerging concern but there is currently a lack of evidence on actual risks relating to them, despite claims in media and scientific articles. Research on people’s perceptions on microplastics is in its infancy. Here we present part of a larger survey about people’s perceptions of issues with microplastics. Our analysis of 1681 responses across the globe to an online questionnaire demonstrates a certain level of uncertainty, not only in lay people but also respondents who study/work on the topic of plastics and microplastics as a pollutant. This uncertainty ranges from level of concern about microplastics as an environmental issue to existing evidence for effects. Further, there is some discrepancy between risk perception and state of the research. Some of this may be driven by scientific work with some serious limitations in reporting and methods. This highlights the need for fact-checking of circulating information about microplastics, but also for addressing the discordance between ecotoxicological risk and how risk is framed within the scientific community.

Author(s):  
Pierluigi Diotaiuti ◽  
Giuseppe Valente ◽  
Stefania Mancone ◽  
Lavinia Falese ◽  
Fernando Bellizzi ◽  
...  

The Coronavirus pandemic has affected the lives of people all over the world. The perception of risk and people’s consequent behaviour during a pandemic are very complex and are affected by multiple cultural and psychological factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the change in risk perception, perceived self-efficacy and the perceived trust in the behaviour of others, the decisions of health authorities and government provisions, as well as the variation of self-restraint behaviours during the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic in Italy. We used a convenience sample of 707 university students (Mage = 22.99; SD = 4.01) from a central area of Italy. Participants freely joined the research by answering an online questionnaire between February and March 2020. Three time intervals defined by the progressive containment measures implemented by the Italian Government were considered. Main outcome measures were the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale, the Risk Perception Index, the Index of Self-restraint Behaviours, and Institutional and Interpersonal Trust Measures. Results confirmed that significant changes in the time progression have occurred in the perception of risk, in the perception of individual self-efficacy, in the value attributed to social responsibility, in interpersonal trust and in trust in health authorities. The study also identified the participants’ personality traits and locus of control as predictors (positive and negative) of perceived self-efficacy and tested a mediation model of trust on the effect of risk perception on self-restraint intentions.


Author(s):  
Mahan Shafie ◽  
Mahsa Mayeli ◽  
Hamed Hosseini ◽  
Mahnaz Ashoorkhani

COVID-19 pandemic obligated applying population-level behavioral modifications to effectively prevent the spread of the disease. This necessitated investigating those measures that determine population behavior. Herein we have studied risk perception and information exposure that are among those determinants in Iran. 402 cases from medical sciences students were enrolled during the last week of September 2020. Using an online questionnaire, risk perception and sources of information about COVID-19 were investigated. Although most students considered COVID-19 preventable, merely a few considered the disease curable. A higher risk was perceived concerning the families compared to themselves. Moreover, most of them believed the prognosis good even in high-risk patients. Social media was the most informative source used; however, health professionals were considered the most reliable. The risk perception was equal between those diagnosed with COVID-19 or had a family member diagnosed compared to those without such exposure in most questions. Also, no significant difference was observed in risk perception between those students with serious underlying medical conditions and those without one regarding most items. Lastly, major and grade were the most significant demographic contributors to the risk perception. Moderate risk was perceived overall among the cases in which major and grade were the only remarkable demographic contributors. Unexpectedly, underlying medical history was not significantly correlated with the perceived risk. Lastly, previous COVID-19 exposure merely altered the curability and preventability perception.


Author(s):  
Сергей Александрович Лебедев ◽  
Сергей Николаевич Коськов

В статье излагается содержание двух базовых концепций неклассической философии и методологии науки: конвенционалистской и консенсуалистской теории природы научного знания и научной истины. Каждая из них является альтернативой двум основным парадигмам классической философии и методологии науки: эмпиризму (позитивизму) и рационализму. С точки зрения конвенционализма научное знание не есть ни описание чистого опыта, ни его обобщение. Но оно не является также и результатом некой априорной интуиции и чистого разума. Согласно конвенционализму научное знание - это система доказательной информации, исходные принципы которой имеют характер условных, конвенциональных истин. Отсюда следует, что любая истина в науке не категорична, а условна и имеет форму «если, то». Консенсуалистская концепция природы научного знания возникла в философии науки второй половины XX в. Она была, с одной стороны, обобщением конвенционализма, а с другой - его отрицанием. Если в конвенционализме основным субъектом научного познания является отдельный ученый, то в консенсуалистской эпистемологии таким субъектом является социальный субъект - научное сообщество. Научное познание имеет принципиально коллективный характер как в плане его получения в силу разделения научного труда, так и в плане его легитимации и оценки. Последние операции всегда являются результатом консенсуса научного сообщества. The article examines the content of two basic conceptions of non-classical philosophy and methodology of science: the conventionalist and consensual theory of the nature of scientific knowledge. Each of them is an alternative to the two main paradigms of classical philosophy and the methodology of science: empiricism (positivism) and rationalism. From the point of view of conventionalism, scientific knowledge is neither a description of pure experience nor a generalization of it. But it is also not the result of some a priori intuition and pure reason. According to conventionalism, scientific knowledge is a system of evidence-based information, the initial principles of which have the character of conditional, conventional truths. It follows that any truth in science is not categorical, but conditional and has the form «if, then». The consensual concept of the nature of scientific knowledge emerged in the philosophy of science of the second half of the twentieth century. It was, on the one hand, a generalization of conventionalism; on the other, a negation of it. If in conventionalism the main subject of scientific knowledge is an individual scientist, then in consensual epistemology such a subject is a social subject - the scientific community. Scientific knowledge has a fundamentally collective character, both in terms of its acquisition by virtue of the division of scientific work, and in terms of its legitimization and evaluation. The latest operations are always the result of a consensus of the scientific community.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadredin Moosavi

<p>The scientific community has a long history of self-regulation, with accepted public standards regarding the ethical conduct of research, treatment of human subjects and plagiarism. Violations of these widely accepted standards have been investigated and enforced via universities, funding agencies and publishers using their employment, financial and copyright relationships with members of the scientific community. Some modicum of fairness protecting both sides of the relationship arises from an open process, the ability of either party to seek other partners for their work and public shaming of miscarriages of justice committed by either side. By focusing directly on scientific work and the evidence used to support it where scientific expertise is relevant; these standards have worked reasonably well in keeping science honest without silencing scholars whose work is not currently accepted by the mainstream. Such science is by definition self-correcting and warrants public faith in the integrity of its findings.</p><p>Recently, these standards have been expanded into broad Codes of Conduct including regulation of behavior normally reserved for national legal systems built on clearly defined constitutional due process rights, which professional societies lack the jurisdiction, expertise, resources and will to protect. While lacking legal authority, the shadow tribunals these codes create have significant ability to impact the careers of those accused of transgressing their dictates. Such extra-legal bodies, often staffed by non-scientists serving as investigator, prosecutor, judge and jury, undermine academic freedom and the expression of diverse ideas required for a healthy, inclusive scientific community. Instead of being judged on their research, scientists now risk being bullied out of the field on the basis of social considerations reflecting the opinion of unelected code compliance officers acting to fulfill the agenda of professional society leaders rather than those officials elected to enforce national laws. These behavioral tribunals are the anti-thesis of scientific practice and threaten to undermine public faith in the integrity of science.</p><p>This presentation examines several cases from the recent scientific literature. The merits of each case are evaluated using the professional society code of conduct applied to the scientists in question, with outcomes for the parties involved and wider implications of the case discussed. The results suggest that professional society codes of conduct remain capable of assessing the merits of scientific research though social pressure to favor particular demographic groups is undermining the process. The same analysis indicates that professional societies are not competent in assessing behavior via their codes of conduct due to fundamentally flawed investigatory mechanisms and lack of due process protections. Strong biases in society leadership allows misuse of codes of conduct to unlawfully impose a policy agenda on the community, despite evidence that such policy is at odds with, and harmful to, scientific practice. Public belief in the integrity of science will erode if the scientific community fails to disavow and halt the misuse of professional society codes of conduct to regulate behavior in a fashion that no national legal system would condone.</p>


1984 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Yearley

The importance of classification and labelling in shaping people's perceptions has long been acknowledged and it is accepted that the imposition of a label can affect how someone is treated. Although the process of labelling has been studied in some areas of society, its role in the scientific community has gone largely unexamined. Labels may well be important though if they are used in the presentation of arguments, particularly over contentious issues. Sir James Hall (1761-1832), commonly known as the originator of experimental geology and as a prominent member of the Edinburgh Huttonians, is strongly associated with two labels. He has traditionally been presented as either an experimentalist who confirmed the ideas of Hutton or as a Huttonian who deviated from his mentor's scientific system to incorporate diluvialism. Close analysis, however, reveals that his geological work was systematic and not a misunderstanding of Huttonianism. Similarly, it is proposed that Hall's reputations arose from labels used by other scientists in responding to his work. Since enduring reputations may be built up in this way, it is important that historians should be cautious in their acceptance and use of scientists' own labels.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Salomão Goulart ◽  
Laurelize Pereira Rocha ◽  
Deciane Pintanela de Carvalho ◽  
Edison Luiz Devos Barlem ◽  
Jamila Geri Tomaschewski-Barlem ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the risk perception of workers with previous occupational accidents in Mobile Emergency Care Services. Method: this quantitative and analytical study with a cross-sectional design was conducted with 265 professionals working in pre-hospital settings from 57 cities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. An online questionnaire addressed sociodemographic characteristics, previous occupational accidents and the workers’ occupational risk perceptions rated on a five-point Likert scale. The analysis included descriptive statistics, mean, standard deviation, median, and associations were verified using the Mann-Whitney test; the level of significance was established at p<0.05. Results: the occupational risks the workers more frequently reported were: exposure to blood (4.43); exposure to contaminated secretion/excretion (4.36); contact and handling of hygienization products (4.28); exposure to bacteria (4.25); lifting and transporting heavy loads (4.25); and exposure to viruses (4.23). A significant association was found between the risk perception of workers with previous occupational accidents and chemical (p=0.001), physical (p=0.006), ergonomic or psychological (p=0.000) risks, and accidents (p=0.000). Conclusion: association between the risk perception of workers who had previously experienced occupational accidents was significant, suggesting that workers may not identify or trivialize risks before they experience an accident. Therefore, actions are needed to encourage changes in behavior so that workers identify risks and prevent occupational accidents, such as adopting personal and collective protective equipment and improving the work conditions in pre-hospital settings.


Author(s):  
Mehran Alijanzadeh ◽  
Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu ◽  
Zainab Alimoradi ◽  
Narges Mahmoudi ◽  
Mark D. Griffiths ◽  
...  

Problems caused by the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and its mutations have brought challenges in pandemic control for all countries worldwide. The present study examines the mediating roles of fear of COVID-19 and trust in the healthcare system in the association between individual’s risk perception and performing preventive COVID-19 behaviours among Iranians. A cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from 3652 residents of Qazvin province in Iran from 3 February to 15 April 2021 using a multistage stratified cluster sampling method. Participants responded to an online questionnaire concerning their fear of COVID-19, risk perception, trust in the healthcare system, and preventive COVID-19 behaviours. Small to medium positive interrelationships were observed between the variables of the study. Fear of COVID-19, trust in the healthcare system or both (fear of COVID-19 and trust in the healthcare system) mediated the association between an individual’s risk perception and performing preventive COVID-19 behaviours. The study demonstrated there are at least four ways through which an individual’s risk perception can influence preventive COVID-19 behaviours. Therefore, clinicians, health communicators, and researchers may capitalize on these findings to enhance preventive COVID-19 behaviours to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 infection.


F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1210
Author(s):  
Juan Rincon-Patino ◽  
Gustavo Ramirez-Gonzalez ◽  
Juan Carlos Corrales

Background: Machine learning is becoming increasingly important for companies and the scientific community. In this study, we perform a bibliometric analysis on machine learning research, in order to provide an overview of the scientific work during the period 2007-2017 in this area and to show trends that could be the basis for future developments in the field. Methods: This study is carried out using the SciMAT tool based on results extracted from Scopus. This analysis shows the strategic diagrams of evolution and a set of thematic networks. The results provide information on broad tendencies of machine learning. Results: The results show that SciMAT is a useful tool to carry out a science mapping analysis, and emphasizes the premise that machine learning has boundless applications and will continue to be an interesting research field in the future. Conclusions: Some of the conclusions exposed in this study show that classification algorithms have been widely studied and represent a relevant tool for generating different machine learning applications. Nonetheless, regression algorithms are becoming increasingly important in the scientific community, allowing the generation of solutions to predict diseases, sales, and yields, for example.


2019 ◽  
pp. 25-53
Author(s):  
Elaine Howard Ecklund ◽  
David R. Johnson ◽  
Brandon Vaidyanathan ◽  
Kirstin R. W. Matthews ◽  
Steven W. Lewis ◽  
...  

US scientists believe that the US religious public is generally antiscience. However the views of religious Americans are much more nuanced and religious Americans are often more open to science and scientific issues than scientists would believe. Nevertheless, scientists’ perceptions of the religious public in the United States shape their views of religion and science. Scientists who are religious generally keep their science and their faith separate. Religious scientists feel they are at risk of discrimination within the scientific community, because of existing stereotypes about religious people. Religious scientists are often influenced by their faith when choosing scientific work that they think will have a beneficial impact on society.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-57
Author(s):  
Nguyen V. Luot ◽  
Dao T.D. Linh ◽  
Nguyen D. Phong ◽  
Nguyen V. Long ◽  
Bui M. Duc ◽  
...  

Background: The total number of (road) traffic accidents in Vietnam remains high and the death toll caused by these accidents also ranks second in Southeast Asia. Many studies elsewhere have shown a positive correlation between the traffic risk perception and the traffic risky behavior (henceforth, referred to as TRP and TRB, respectively, for short) However, this relationship has been relatively under-researched in the context of Vietnam. This study aimed to fulfill the above research gap by investigating the present status of TRP and TRB among Vietnamese people who used motorbikes and/or electric motorbikes for their daily travel as well as the association between these two variables. Methods: This was a cross-sectional quantitative study. Data were collected from a convenient sample of 373 people using motorbikes and electric motorbikes (102 males, 271 females; M age = 25.8) by means of an online questionnaire survey. This questionnaire survey was constructed based on the Risk Perception Scale on traffic risk developed by Ram et al. (2016) as well as an additional question that was to explore the risk behaviors of research participants during their traffic involvement for the last thirty days. Results: TRP indices were found to be higher for women than for men. Young males with extroverted characteristics had higher TRB than old females with introverted characteristics. However, no relationship existed between these two factors in the present study. Conclusion: As the finding of this study turned out to be inconsistent with those of previous research, more empirical studies are still welcome in this area.


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