“Listening” to Science: Science Podcasters’ View and Practice in Strategic Science Communication

2021 ◽  
pp. 107554702110650
Author(s):  
Shupei Yuan ◽  
Shaheen Kanthawala ◽  
Tanya Ott-Fulmore

We have witnessed an increasing amount of science podcasts, and it has emerged as an important venue for science communication. From a strategic science communication perspective, this study investigated how science podcasters view science communication–related goals and objectives, as well as the tactics they use in producing science communication content based on the theory of planned behavior. A survey ( N = 147) with science podcasters showed that they see excitement and interest in science as their most prioritized objective and present the value of science over time. In addition, our results showed that podcasters frequently use communication tactics, but it may not have resulted from planned strategic communication action. The findings of this study provide initial insight into podcasters’ views and practice as part of the science communication effort.

Author(s):  
Laurel P Gibson ◽  
Renee E Magnan ◽  
Emily B Kramer ◽  
Angela D Bryan

Abstract Background As COVID-19 continues to spread globally, it is important to understand psychological factors that may influence compliance with social distancing. Purpose The present study examined whether Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs were associated with social distancing, with a focus on exploring moderators of the intention–behavior relationship. Methods Using a longitudinal design, U.S. adults (N = 507) self-reported TPB constructs and social distancing behavior at baseline and 3 months later. Participants were from 48 U.S. States and the District of Columbia and were on average 50.39 years old (SD = 15.32, range = 18–80). The majority were Non-Hispanic White (71.6%), had a bachelor’s degree or higher (55.3%), and resided in suburban areas (55.8%). Results While positive attitudes toward social distancing increased over time (p = .002), subjective norms weakened (p < .001) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) remained stable (p = .22). Interestingly, despite an increase in intentions from baseline to follow-up (p < .001), there was a significant decrease in social distancing behavior over time (p < .001). Consistent with the TPB, baseline attitudes (p < .001), subjective norms (p < .001), and PBC (p < .001) for social distancing were all associated with baseline intentions to social distance. In turn, baseline intentions were significantly associated with social distancing behavior at follow-up (p < .001). Younger adults (p < .001) and non-White participants (p = .002) displayed a greater intention–behavior gap relative to older and White participants. In contrast, participants with more stable intentions over time displayed a stronger intention–behavior relationship (p < .001). Conclusions Targeting individuals’ attitudes, norms, and PBC may effectively promote protective behaviors intended to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and similar viral outbreaks. Future research should examine effective strategies for translating social distancing intentions into actions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-243
Author(s):  
Sarah R. Davies

PurposeThis article offers an in-depth exploration of university communications practice by describing and analysing a publicity and recruitment campaign, called ‘Challenge Everything’, carried out by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in 2018. By providing insight into internal sense-making around the campaign it contributes to literatures in science communication and communication management.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative research uses semi-structured interviews and informal organisational ethnography, mobilising concepts of sense-making and auto-communication to guide analysis. The focus is on how organisation members made sense of the Challenge Everything campaign.FindingsThe analysis focuses on four key themes within organisational sense-making about the campaign: the openness of the campaign meant that it was readily picked up on and personalised by university staff; its meaning was always contextual, shaped by organisation members' roles, interests, and concerns; its controversy seems to primarily derive from questions of representation, and specifically whether organisation members recognised within it their own experiences of university culture; and its development points to the rise of new forms of expertise within university organisation, and the contestation of these.Research limitations/implicationsThe research offers only a partial snapshot of one instance of university communications. However, in demonstrating how public campaigns also operate as auto-communication it has important implications for strategic communication within complex organisations such as universities.Originality/valueThe research has particular value in offering an in-depth qualitative study of university marketing practices and the effects these have within an organisation.


1999 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Kerry Mummery ◽  
Leonard M. Wankel

This study examined the ability of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict training adherence in a sample of adolescent competitive swimmers. Participants (N= 116, mean age = 14.8 years), who were drawn from 19 competitive swimming clubs from across Canada, completed measures relating to TPB before a major training cycle in their swim season. Results showed that training intention was significantly related to training behavior and that the direct measures of TPB (attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control) predicted a significant portion of the variance in the measure of training intention. Subsequently splitting the attitude measure into affective and instrumental components revealed that the instrumental portion of the attitudinal measure contributed significantly to predicting training intention, whereas the affective portion did not. These findings suggest that TPB offers insight into training behavior and that the two measures of evaluative attitude contribute differently to predicting training intention.


2001 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-41
Author(s):  
ROBIN R. PATTERSON

This purpose of this study was to use a theoretical framework based on several decades of attitudinal research to assess the intentions of Microbial Discovery Workshop participants to incorporate the inquiry activities presented at the workshop into their curricula, to evaluate the participants actual use of these activities after the workshop, and to uncover the barriers and enablers the participants faced in doing so. As a framework, the theory of planned behavior was ascertained to be an appropriate means of assessment and it was revealed that participants’ intention to use the workshop activities significantly correlated with their actual use. The participants’ attitudes toward using the activities influenced their use more than the participants’ perceptions of the social pressures that would influence their decision to use the activities or their belief as to how easy or difficult it would be to incorporate a given activity. The participants were found to be highly self-efficacious pertaining to their ability to implement the activities, but perceived self-efficacy was not a significant predictor of the participants’ intentions to incorporate the activities into their teaching-learning repertoire. The study also uncovered other behaviors the participants displayed as a result of attending the workshop consistent with the goals and objectives of the workshop organizers.


2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xie Yizhong ◽  
Zhibin Lin ◽  
Yevhen Baranchenko ◽  
Chi Keung Lau ◽  
Andrey Yukhanaev ◽  
...  

Purpose Graduate employability is a key concern for many observers particularly at a time when education is increasingly available for the masses. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of graduate perceived employability on job search by integrating theory of planned behavior and to identify how job search self-efficacy, subjective norms, intention and intensity change over time. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from a six-wave survey study with a sample of Chinese university graduating students. Findings Results show that perceived employability has a positive and significant effect on job search self-efficacy, attitude, intention and intensity; and that all the repeated measuring variables (except job search attitude) decreased over time. Practical implications The study is useful for educators, employers and prospective students. It prompts discussion of reforms in the curriculum to increase graduate awareness of the complexity of the job search process and existing opportunities. The study could also help to explain how job search behavior changes over time. Originality/value The findings carry implications for both higher education research and the measures of improving graduate employability. The study fills the gap in the literature by integrating employability and the theory of planned behavior into one framework in order to analyze the process of Chinese university graduates’ job search behavior.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Dürr ◽  
Ute-Christine Klehe

Abstract. Faking has been a concern in selection research for many years. Many studies have examined faking in questionnaires while far less is known about faking in selection exercises with higher fidelity. This study applies the theory of planned behavior (TPB; Ajzen, 1991 ) to low- (interviews) and high-fidelity (role play, group discussion) exercises, testing whether the TPB predicts reported faking behavior. Data from a mock selection procedure suggests that candidates do report to fake in low- and high-fidelity exercises. Additionally, the TPB showed good predictive validity for faking in a low-fidelity exercise, yet not for faking in high-fidelity exercises.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-52
Author(s):  
Jo Wray ◽  
Claire Orrells ◽  
Helen Latch ◽  
Michael Burch

Abstract. Heart transplantation is the treatment of choice for children with end-stage heart disease. Coronary artery vasculopathy is, however, a significant morbidity and leading cause of late graft loss, and hyperlipidemia a risk factor for its development. Improving diet in this population could have important benefits for patients. We wanted to understand what influences decisions about food intake in this patient group. Dietary intentions and behavior were examined using a questionnaire based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with 67 children who had undergone heart transplantation at least 12 months previously. The TPB model was significant for both healthy and unhealthy dietary behaviors, explaining 55% and 38% of the variance, respectively. Ten percent of children reported not eating any fruit and/or vegetables in the previous week and only 29% reported eating fruit and/or vegetables every day. The Theory of Planned Behavior provides a framework for explaining some specific dietary behaviors related to individual food groups in children who have undergone heart transplantation. These preliminary data support using this approach to inform the development of interventions to improve fruit and vegetable consumption but the approach may be less useful for explaining and developing interventions to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods.


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