scholarly journals Reasoning on Controversial Science Issues in Science Education and Science Communication

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 522
Author(s):  
Anna Beniermann ◽  
Laurens Mecklenburg ◽  
Annette Upmeier zu Belzen
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Informal Reasoning ◽  
The Public ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Societal Issues ◽  
Category System

The ability to make evidence-based decisions, and hence to reason on questions concerning scientific and societal aspects, is a crucial goal in science education and science communication. However, science denial poses a constant challenge for society and education. Controversial science issues (CSI) encompass scientific knowledge rejected by the public as well as socioscientific issues, i.e., societal issues grounded in science that are frequently applied to science education. Generating evidence-based justifications for claims is central in scientific and informal reasoning. This study aims to describe attitudes and their justifications within the argumentations of a random online sample (N = 398) when reasoning informally on selected CSI. Following a deductive-inductive approach and qualitative content analysis of written open-ended answers, we identified five types of justifications based on a fine-grained category system. The results suggest a topic-specificity of justifications referring to specific scientific data, while justifications appealing to authorities tend to be common across topics. Subjective, and therefore normative, justifications were slightly related to conspiracy ideation and a general rejection of the scientific consensus. The category system could be applied to other CSI topics to help clarify the relation between scientific and informal reasoning in science education and communication.

scholarly journals SCIENCE-EDU-COMMUNICATION: TRENDS REVEAL IN 20 YEARS OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION RESEARCH

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 793-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leon Yufeng Wu ◽  
Nathan M. Truong ◽  
Hsin-Yen Lu ◽  
Yuen-Hsian Tseng ◽  
Chun-Yen Chang
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Scientometric Analysis ◽  
The Public ◽  
Scholarly Output ◽  
Public Engagement With Science ◽  
Scientometric Method ◽  
Education Science ◽  
Communication Methods

By investigating scholarly output in science communication from 1997 to 2018, this research sought evidence that science education has been increasingly focusing on communication methods to reach the public. Through an automatic scientometric method, this study analyzed 1300 articles published in two leading journals in the field of science communication. As a result, seven trends were revealed and categorized into three themes: Public engagement with science (PES); Media and science (MS); and Issues in science (IS). Furthermore, PES and MS scholarly output were found increased significantly. The findings confirmed the goal of this research. However, it then suggested a research area of bridging science education and science communication that is currently less explored. Given increased focus towards PES and MS, these fields are primed for further collaboration to more engage the public in science learning. Keywords: CATAR, scientometric analysis, science communication, science education, science-edu-communication.

scholarly journals Building Trust in Science Through a Bayesian Perspective on Probability and Uncertainty

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Rosenberg ◽  
Marcus Kubsch ◽  
Eric-Jan Wagenmakers
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Bayes Theorem ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Public ◽  
Building Trust ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
How People Learn ◽  
Scientific Ideas

Uncertainty is ubiquitous in science, but scientific understanding is often represented to the public and in educational contexts as certain and immutable. Adding to this problem is that when scientists try to communicate their uncertainty, research has demonstrated that many people--learners and experts alike--struggle to interpret the statistics that are often used to make inferences about evidence from scientific data. We conjecture that a Bayesian perspective can offer a foundation for teaching and learning about a persistent but sometimes unsettling tension for science, making sense of and communicating about uncertainty. Central to this approach is viewing uncertainty \ital{probabilistically}, as doing so provides a language for expressing the degree of uncertainty in knowledge across a range of scientific domains and socio-scientific issues. In this paper, we elaborate on the importance of probability and uncertainty in science (and science education) and review how people learn about these concepts---and when and why they face difficulties when doing so. Then, we provide an accessible primer on Bayes Theorem and more general principles following from the application of Bayes Theorem. Next, we provide examples of how a Bayesian perspective could inform efforts around both science literacy and science education with an emphasis upon building trust in science. We conclude with directions for future research focused on bolstering trust in science outside of and within pre-collegiate science classrooms, where a Bayesian perspective can provide a coherent approach to engaging in science to make sense of scientific ideas in a principled yet flexible manner.

scholarly journals Merging Science Education into Communication: Developing and Validating a Scale for Science Edu-Communication Utilizing Awareness, Enjoyment, Interest, Opinion formation, and Understanding Dimensions (SEC-AEIOU)

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 4551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leon Yufeng Wu ◽  
Shannah Pinhsuan Wu ◽  
Chun-Yen Chang
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Opinion Formation ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
The Public ◽  
Reliable Instrument ◽  
Education Science ◽  
Robust Framework

For better understanding of how the public perceive the information in science communication; this study sought to develop the scale of Science Edu-Communication (SEC), an instrument to measure AEIOU: Awareness; Enjoyment; Interest; Opinion formation; and Understanding. The AEIOU framework was adopted for use as the major component of SEC to depict participants’ general perceptions of science communication from their daily life experiences. Responses from 121 participants were analysed using exploratory factor analysis; item discrimination; and qualitative coding analysis. Results support SEC-AEIOU as a valid and reliable instrument to measure the effectiveness of science communication experiences. Additionally; SEC-AEIOU can serve as a framework for research and practice to bridge science communication and science education. In particular; science communicators; educators; and institutions that engage in science communication and educational activities may benefit from such a metric. This scale seeks to assist in building a robust framework to facilitate the trend of bridging science communication and science education: Science Edu-Communication.

scholarly journals The Knowledge and Attitudes of The Non-Health Worker Citizens and Physicians About Traditional and Complementary Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 107-114
Author(s):  
Reyhan Tekin ◽  
Suleyman Gorpelioglu ◽  
Cenk Aypak ◽  
Ozlem Suvak ◽  
Canan Emiroglu
Keyword(s):  
Complementary Medicine ◽  
Role Model ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Public ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Level Of Knowledge

Aim: Healthcare professionals will set an example to society with their behaviors about Traditional and Complementary Medicine usage. We aimed to investigate and compare the knowledge and attitudes of society and physicians about Traditional and Complementary Medicine to create an infrastructure for medical training. Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study "Turkish Version of Complementary, Alternative and Conventional Medicine Attitude Scale" was used for data collection. Results: A total of 392 physicians and 438 citizens participated in the study. Among all participants, 36.9% had used a Traditional and Complementary Medicine method before and the most used method was phytotherapy. There was a significant difference between groups in terms of the level of knowledge. Surprisingly no significant difference was found between physicians and the public in the "Dissatisfaction with Modern Medicine" subgroup. Conclusion: Although there were differences in the level of knowledge between the public and physicians, it was seen that the behavioral patterns were similar to each other. This situation suggests that physicians are also influenced by the society they live in, rather than scientific data, in their decisions about Traditional and Complementary Medicine. Being as a role model to the public, physicians are responsible for providing evidence-based answers to questions about Traditional and Complementary Medicine and should receive adequate training about methods. Keywords: complementary medicine, therapeutic use, evidence-based practice, knowledge, physicians

scholarly journals SCIENTISTS’ PERCEPTIONS ON THE NATURE OF NANOSCIENCE AND ITS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION

2018 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-57
Author(s):  
Antti Laherto ◽  
Frederike Tirre ◽  
Ilka Parchmann ◽  
Lorenz Kampschulte ◽  
Stefan Schwarzer
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literacy ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Science Learning ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
The Public ◽  
Risks And Benefits ◽  
Simplistic Notion ◽  
Level Of Understanding ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
And Training

Some level of understanding of and about nanoscience and nanotechnology (NST) has been suggested as being relevant in up-to-date scientific literacy for all. Research scientists working in these fields are central in current efforts to inform and engage the public in NST. Earlier research has shown that scientists can contribute to authentic science learning, but communication always entails roles that affect the choice of content. This study investigated NST researchers’ views on the nature of their research and their preferences in NST communication. Eight experienced professors working in various fields of NST were interviewed. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews focused on the scientists’ views on 1) the nature of their research, and 2) aspects of NST that should be communicated to the public. Qualitative content analysis of the interviews revealed that the themes the interviewees highlighted when describing their research (interdisciplinarity, size scale, methods, objects, nature of NST in general) were somewhat different from the ones they considered as important for communication to the public (applications and products, risks and benefits, visualizations). The results problematize the simplistic notion that exposure to real scientists would unquestionably enhance the authenticity of science learning. This study gives insight for research and development of science communication, especially scientists’ role and training in it. Keywords: authenticity, nanoscience, nature of science, science communication, scientist interviews.

scholarly journals GC Insights: Scientists as Marketers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain S. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Science Communication ◽  
Environmental Concerns ◽  
Business Sector ◽  
The Public ◽  
Societal Issues ◽  
Fresh Perspective ◽  
Communication Practices ◽  
Sense And Respond ◽  
Current Science

Abstract. Motivated by pressing planetary concerns, scientists are  increasingly taking their work into the public arena, but it  remains uncertain whether current science communication  practices are appropriate for tackling complex and contested  societal issues. A fresh perspective emerges from the  business sector, and from the contrasting marketing  paradigms of ‘make and sell’, ‘sense and respond’, and  ‘guide and co‐create’. The newly emergent guide‐and‐co‐ create paradigm – purpose‐driven, interdisciplinary,  participatory, and reflexive – would seem to offer the best  template for science communicators addressing long‐term  geo‐environmental concerns.

Men's perception and understanding of male-factor infertility in the UK

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. S8-S16
Author(s):  
Eleanor L Stevenson ◽  
Cheng Ching-Yu ◽  
Chang Chia-Hao ◽  
Kevin R McEleny
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Public Knowledge ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Male Factor Infertility ◽  
Male Factor ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Uk

Male-factor infertility is a common but stigmatised issue, and men often do not receive the emotional support and the information they need. This study sought to understand awareness of male fertility issues compared to female fertility among the UK general male public, and also what were perceived as being the optimum methods for providing support for affected men, emotionally and through information. Men feel that male infertility is not discussed by the public as much as female infertility. Lifestyle issues that affect male fertility are not well understood, and men affected by infertility desire more support, including online, from health professionals and through peer support. Health professionals, including those in public health, could offer evidence-based programmes to reduce stigma and increase public knowledge about infertility, as well as offer emotional support to men with infertility problems.

Moving an Evidence-Based Policy Agenda Forward: Leadership Tips From the Field

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 158-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Garrett
Keyword(s):  
Change Process ◽  
Nursing Profession ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Policy Agenda ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
The Public ◽  
Leverage Point ◽  
Evidence Based Policy ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Improve Health

Advancing evidence-based policy change is a leadership challenge that nurses should embrace. Key tips to ensure that evidence-based policy changes are successful at the individual, community, and population levels are offered to help nurses through the change process. The public trust in the nursing profession is a leverage point that should be used to advance the use of evidence, expedite change, and improve health for students and across communities.

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