Getting The Public To Listen To Good Science

I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "We all know that false or misleading science headlines are all too common these days and that misleading media combined with an apathetic and undereducated public lead to widespread ignorance. But the real question is, how can this trend be reversed? At a session at the recent AAAS meeting, a study was discussed indicating that what matters most is how the information is portrayed. While people are willing to defer to experts on matters of low concern, for things that affect them directly, such as breast cancer or childhood diseases, expertise only counts for as much as giving off a 'sense of honesty and openness,' and that it matters far less than creating a sense of empathy in deciding who people will listen to. In other words, it's not enough to merely report on it as an expert. You need to make sure your report exudes a sense of honesty, openness, empathy, and maybe even a hint of humor."

Comments

Mandatory IQ and other cognitive ability

[Lewrker]

tests and then isolating those scoring below a certain value would fix the world for good. That way 'the public' actually becomes an audience of a different kind than monkeys' who would buy anything as long as it's loud colorful and grants instant gratification at the cost of long-term gains. Giving equal chances to everyone favors survival of the idiots.

Re:What we have here

[megaditto]

The only thing we can do is teach the scientific method - in schools, at home, in conversations. It's the only weapon we've got, however small. That won't help. Scientific research is so in-depth and focused that it's basically boring for all but the very few individuals directly involved. To generate interest, people now overstate their goals and results (this can cure Cancer, stop AIDS, make you Immortal, fly your car, etc.) which just pisses people off.

I say you should accept that trying to educate the public about your research is a lost cause, and just let it be. Most people are not even aware of the basics of centuries-old fields like electromagnetism, thermodynamics, or number theory. How in the hell can you convince the very same people that knowing about TGF-beta interaction with ERK (whatever that means) is more important than about how often Brittaney shaves her crotch?

Science is not for everyone, and you are just going to make a lot of good people feel stupid, inferior, or worse if you push too hard and make them aware of things they can't and won't understand. Where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise.

We tried that already

[RiotingPacifist]

but it turns out that America is producing so much CO2 that we need to explain to them about science after all before they ruin the planet.

Re:immunization

[speaktruth]

If you want to talk about an undereducated population and bad science this is the perfect place to start. You, sir, are clearly ignorant of the scientific realities of childhood vaccination. The science to support such programs is bad and the way the issue is portrayed by doctors is even worse.