James R Kerr
Biographic Data
| ID | 1100026 |
|---|---|
| NAME | James R Kerr |
| GIVEN NAMES | James R |
| FAMILY NAME | Kerr |
| SIGNATURE | KERR J R |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Cambridge |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-6606-5507 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 23 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 216 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 23 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1965 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
Who is positive about precision health technologies? Demographic and psychological factors associated with science opposition
Objective Anti-science sentiment has the potential to become a major societal problem, and research has started considering the psychological and ideological antecedents of science rejection of novel science and technologies. Precision Health (e.g. human genetic mapping, health data digitalisation and access, wearable devices and digital apps) aims to pre-empt disease onset through the development of proactive, personalised solutions to health pr…
Does Lower Psychological Need Satisfaction Foster Conspiracy Belief? Longitudinal Effects Over 3 Years in New Zealand
Although conspiracy belief may arise from a frustration of psychological needs, research has yet to investigate these relationships over time. Using four annual waves of longitudinal panel data in New Zealand (2019–2022; N = 55,269), we examined the relationship between four psychological needs (namely belonging, control, meaning in life, and self-esteem) and conspiracy belief. Results from four random-intercept cross-lagged panel models reveal s…
The effect of scientific conspiracy theories on scepticism towards biotechnologies
Many conspiracy theories implicate scientists and science. We investigated the impact of exposure to scientific conspiracies about biotechnologies. Across three preregistered online studies ( N s = 1,000), participants who read information about conspiracies involving agribiotechnology companies or biobank scientists were more likely to endorse conspiracies. Other effects of exposure to conspiracy information were mixed. In Study 1, reading about…
A proactive Covid-19 response associated with better health and economic outcomes for OECD High-Income Island Countries
This study provides additional evidence, for island nations, that an exclusion and elimination strategy can provide superior health/macroeconomic pandemic outcomes, compared with suppression/mitigation strategies
Gaps in public trust between scientists and climate scientists
This study compares public trust in climate scientists and scientists in general across 68 countries ( N = 69,534). On average, participants reported moderately high levels of trust in climate scientists, with trust levels being slightly lower than trust in scientists in general. Overall, this trust gap was larger among participants who identified as politically conservative or right-leaning, but there was considerable variation across countries
Public Communication about Science in 68 Countries
This 68-country survey ( n = 71,922) examines science information diets and communication behavior, identifies cross-country differences, and tests how such differences are associated with sociopolitical and economic conditions. We find that social media are the most used sources of science information in most countries, except those with democratic-corporatist media systems where news media tend to be used more widely. People in collectivist soc…
Extremism at the center
The midpoint of the left‐right self‐placement item is hiding important political diversity, and may be conflating moderate responders with populists and other political sub‐groups. Survey researchers should consider this problem when examining relationships between political orientation and political attitudes. We suggest testing for non‐linearity in these relationships, and measuring anti‐establishment and populist beliefs separately. Researcher…
Does Developing a Belief in One Conspiracy Theory Lead a Person to be More Likely to Believe in Others
The monological belief system model suggests that—for at least a subset of people—developing a belief in one conspiracy theory will cause them to be more likely to believe in others. This model has been influential in the literature, but its core causal hypothesis has never been credibly tested. We therefore tested it in two longitudinal studies. Study 1 used a sample from New Zealand and Australia ( N = 498), with 7 monthly waves. Study 2 (prere…
Victims of Conspiracies? An Examination of the Relationship Between Conspiracy Beliefs and Dispositional Individual Victimhood
Conspiracy beliefs have been linked to perceptions of collective victimhood. We adopt an individual perspective on victimhood by investigating the relationship between conspiracy beliefs and the individual disposition to perceive and react to injustice as a victim, i.e., victim justice sensitivity (VJS). Data from two German samples (Ns = 370, 373) indicated a positive association between VJS and conspiracy mentality beyond conceptually related c…
Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries
Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists. We interrogated these concerns with a preregistered 68-country survey of 71,922 respondents and found that in most countries, most p…
Selective and consistent news avoidance in Aotearoa New Zealand
This study explores selective and consistent news avoidance in Aotearoa New Zealand. Existing research suggests that selective news avoidance rates are high in Aotearoa New Zealand (Myllylahti M, Treadwell G. 2023. Trust in News in Aotearoa New Zealand 2023. Journalism, Media and Democracy: AUT Research Centre for Journalism, Media & Democracy., Myllylahti M, Treadwell G. 2024. Trust in News in Aotearoa New Zealand 2023. Journalism, Media and Dem…
Predicting the replicability of social and behavioural science claims in Covid-19 preprints
Replications are important for assessing the reliability of published findings. However, they are costly, and it is infeasible to replicate everything. Accurate, fast, lower-cost alternatives such as eliciting predictions could accelerate assessment for rapid policy implementation in a crisis and help guide a more efficient allocation of scarce replication resources. We elicited judgements from participants on 100 claims from preprints about an e…
Australasian Public Awareness and Belief in Conspiracy Theories
Belief in conspiracies is not restricted to the fringe dwellers of society. International research suggests that such beliefs are quite common and that conspiracy theories may serve three basic psychological motives (i.e., epistemic, existential, and relational) for individuals. Yet, little is known about conspiracy theory awareness or belief in Australasia. We report the first large systematic investigation of system‐justifying motives using two…
Democracy and belief in conspiracy theories in New Zealand
The COVID-19 pandemic supercharged the spread of fake news, misinformation, and conspiracy theories worldwide. Using a national probability sample of adults from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study during 2020 (17–99 years old; M = 48.59, SD = 13.86; 63% women, 37% men; N = 41,487), we examined the associations between agreement with general conspiracy beliefs and political indicators of intention to vote and satisfaction with government, …
Associations between conspiracism and the rejection of scientific innovations
Public opinion regarding scientific developments such as genetically modified food can be mixed. We suggest such science-based technological innovations are rejected by some because they are perceived to be advanced as part of a conspiracy. In nationally representative samples (Australia n = 1011; New Zealand n = 754), we report the associations between five conspiracism facets and anti-science attitudes. Results indicate broad public opposition …
Right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation predict rejection of science and scientists
Previous research has highlighted how ideological factors such as political self-identification, religiosity and conspiracy thinking influence our beliefs about scientific issues such as climate change and vaccination. Across three studies (combined N = 9,022) we expand on this line of inquiry to show for the first time that the ideological attitudes relating to authoritarianism and group-based dominance predict disagreement with the scientific c…
Covid-19 risk perception
In this study, we present results from five cross-sectional surveys on public risk perception of COVID-19 and its association with health protective behaviours in the UK over a 10-month period (March 2020 to January 2021). Samples were nationally balanced on age, gender, and ethnicity (total N = 6,281). We find that although risk perception varies between the time points surveyed, it is consistently, significantly, and positively correlated with …
Risk perceptions of Covid-19 around the world
The World Health Organization has declared the rapid spread of COVID-19 around the world a global public health emergency. It is well-known that the spread of the disease is influenced by people’s willingness to adopt preventative public health behaviors, which are often associated with public risk perception. In this study, we present the first assessment of public risk perception of COVID-19 around the world using national samples (total N = 6,…
The influence of politics and labelling on New Zealanders’ attitudes towards animal agriculture emissions policy
New Zealand’s primary strategy for tackling greenhouse gas emissions is the emissions trading scheme, which puts a price on emissions from all major industries – except animal agriculture. In the decade since the scheme was introduced, conversations about including emissions from animal agriculture have been shrouded in controversy, with a levy on such emissions dubbed a ‘fart tax’. Across two independent samples of New Zealanders, we examined wh…
Perceived Risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Dietary Behavior
The German BSE crisis in early 2001 can be considered as a natural experiment with strong behavioral consequences. The present study investigated psychological and other factors associated with reduced meat consumption compared to the first months of the previous year. As expected, all types of meat, with the exception of poultry and game, were eaten less often. The effect was strongest in beef, where almost half of the sample reported reduced me…
International Relations and Politics
Supreme Courts in State Politics
Congress and Space
SCIENCE and technology have been a concern of the federal government since the founding of the Republic. Government sponsored scientific research, moreover, has increased tremendously to keep pace with the expansion of government functions. Government relied heavily upon the applied sciences in the development of the continent in the nineteenth century when national associations and organizations of scientists, not the federal government, provide…
Risk perceptions of Covid-19 around the world
The World Health Organization has declared the rapid spread of COVID-19 around the world a global public health emergency. It is well-known that the spread of the disease is influenced by people’s willingness to adopt preventative public health behaviors, which are often associated with public risk perception. In this study, we present the first assessment of public risk perception of COVID-19 around the world using national samples (total N = 6,…
Covid-19 risk perception
In this study, we present results from five cross-sectional surveys on public risk perception of COVID-19 and its association with health protective behaviours in the UK over a 10-month period (March 2020 to January 2021). Samples were nationally balanced on age, gender, and ethnicity (total N = 6,281). We find that although risk perception varies between the time points surveyed, it is consistently, significantly, and positively correlated with …
Right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation predict rejection of science and scientists
Previous research has highlighted how ideological factors such as political self-identification, religiosity and conspiracy thinking influence our beliefs about scientific issues such as climate change and vaccination. Across three studies (combined N = 9,022) we expand on this line of inquiry to show for the first time that the ideological attitudes relating to authoritarianism and group-based dominance predict disagreement with the scientific c…
Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries
Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists. We interrogated these concerns with a preregistered 68-country survey of 71,922 respondents and found that in most countries, most p…
Democracy and belief in conspiracy theories in New Zealand
The COVID-19 pandemic supercharged the spread of fake news, misinformation, and conspiracy theories worldwide. Using a national probability sample of adults from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study during 2020 (17–99 years old; M = 48.59, SD = 13.86; 63% women, 37% men; N = 41,487), we examined the associations between agreement with general conspiracy beliefs and political indicators of intention to vote and satisfaction with government, …
Australasian Public Awareness and Belief in Conspiracy Theories
Belief in conspiracies is not restricted to the fringe dwellers of society. International research suggests that such beliefs are quite common and that conspiracy theories may serve three basic psychological motives (i.e., epistemic, existential, and relational) for individuals. Yet, little is known about conspiracy theory awareness or belief in Australasia. We report the first large systematic investigation of system‐justifying motives using two…
Perceived Risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Dietary Behavior
The German BSE crisis in early 2001 can be considered as a natural experiment with strong behavioral consequences. The present study investigated psychological and other factors associated with reduced meat consumption compared to the first months of the previous year. As expected, all types of meat, with the exception of poultry and game, were eaten less often. The effect was strongest in beef, where almost half of the sample reported reduced me…
Does Developing a Belief in One Conspiracy Theory Lead a Person to be More Likely to Believe in Others
The monological belief system model suggests that—for at least a subset of people—developing a belief in one conspiracy theory will cause them to be more likely to believe in others. This model has been influential in the literature, but its core causal hypothesis has never been credibly tested. We therefore tested it in two longitudinal studies. Study 1 used a sample from New Zealand and Australia ( N = 498), with 7 monthly waves. Study 2 (prere…
Victims of Conspiracies? An Examination of the Relationship Between Conspiracy Beliefs and Dispositional Individual Victimhood
Conspiracy beliefs have been linked to perceptions of collective victimhood. We adopt an individual perspective on victimhood by investigating the relationship between conspiracy beliefs and the individual disposition to perceive and react to injustice as a victim, i.e., victim justice sensitivity (VJS). Data from two German samples (Ns = 370, 373) indicated a positive association between VJS and conspiracy mentality beyond conceptually related c…
Congress and Space
SCIENCE and technology have been a concern of the federal government since the founding of the Republic. Government sponsored scientific research, moreover, has increased tremendously to keep pace with the expansion of government functions. Government relied heavily upon the applied sciences in the development of the continent in the nineteenth century when national associations and organizations of scientists, not the federal government, provide…
Congress and Space
SCIENCE and technology have been a concern of the federal government since the founding of the Republic. Government sponsored scientific research, moreover, has increased tremendously to keep pace with the expansion of government functions. Government relied heavily upon the applied sciences in the development of the continent in the nineteenth century when national associations and organizations of scientists, not the federal government, provide…
Supreme Courts in State Politics
International Relations and Politics
Perceived Risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Dietary Behavior
The German BSE crisis in early 2001 can be considered as a natural experiment with strong behavioral consequences. The present study investigated psychological and other factors associated with reduced meat consumption compared to the first months of the previous year. As expected, all types of meat, with the exception of poultry and game, were eaten less often. The effect was strongest in beef, where almost half of the sample reported reduced me…
Risk perceptions of Covid-19 around the world
The World Health Organization has declared the rapid spread of COVID-19 around the world a global public health emergency. It is well-known that the spread of the disease is influenced by people’s willingness to adopt preventative public health behaviors, which are often associated with public risk perception. In this study, we present the first assessment of public risk perception of COVID-19 around the world using national samples (total N = 6,…
The influence of politics and labelling on New Zealanders’ attitudes towards animal agriculture emissions policy
New Zealand’s primary strategy for tackling greenhouse gas emissions is the emissions trading scheme, which puts a price on emissions from all major industries – except animal agriculture. In the decade since the scheme was introduced, conversations about including emissions from animal agriculture have been shrouded in controversy, with a levy on such emissions dubbed a ‘fart tax’. Across two independent samples of New Zealanders, we examined wh…
Associations between conspiracism and the rejection of scientific innovations
Public opinion regarding scientific developments such as genetically modified food can be mixed. We suggest such science-based technological innovations are rejected by some because they are perceived to be advanced as part of a conspiracy. In nationally representative samples (Australia n = 1011; New Zealand n = 754), we report the associations between five conspiracism facets and anti-science attitudes. Results indicate broad public opposition …
Right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation predict rejection of science and scientists
Previous research has highlighted how ideological factors such as political self-identification, religiosity and conspiracy thinking influence our beliefs about scientific issues such as climate change and vaccination. Across three studies (combined N = 9,022) we expand on this line of inquiry to show for the first time that the ideological attitudes relating to authoritarianism and group-based dominance predict disagreement with the scientific c…
Covid-19 risk perception
In this study, we present results from five cross-sectional surveys on public risk perception of COVID-19 and its association with health protective behaviours in the UK over a 10-month period (March 2020 to January 2021). Samples were nationally balanced on age, gender, and ethnicity (total N = 6,281). We find that although risk perception varies between the time points surveyed, it is consistently, significantly, and positively correlated with …
Australasian Public Awareness and Belief in Conspiracy Theories
Belief in conspiracies is not restricted to the fringe dwellers of society. International research suggests that such beliefs are quite common and that conspiracy theories may serve three basic psychological motives (i.e., epistemic, existential, and relational) for individuals. Yet, little is known about conspiracy theory awareness or belief in Australasia. We report the first large systematic investigation of system‐justifying motives using two…
Democracy and belief in conspiracy theories in New Zealand
The COVID-19 pandemic supercharged the spread of fake news, misinformation, and conspiracy theories worldwide. Using a national probability sample of adults from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study during 2020 (17–99 years old; M = 48.59, SD = 13.86; 63% women, 37% men; N = 41,487), we examined the associations between agreement with general conspiracy beliefs and political indicators of intention to vote and satisfaction with government, …
Selective and consistent news avoidance in Aotearoa New Zealand
This study explores selective and consistent news avoidance in Aotearoa New Zealand. Existing research suggests that selective news avoidance rates are high in Aotearoa New Zealand (Myllylahti M, Treadwell G. 2023. Trust in News in Aotearoa New Zealand 2023. Journalism, Media and Democracy: AUT Research Centre for Journalism, Media & Democracy., Myllylahti M, Treadwell G. 2024. Trust in News in Aotearoa New Zealand 2023. Journalism, Media and Dem…
Predicting the replicability of social and behavioural science claims in Covid-19 preprints
Replications are important for assessing the reliability of published findings. However, they are costly, and it is infeasible to replicate everything. Accurate, fast, lower-cost alternatives such as eliciting predictions could accelerate assessment for rapid policy implementation in a crisis and help guide a more efficient allocation of scarce replication resources. We elicited judgements from participants on 100 claims from preprints about an e…
The effect of scientific conspiracy theories on scepticism towards biotechnologies
Many conspiracy theories implicate scientists and science. We investigated the impact of exposure to scientific conspiracies about biotechnologies. Across three preregistered online studies ( N s = 1,000), participants who read information about conspiracies involving agribiotechnology companies or biobank scientists were more likely to endorse conspiracies. Other effects of exposure to conspiracy information were mixed. In Study 1, reading about…
A proactive Covid-19 response associated with better health and economic outcomes for OECD High-Income Island Countries
This study provides additional evidence, for island nations, that an exclusion and elimination strategy can provide superior health/macroeconomic pandemic outcomes, compared with suppression/mitigation strategies
Gaps in public trust between scientists and climate scientists
This study compares public trust in climate scientists and scientists in general across 68 countries ( N = 69,534). On average, participants reported moderately high levels of trust in climate scientists, with trust levels being slightly lower than trust in scientists in general. Overall, this trust gap was larger among participants who identified as politically conservative or right-leaning, but there was considerable variation across countries
Public Communication about Science in 68 Countries
This 68-country survey ( n = 71,922) examines science information diets and communication behavior, identifies cross-country differences, and tests how such differences are associated with sociopolitical and economic conditions. We find that social media are the most used sources of science information in most countries, except those with democratic-corporatist media systems where news media tend to be used more widely. People in collectivist soc…
Extremism at the center
The midpoint of the left‐right self‐placement item is hiding important political diversity, and may be conflating moderate responders with populists and other political sub‐groups. Survey researchers should consider this problem when examining relationships between political orientation and political attitudes. We suggest testing for non‐linearity in these relationships, and measuring anti‐establishment and populist beliefs separately. Researcher…
Does Developing a Belief in One Conspiracy Theory Lead a Person to be More Likely to Believe in Others
The monological belief system model suggests that—for at least a subset of people—developing a belief in one conspiracy theory will cause them to be more likely to believe in others. This model has been influential in the literature, but its core causal hypothesis has never been credibly tested. We therefore tested it in two longitudinal studies. Study 1 used a sample from New Zealand and Australia ( N = 498), with 7 monthly waves. Study 2 (prere…
Victims of Conspiracies? An Examination of the Relationship Between Conspiracy Beliefs and Dispositional Individual Victimhood
Conspiracy beliefs have been linked to perceptions of collective victimhood. We adopt an individual perspective on victimhood by investigating the relationship between conspiracy beliefs and the individual disposition to perceive and react to injustice as a victim, i.e., victim justice sensitivity (VJS). Data from two German samples (Ns = 370, 373) indicated a positive association between VJS and conspiracy mentality beyond conceptually related c…
Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries
Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists. We interrogated these concerns with a preregistered 68-country survey of 71,922 respondents and found that in most countries, most p…
Who is positive about precision health technologies? Demographic and psychological factors associated with science opposition
Objective Anti-science sentiment has the potential to become a major societal problem, and research has started considering the psychological and ideological antecedents of science rejection of novel science and technologies. Precision Health (e.g. human genetic mapping, health data digitalisation and access, wearable devices and digital apps) aims to pre-empt disease onset through the development of proactive, personalised solutions to health pr…
Does Lower Psychological Need Satisfaction Foster Conspiracy Belief? Longitudinal Effects Over 3 Years in New Zealand
Although conspiracy belief may arise from a frustration of psychological needs, research has yet to investigate these relationships over time. Using four annual waves of longitudinal panel data in New Zealand (2019–2022; N = 55,269), we examined the relationship between four psychological needs (namely belonging, control, meaning in life, and self-esteem) and conspiracy belief. Results from four random-intercept cross-lagged panel models reveal s…
Psychology (13 works) · Misinformation and Its Impacts (12 works) · Political science (12 works) · Social Psychology (10 works) · Law (9 works) · Politics (9 works) · Climate Change Communication and Perception (8 works) · Epistemology (5 works) · Geography (5 works) · Medicine (5 works)