Evoking vigilance

Would you (dis)trust a scientist who discusses ethical implications of research in a science blog

Dados Bibliográficos

ID20403274
AutoresFriederike Hendriks (0000-0003-1023-8103, University of Münster, autor correspondente), Dorothe Kienhues (0000-0002-8250-627X, University of Münster), Rainer Bromme (0000-0002-6123-7269, University of Münster)
Ano2016
Volume25
Fascículo8
Páginas992-1008
Data de publicação2016-11-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPublic Understanding of Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0963-6625 • E-ISSN: 1361-6609
EditoraSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0963662516646048
PMID27150266
OpenAlexW2346614487
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas19
Referências citadas42

The experimental studies presented here investigated whether discussing ethical implications of preliminary scientific results in a science blog would impact blog readers’ perception of the responsible scientist blogger’s epistemic trustworthiness (on the dimensions expertise, integrity, and benevolence). They also investigated whether it made a difference in who had brought forward the ethics aspects: the responsible scientist blogger or another expert. Results indicate that by the mere introduction of ethics, people infer something about the blogger’s communicative intentions: Introducing ethical aspects seems to raise vigilance about an expert’s benevolence and integrity. Moreover, ratings of epistemic trustworthiness differed depending on who added ethical arguments: If ethics were introduced by the scientist blogger himself, his benevolence and integrity were rated higher than when ethics were introduced by another expert. These results are relevant for science bloggers, science communicators, and researchers who study laypeople’s understanding of epistemic uncertainty within science

Engineering ethics · Epistemology · Perception · Political science · Public relations · Research ethics · Research integrity · Sociology · Trustworthiness · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Educational Strategies and Epistemologies · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Philosophy · Psychology · Social Psychology