Categories
Category: Research
Dr. Josephine Schmitt und Dr. Sabine Reich, 2023
Poster presentation at the 13th Conference of the Media Psychology Division (DGPs) in Luxembourg.
Helmuth Trischler and Fabienne Will, 2023.
Giacomo Bonan und Katia Occhi (HRSG.): Environment and Infrastructure. Challenges, knowledge and Innovation from the Early Modern Period, 13-32
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Clara Kühner, Fabienne Will, Bernhard Goodwin, 2023
Science Communication Lab, Deutsches Museum. München: LMU, Sozialwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Institut für Kommunikationswissenschaft und Medienforschung
Abstract: The following report presents the evaluation results of a science communication initiative that took place in February 2023 at the Science Communication Lab of the Deutsches Museum in Munich. Visitors were able to use the climate simulation model “En-ROADS” on a touchscreen table, under the guidance of scientists from the FH Kufstein. En-ROADS is a climate simulation model that predicts the temperature increase in the year 2100 based on different parameter settings such as the share of renewable energies and economic growth. Through the interaction with the climate simulation, the aim was to increase visitors’ understanding and knowledge of the causes of the climate crisis, as well as their perceived self-efficacy to mitigate climate change and their willingness to reduce their own carbon footprint. An initial survey was conducted with 104 visitors before the interaction, and a follow-up survey was conducted with 85 visitors after the interaction to assess the impact of the event on the participants. While there was no change in the areas of understanding, knowledge, and self-efficacy, visitors reported an increased willingness to change their behavior to reduce their own carbon footprint after the interaction with the simulation. Overall, visitors evaluated the interaction with the climate simulation very positively, and the majority indicated that they wanted to use the freely available online version of the simulation in the future and would recommend it to others.
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Clara Kühner, Bernhard Goodwin, 2023
Munich: Munich Science Communication Lab
Abstract: This report presents the evaluation results of a two-hour science communication event titled “Social Tipping Interventions and Science Communication” at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU). Within five short presentations, a panel discussion, and a question-and-answer session with the audience, three speakers (Prof. Dr.
Harald Lesch, Prof. Dr. Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, and Dr. Martin Herrmann) explained and discussed the concept and significance of social tipping interventions in the context of the climate crisis. The goals of the event were to convey the concept of social tipping interventions, to motivate participants to engage in climate-protective behavior on an individual and collective level, to increase perceived self-efficacy regarding the climate crisis, and to reduce negative climate emotions. An online pre- (N = 553) and post-survey (N = 424) was used to examine the fulfillment of these goals and the impact of the event on the participants. Interest in the event topic, perceived relevance of social tipping interventions, willingness to act on a societal level, and confidence and drive for action regarding the climate crisis increased after the event. There were no changes in reported self-efficacy as a result of the event. Anger and disappointment were among the most frequently mentioned climate emotions in both the pre-and post-surveys. Overall, participants rated the event positively, but only 65% stated that the event met their expectations. Possible explanations for the partially critical view of the event are presented as part of the analysis of qualitative comments from the post-survey (e.g., lack of practical examples of social tipping interventions).
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Jana Laura Egelhofer
Vol 11, No 1 (2023): Science Communication in the Digital Age: New Actors, Environments, and Practices
Abstract: In today’s “post-truth” world, concerns over political attacks on the legitimacy of expert knowledge and scientific facts are growing. Especially populist politicians frequently use their social media platforms to target science and journalism, arguing these are part of an “evil elite,” deliberately misleading the public by spreading disinformation. While this type of discourse is highly concerning, thus far, we lack empirical evidence on how these accusations affect the public perceptions of scientists and journalists. To fill this gap, this study tests how politicians’ attacks affect citizens’ trust in journalists and scientists and the information provided by them. Furthermore, it investigates whether this discourse renders hostility towards journalists and scientists acceptable and whether there are effects on the image of politicians using such anti-science rhetoric. Findings suggest that the effects of politicians’ attacks on citizens’ perceptions of scientists and journalists are limited. Only individuals with strong anti-elitist attitudes are susceptible to disinformation accusations and indicate less belief in discredited scientific information. Interestingly, these individuals also perceive politicians using such attacks as more trustworthy and authentic.
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Claudia Paganini, Marlis Prinzing, Julia Serong.
Nomos, 2023, 231 Seiten, broschiert
ISBN 978-3-8487-8846-0
Abstract: Communicating knowledge places ethical demands on communication between science and society. Communicating knowledge has always been relevant but suffered a loss of trust in the context of the coronavirus pandemic—among other things, due to research results published under extreme pressure or contradictory information that unsettled the population. This volume uses resources from media ethics to provide more guidance in this respect. Its aim is to classify the facets of communicating knowledge for both the actors involved and the public and to highlight its connecting points for practice as well as its undesirable developments and the opportunities it offers. The book contains contributions that are programmatic, theoretical and practice-related, as well as texts on normative requirements for science journalism and science communication. Its interdisciplinary contributions are compatible with the discourses in various disciplines.
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Kort, Remco, Jeremy Pivor, Josep M. Antó, Annemarie Bergsma, Peter J. Blankestijn, Olette Bollen, Egid van Bree, Joyce L. Browne, Judith de Bruin, Jasper Buikx, and et al. (u.a. Goodwin, Bernhard). 2023. Challenges 14, no. 3: 33.
Abstract: A new network of over 72 organizations from 12 countries was activated during a convening at ARTIS in Amsterdam on 26–27 September 2022. Representatives are aligned with the transdisciplinary field and social movement of Planetary Health, which analyzes and addresses the impacts of human disruptions to natural systems on human health and all life on Earth. The new European Planetary Health Hub consists of organizations from various sectors, including universities, healthcare, youth, business, and civil society. The Convening, co-organized by the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA), the European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils Network (EEAC), and Natura Artis Magistra (ARTIS), aimed to develop Planetary Health Working Groups for Education, Policy Engagement, Research, and Movement Building. The Convening resulted in an outline for each of the Working Group’s aims, visions, missions, priorities, and activities, and set the framework for sustaining their activities in the future through the establishment of the European Planetary Health Hub Secretariat in the Netherlands. The Hub members shared lessons learned, built relationships, and developed artwork-inspired perspectives on Planetary Health. In conclusion, the Convening led to the establishment of a strong European foundation to contribute to the transformations needed for sustainable, just, and equitable societies that flourish within the limits of our ecosystems.
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Linda Bos, Jana Laura Egelhofer, and Sophie Lecheler
Communication Research 2023 50:6, 695-719
Abstract: Citizens increasingly turn to social media for information, where they often rely on cues to judge the credibility of news messages. In these environments, populist politicians use “fake news” and “anti-elitist” attacks to undermine the credibility of news messages. This article argues that to truly understand the impact of these criticism cues, one must simultaneously consider additional contextual cues as well as individual-level moderators. In a factorial survey, we exposed 715 respondents to tweets by a politician retweeting and discrediting a news message of which topic and source varied. We find that both the fake news cue and the anti-elitist cue have limited across-the-board effects but decrease credibility if the message is incongruent with voters’ issue positions. Our results thus offer a more optimistic view on the power of populist media criticism cues and suggest that source and confirmation heuristics are (still) stronger influences on citizens’ credibility evaluations.
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Helmuth Trischler, 2022.
In: Farrenkopf, M. and Göschl, R. ed. Gras drüber … Bergbau und Umwelt im deutsch-deutschen Vergleich: Begleitband zur Sonderausstellung des Deutschen Bergbau-Museums Bochum im Jahr 2022. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Oldenbourg, pp. 35-42.