Why Some People Don't Trust Science – and How to Change Their Minds
AnonTechie writes:
During the pandemic, a third of people in the UK reported that their trust in science had increased, we recently discovered. But 7% said that it had decreased. Why is there such variety of responses?
For many years, it was thought that the main reason some people reject science was a simple deficit of knowledge and a mooted(*) fear of the unknown. Consistent with this, many surveys reported that attitudes to science are more positive among those people who know more of the textbook science.
But if that were indeed the core problem, the remedy would be simple: inform people about the facts. This strategy, which dominated science communication through much of the later part of the 20th century, has, however, failed at multiple levels.
In controlled experiments, giving people scientific information was found not to change attitudes. And in the UK, scientific messaging over genetically modified technologies has even backfired.
[...] Recent evidence has revealed that people who reject or distrust science are not especially well informed about it, but more importantly, they typically believe that they do understand the science.
[...] A common quandary for much science communication may in fact be that it appeals to those already engaged with science. Which may be why you read this.
That said, the new science of communication suggests it is certainly worth trying to reach out to those who are disengaged.
(*) Moot; see: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/moot or https://www.etymonline.com/word/moot.
[Source]: The Conversation
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