Being able to directly capture preferences for (un)certain science information is an important step toward better public science communication. It paves the way for research that uncovers the factors shaping these preferences and, ultimately, for identifying ways to effectively disseminate uncertain scientific evidence to different publics, which remains a topmost goal in health, risk, and science communication.
For this project, we developed and validated a comprehensive measure of information preferences related to (un)certain science. In a new Frontiers in Communication paper, we present psychometric properties of each scale and report observed relationships between each set of preferences and an individual’s scientific understanding, trust in science, need for cognitive closure, and sociodemographic factors.
Results of this study provide evidence of construct validity for measures of four distinct dimensions of information preferences. Two of these dimensions (preferring complete information and openness to preliminary science) mapped onto a latent construct representing a preference for receiving information about uncertain science, and these together formed the final PIUS 11-item scale. The other two dimensions (preferring streamlined informationand desiring only established science) mapped onto a latent construct representing a preference for receiving certain science information, and these together formed the final PCSI 9-item scale.
We think results of this study go far in illuminating the nature of preferences for certain and uncertain science information, explicating each as a multifaceted construct that is likely influenced by a range of individual factors — including education, religiosity, political ideology, science literacy, epistemic beliefs, trust in science, and need for closure.
Next steps for this project include further refinement of the scale and translation into German (and hopefully, other languages!) to enable cross-cultural comparisons.
