AAAS Presentation on Scientists' Views about Engagment
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This presentation is to be delivered on Feb. 14 at the annual meeting of the AAAS. It reports research supported by the NSF's Advancing Informal Science Learning group (see disclaimer in presentation).
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AAAS Presentation on Scientists' Views about Engagment
- 1. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF, Grant AISL 14241214-421723. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF. AAAS Members Views about Science Communication Goals and Objectives In the context of … Face-to-Face Communication Online Communication Mediated Communication
- 2. Strategy Project goals and background Survey Findings: Past behavior, Willingness, Goals, and Objectives Implications and future research 1 2 3
- 3. 3 We must “supplement our studies and activities on the understanding of science by the public, with studies and activities on the understanding of the public by scientists.” Lévy-Leblond, 1992
- 4. 4 Our data … AAAS members with Ph.D. and at a U.S. university (n = ~1050, 9% response rate) Age: 61 (SE = .38) Male: 69% Field: • Biology-Medical Science: 53% • Physics/Astrology: 11% • Social Science: 10% • Geological Science: 7% • Engineering: 6% • Computer Science/Mathematics: 5% Funding: • NSF: 36% • NIH: 33% • NGO: 26% • Other federal: 24% • Industry: 19% • Other: 11% • DOD: 8%
- 5. 5 Science Public Engagement as “Planned Behavior” Attitudes about engagement/ engagement audiences Descriptive and injunctive norms about engagement Efficacy beliefs about engagement Willingness to engage / Priorities for Engagement Engagement • Past research has focused on predicting the engagement amount • Current research is focused on predicting prioritization of specific engagement objectivesPrimary Research Question: To what degree are attitudes, norms, and efficacy associated with views about engagement?
- 6. 6 Are AAAS members engaging? 34 45 58 59 13 19 14 5 30 25 19 14 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Face-to-Face Media Direct Online Never Once 2-5 times 6-11 times About once a month Multiple times per month Once a week or more “To start, about how often have you engaged with the public on science in the last year?” n = ~1050 AAAS scientists are engaging, with F2F most common
- 7. Are AAAS members engaging? 34 45 58 59 13 19 14 5 30 25 19 14 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Face-to-Face Media Direct Online Never Once 2-5 times 6-11 times About once a month Multiple times per month Once a week or more “To start, about how often have you engaged with the public on science in the last year?” 18 43 27 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Very negative Very positive “[H]ow negative or positive would you say your experience … was? (7-pt. scale) M = 5.83, SE = .04 n = ~1050
- 8. 8 Are AAAS members willing to engage? “Looking forward, how willing would you be to take part in the following types of engagement or outreach in the next 12 months?” (7-pt. scale) 17 21 18 14 28 24 24 13 36 28 27 15 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Face-to-Face Media Direct Online Not at all willing Very willing M = 5.64, SE = .05 M = 5.14, SE = .05 M = 5.26, SE = .05 M = 3.99, SE = .05 n = ~1050 AAAS scientists are willing to engage (online is least popular)
- 10. 12
- 11. 1 What SOCIETAL goals do AAAS scientists prioritize? “What are the most important or unimportant PERSONAL goals that scientists such as yourself should have when …” (Very Low/Very high Importance)? 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 Getting policy makers to use scientific evidence Helping ensure our culture values science Helping people use science to make better personal decisions Obtaining adequate funding for scientific research Getting more young people to choose scientific careers Helping to diversify the STEM workforce Face-to-Face Media Online Policy choice and culture of science highest priorities n = ~1050
- 12. 1 What SOCIETAL goals do AAAS scientists prioritize? “What are the most important or unimportant PERSONAL goals that scientists such as yourself should have when …” (7-pt. scale: Very Low-Very high Importance)? 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 Increasing the impact of research Fulfilling a sense of duty to society Personal enjoyment Meeting other scientists Obtaining research funding Face-to-Face Media Online Increasing impact and sense of duty high priorities n = ~1050
- 13. But “objectives” come first …
- 14. 1 What communication objectives do the scientists prioritize? “[W]hat are the most important or unimportant communication objectives that scientists such as yourself should have when taking part in _____? (Very Low/Very high Importance)? 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 Helping to inform people about scientific issues Getting people interested or excited about science Defending science from those who spread falsehoods Showing that the scientific community cares about society's… Demonstrating the scientific community's openness and… Showing that scientists share community values Framing research implications ... in a way that resonates with their… Hearing what others think about scientific issues Showing the scientific community's expertise Face-to-Face Media Online Traditional goals seen as most important n = ~1050
- 15. How ethical are the objectives? “This objective is ethical.” (Attitude) (Strongly Disagree-Strongly Agree) 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 Defending science from those who spread falsehoods Helping to inform people about scientific issues Getting people interested or excited about science Demonstrating the scientific community's openness and… Showing that the scientific community cares about… Hearing what others think about scientific issues Showing the scientific community's expertise Showing that scientists share community values Framing research implications ... in a way that resonates with… Face-to-Face Media Online Some concern about framing and identification n = ~1050
- 16. What would my peers think? “Scientists who pursue this objective would be well regarded by their peers.” (Injunctive Norm) (Strongly Disagree-Strongly Agree) 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 Defending science from those who spread falsehoods Getting people interested or excited about science Helping to inform people about scientific issues Showing the scientific community's expertise Showing that the scientific community cares about… Demonstrating the scientific community's openness and… Framing research implications ... in a way that resonates with… Showing that scientists share community values Hearing what others think about scientific issues Face-to-Face Media Online Most think other scientists expect priority on traditional goals n = ~1050
- 17. What do my peers do? “My colleagues would put a high priority on this objective.” (Descriptive Norm) (Strongly Disagree-Strongly Agree) 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 Defending science from those who spread falsehoods Helping to inform people about scientific issues Getting people interested or excited about science Showing the scientific community's expertise Showing that the scientific community cares about… Demonstrating the scientific community's openness and… Framing research implications ... in a way that resonates… Showing that scientists share community values Hearing what others think about scientific issues Face-to-Face Media Online Most think other scientists would put priority on traditional goals n = ~1050
- 18. Could I accomplish this objective? “I have the skills needed to achieve this objective.” (Internal Efficacy) (Strongly Disagree-Strongly Agree) 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 Defending science from those who spread falsehoods Helping to inform people about scientific issues Showing that scientists share community values Showing the scientific community's expertise Hearing what others think about scientific issues Demonstrating the scientific community's openness and… Showing that the scientific community cares about… Getting people interested or excited about science Framing research implications ... in a way that resonates… Face-to-Face Media Online Most scientists feel they have communication skills they need n = ~1050
- 19. Is achieving this objective possible? “Achieving this objective is possible for a good communicator.” (External Efficacy) (Strongly Disagree-Strongly Agree) 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 Helping to inform people about scientific issues Defending science from those who spread falsehoods Showing that scientists share community values Showing the scientific community's expertise Getting people interested or excited about science Hearing what others think about scientific issues Demonstrating the scientific community's openness and… Framing research implications ... in a way that resonates… Showing that the scientific community cares about… Face-to-Face Media Online More concern that some goals may not be achievable n = ~1050
- 20. Have I thought about this before? “Prior to this survey, I had thought a lot about this potential engagement objective.” (Strongly Disagree-Strongly Agree) 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 Defending science from those who spread falsehoods Helping to inform people about scientific issues Hearing what others think about scientific issues Showing the scientific community's expertise Showing that scientists share community values Demonstrating the scientific community's openness and… Getting people interested or excited about science Showing that the scientific community cares about… Framing research implications ... in a way that resonates with… Face-to-Face Media Online Many of the objectives asked about were unfamiliar n = ~1050
- 21. Modeling objectives … n = ~1050 OLS Regression Models for Objective Importance (Standardized Betas)
- 22. Modeling objectives … n = ~1050 Very Little happening with engagement mode, demographics, field, or funding OLS Regression Models for Objective Importance (Standardized Betas)
- 23. Modeling objectives … n = ~1050 OLS Regression Models for Objective Importance (Standardized Betas) Ethical concerns, injunctive norms, external efficacy, and familiarity the most consistent predictors of communication objective prioritization
- 24. Summary AAAS scientists … • … are willing to engage • … have positive experiences with engagement • … want to achieve social and personal goals through engagement But … • … most prioritize traditional communication objectives (inform, defend, excite) • … prioritize potentially important strategic communication objectives, a little less (e.g. showing values and listening) Key Limitations: • One society analyzed (so far) • Low response rate (9%) • Hard to ask about goals/objectives without suggesting goals/objectives • Hard to get scientists not to prioritize every goal/objective This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF, Grant AISL 14241214-421723. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.
- 25. Summary AAAS scientists … • … are willing to engage • … have positive experiences with engagement • … want to achieve social and personal goals through engagement But … • … most prioritize traditional communication objectives (inform, defend, excite) • … prioritize potentially strategic communication objectives, a little less (e.g. showing values and listening) These are the objectives science communication scholars focus on …
- 26. Possible Implications If you want a scientist to prioritize an objective … • … make sure they know about it • … show that it’s ethical • … show that it’s valued by peers • … show that it works This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF, Grant AISL 14241214-421723. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.
Editor's Notes
- Note: Qualitative interviews with communication trainers (presented last year) suggested little explicit focus on strategic objectives in training efforts