Canadian Scientists' Views about Public Engagement
•Download as PPT, PDF•
1 like•72 views
This presentation was delivered with Kathryn O'Hara at the 2018 meeting of Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) in Dunedin, NZ. The study focuses on scientists' view about goals, objectives, and tactics. Half of respondents (n = 1,1142) were asked questions about protest engagement and half were asked about face-to-face engagement with an emphasis on their attitudes, normative beliefs, and efficacy beliefs about each form of engagement.
Recommended
More Related Content
Similar to Canadian Scientists' Views about Public Engagement
Similar to Canadian Scientists' Views about Public Engagement (20)
More from John C. Besley
More from John C. Besley (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
Canadian Scientists' Views about Public Engagement
- 1. What Canadian ScientistsWhat Canadian Scientists Think about Public EngagementThink about Public Engagement Kathryn O’Hara (Carleton) & John Besley (MSU)Kathryn O’Hara (Carleton) & John Besley (MSU) Remember by Brandon Glesbrech via Flickr Creative Commons
- 2. Context …Context … 2012 Ottawa march by scientists concerned about Conservative government’s science-related policies and communication limits Bruce Campion-Smith / Toronto Star / Getty Images 2017 March for Science by scientists concerned about American government science policies, as well as broader related to science in society Lisa Cummings for Vice But … we don’t know much about what Canadian scientists are doing or thinking about public engagement …
- 3. The survey …The survey … • 15-25 minutes • N = 1,142 (17% response rate) • Dec. 2017-Jan. 2018 Sections on … • Engagement behavior • Views about goals/ objectives/tactics • Demographics • Confidential (MSU IRB)
- 4. The sample …The sample … • Average age: 52 • Identifies male: 71% • Identifies white: 81% • Identifies liberal: 81% • Communication training: 55% • Career level-Senior: 58% • Impact-Relatively High: 62% N = ~1,142 • Biology/Medical: 47% • Engineering: 20% • Computer science/Math: 16 • Physics astronomy: 11% • Geosciences: 9% • Chemistry: 8% • Social/Behavourial: 4% • Other: 5%
- 5. Past engagement …Past engagement … N = ~1,142
- 6. Past engagement …Past engagement … N = ~1,142
- 7. Willingness to engage …Willingness to engage … N = ~1,142 • Lots of future willingness for F2F, policy, and mediated engagement • Less willingness for online and protest channels
- 8. Attitudes towards expected engagement audiences …Attitudes towards expected engagement audiences … *Not included in scale Strongly disagree (1) – Strongly agree (7)
- 9. Strongly disagree (1) – Strongly agree (7) Beliefs about …Beliefs about … Engagement Norms Engagement-related Efficacy
- 10. Beliefs about Engagement Norms and EfficacyBeliefs about Engagement Norms and Efficacy Strongly disagree (1) – Strongly agree (7)
- 11. Scientists’ long-term engagement goalsScientists’ long-term engagement goals Very low importance (0) – Very high importance (100)
- 12. Scientists’ long-term engagement goalsScientists’ long-term engagement goals Very low importance (0) – Very high importance (100)
- 13. Scientists’ immediate engagement objectivesScientists’ immediate engagement objectives Very low importance (0) – Very high importance (100)
- 14. Willingness to use engagement tactics …Willingness to use engagement tactics … Strongly disagree (1) – Strongly agree (7)
- 15. Willingness to use engagement tactics …Willingness to use engagement tactics … Strongly disagree (1) – Strongly agree (7) Supplementary modeling shows that … •Efficacy beliefs are the key predictors of tactic willingness •Ethical and normative beliefs sometimes important predictors •Demographics don’t really matter
- 16. Summary …Summary … Canadian scientists … • Want to engage • Think colleagues want to engage • See engagement as effective • Face-to face better than protest • Highest rated goals are policy related • Open to a range of objectives and tactics Canadian Museum of Science and Nature
Editor's Notes
- People have much more positive views about their audiences in the context of F2F engagement.
- * Attempted census of all National Science and Engineering and Research Council of Canada “Discovery Grant” recipients 2012-2017 from (population of ~7K)
- People have much more positive views about their audiences in the context of F2F engagement. Views are a little less positive in the context of protest engagement.
- People have much more positive views about their audiences in the context of F2F engagement.
- Norms: Scientists generally think their colleagues are okay with both F2F and protest but don’t think their colleagues do it. Efficacy: Scientists think F2F engagement is something they can do and they think it has some impact; protest is seen as somewhat less effective and they feel like they can do less … Note: This does not talk about HOW MUCH engagement would be expected.
- Objectives don’t change much by channel …
- Objectives don’t change much by channel …
- People have much more positive views about their audiences in the context of F2F engagement.