1
|
Choi S, Anderson AA, Cagle S, Long M, Kelp N. Scientists' deficit perception of the public impedes their behavioral intentions to correct misinformation. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287870. [PMID: 37531388 PMCID: PMC10395896 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper investigates the relationship between scientists' communication experience and attitudes towards misinformation and their intention to correct misinformation. Specifically, the study focuses on two correction strategies: source-based correction and relational approaches. Source-based approaches combatting misinformation prioritize sharing accurate information from trustworthy sources to encourage audiences to trust reliable information over false information. On the other hand, relational approaches give priority to developing relationships or promoting dialogue as a means of addressing misinformation. In this study, we surveyed 416 scientists from U.S. land-grant universities using a self-report questionnaire. We find that scientists' engagement in science communication activities is positively related to their intention to correct misinformation using both strategies. Moreover, the scientists' attitude towards misinformation mediates the relationship between engagement in communication activities and intention to correct misinformation. The study also finds that the deficit model perception-that is, the assumption that scientists only need to transmit scientific knowledge to an ignorant public in order to increase understanding and support for science-moderates the indirect effect of engagement in science communication activities on behavioral intention to correct misinformation using relational strategies through attitude towards misinformation. Thus, the deficit model perception is a barrier to engaging in relational strategies to correct misinformation. We suggest that addressing the deficit model perception and providing science communication training that promotes inclusive worldviews and relational approaches would increase scientists' behavioral intentions to address misinformation. The study concludes that scientists should recognize their dual positionality as scientists and members of their community and engage in respectful conversations with community members about science.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sera Choi
- School of Communications, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Ashley A Anderson
- Department of Journalism and Media Communication, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Shelby Cagle
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Marilee Long
- Department of Journalism and Media Communication, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Nicole Kelp
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Britt RK, Britt BC, Panek E, Lee J. Communication Expressed on the COVID-19 Subreddit in the Midst of a Global Pandemic. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023; 38:1157-1167. [PMID: 34865594 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2021.1994190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The manner in which scientific information related to the COVID-19 pandemic has been shared and discussed in similar venues has, to date, been largely neglected. Considering the role that such discourse plays in knowledge sharing and knowledge production, it is essential to understand such communication processes as they relate to global health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study examines communication expressed by participants in the r/COVID19 subreddit, a community that facilitates scientific discussion of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A computational content analysis was performed to identify the primary themes of users' communication on r/COVID19, while stepwise segmented regression was used to assess identify longitudinal changes in the volume of user contributions. Findings showed that while conversations were centered on scientific conversations, they were catalyzed by sociological and political developments rather than scientific breakthroughs. Future studies should examine the effects of pandemic-related communities on lurkers, the effects of visibility on scientific and medical contributions, and the implications of pseudonymity and ambiguous credentials in a community addressing a volatile health and scientific topic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K Britt
- Department of Journalism and Creative Media, College of Communication and Information Sciences, The University of Alabama
| | - Brian C Britt
- Department of Advertising and Public Relations, College of Communication and Information Sciences, The University of Alabama
| | - Elliot Panek
- Department of Journalism and Creative Media, College of Communication and Information Sciences, The University of Alabama
| | - Jiyoung Lee
- Department of Journalism and Creative Media, College of Communication and Information Sciences, The University of Alabama
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Batchelor J. Just another clickbait title: A corpus-driven investigation of negative attitudes toward science on Reddit. PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2023:9636625221146453. [PMID: 36633296 DOI: 10.1177/09636625221146453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The public understanding of science has produced a large body of research about general attitudes toward science. However, most studies of science attitudes have been carried out via surveys or in experimental conditions, and few make use of the growing contexts of online science communication to investigate attitudes without researcher intervention. This study adopted corpus-based discourse analysis to investigate the negative attitudes held toward science by users of the social media website Reddit, specifically the forum r/science. A large corpus of comments made to r/science was collected and mined for keywords. Analysis of keywords identified several sources of negative attitudes, such as claims that scientists can be corruptible, poor communicators, and misleading. Research methodologies were negatively evaluated on the basis of small sample sizes. Other commenters negatively evaluated social science research, especially psychology, as being pseudoscientific, and several commenters described science journalism as untrustworthy or sensationalized.
Collapse
|
4
|
McKinley SK, Altieri MS, Sheppard O, Hendershot K, Williams K, Smith BK. Designing the "match of the future": challenges and proposed solutions in the interview and match phase of the UME-GME transition. GLOBAL SURGICAL EDUCATION : JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR SURGICAL EDUCATION 2022; 1:69. [PMID: 38013709 PMCID: PMC9670067 DOI: 10.1007/s44186-022-00073-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
This review focuses on the interview and match process with the purpose of broadly reviewing challenges in the current surgical residency selection process, detailing potential solutions, and identifying future avenues of investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophia K. McKinley
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Maria S. Altieri
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Olabisi Sheppard
- Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
| | | | - Keneeshia Williams
- Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | | | - the ASE Graduate Surgical Education Committee
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL USA
- Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Pleasure ZH, Frohwirth LF, Li N, Polis CB. A Content Analysis of Reddit Users' Posts about Challenges to Contraceptive care-seeking during COVID-19-related Restrictions in the United States. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2022; 27:746-754. [PMID: 36519832 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2022.2157911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic in the United States caused disruptions in care seeking and delivery during the spring of 2020, including for contraceptive care. We examined how some individuals experienced and responded to barriers to accessing contraceptive care by conducting a content analysis of relevant Reddit posts. We collected 2666 posts by scraping relevant subreddits from February 1, 2020, to April 15, 2020, and filtering by selected keywords. Among the 101 posts on contraception and the COVID-19 pandemic, we explored three main themes: barriers to accessing general healthcare during the early pandemic, problems and concerns specific to contraceptive use, and attempts to navigate the obstacles to contraceptive care or use-related concerns. The Reddit posts demonstrated the disruptive force the early pandemic had on contraceptive care and provided a unique window into the concerns posters expressed on Reddit during this time. Many posters asked questions related to accessing contraception and side effects and sought reassurance from these online forums. Our results suggest that there were barriers to accessing reliable, high-quality, and evidence-based information about contraception during this disruption in care. The findings also underscore that conversational and interactive means of seeking out information are important modes for learning about and discussing contraception for some and may be especially helpful during clinic closures and other restrictions on access.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zoe H Pleasure
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Formerly of the Research Division of the Guttmacher Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lori F Frohwirth
- Formerly of the Research Division of the Guttmacher Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Naomi Li
- Formerly of the Research Division of the Guttmacher Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Chelsea B Polis
- Formerly of the Research Division of the Guttmacher Institute, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hu Z, Ma B, Bai R. Motivation to participate in secondary science communication. Front Psychol 2022; 13:961846. [PMID: 36160547 PMCID: PMC9497449 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.961846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The rise of social media provides convenient mechanisms for audiences to participate in secondary science communication (SSC). The present study employs the theory of consumption values and theory of planned behavior to predict audiences' SSC intentions. The results indicate that emotional value, social value, altruistic value, attitude, internal perceived behavioral control and subjective norm are significant predictors of audiences' intentions to share or to repost science content on their social media. These results suggest that the theory of consumption values, together with the theory of planned behavior, is a useful framework for understanding SSC behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rubing Bai
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hubner AY, Bond R. I am a scientist . . . Ask Me Anything: Examining differences between male and female scientists participating in a Reddit AMA session. PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2022; 31:458-472. [PMID: 34674578 DOI: 10.1177/09636625211048775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This article investigates interactions between scientists and the online community Reddit. Given that past research on computer-mediated communication between scientists and the public found that male scientists are typically more popular in online spaces than female scientists, we examined differences in popularity as well as potential gendered differences in communication style. Specifically, we examined 269 Reddit "Ask Me Anything" sessions as well as the comments linked with each session (n = 125,580). Overall, we find that male scientists receive more comments on their sessions, but the score an individual comment receives does not differ by gender. Similarly, we find that the message complexity of the comments does not differ by gender. Taken together, these suggest that Reddit AMA sessions might be an effective platform for both male and female scientists to engage with the public.
Collapse
|
8
|
Edwards ML, Ziegler C. Examining science communication on Reddit: From an "Assembled" to a "Disassembling" approach. PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2022; 31:473-488. [PMID: 35023409 DOI: 10.1177/09636625211057231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This study examines science communication within Ask Me Anything sessions hosted by US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists on Reddit. In addition to considering a unique social media platform, our work makes an important contribution in revealing the limitations of a traditional approach to studying science communication and modeling an alternative. First, using an "assembled" approach, we qualitatively explore themes in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists' posts and consider how they reflect the goals of "deficit" and "dialogue" models. Second, using a "disassembling" approach, inspired by Davies and Horst and actor-network theory, we more deeply examine our experiences studying the Ask Me Anything sessions. We then demonstrate how this alternative approach identifies "hidden" human and non-human actants that may have shaped science communication as "mediators." We use these insights to reject the common assumption that science communication on social media occurs solely and directly between scientists and publics.
Collapse
|
9
|
Martin A, Raber JP, Shayer D, Lai D, Goodcoff A, Kannikal J, Raja AS, He S. Get waivered remote: Nationwide, remote DEA-x waiver course in response to COVID-19. Digit Health 2021; 7:20552076211048985. [PMID: 34691756 PMCID: PMC8529309 DOI: 10.1177/20552076211048985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Problem As of 2020, less than 5% of physicians in the United States have a drug
enforcement administration-X waiver to prescribe buprenorphine. The
coronavirus-2019 pandemic restricted in-person gatherings, including
traditional drug enforcement administration-X waiver courses. As a result,
in-person conferences have needed to adopt remote formats. Many programs
identified a gap between educational delivery and the faculty skills
required to deliver content remotely. Approach To address the need for high-quality remote learning, Get Waivered designed
and implemented a novel experience for clinicians, called Get Waivered
Remote. An educational session was live-streamed via Zoom™. To foster
interactivity, like in-person didactic conferences, participants were polled
to facilitate discussion among presenters, learners, and facilitators during
the broadcast Outcomes The RE-AIM framework was used for evaluation. Our program had a
Reach encompassing 814 users that participated during
the live-streamed event; Effectiveness with 73.79%
reporting being somewhat familiar or very familiar with the practice of
opioid dependency treatment with approved buprenorphine medications;
Adoption with 95.15% reporting a favorable experience
and 92.23% reporting it was similar or more enjoyable than their usual
teaching; Implementation with 450 messages sent by 281
users to engage with presenters and other learners via Zoom chat in real
time. Next steps Get Waivered Remote provides a proof-of-concept that a broadcast with a
concurrent, interactive remote learning platform is feasible, low cost, and
simple to execute. Further study is required to assess the ability of our
group to maintain this innovation and also to measure its impact on the
treatment of opioid use disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alister Martin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joshua P Raber
- Dr Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | | | - Deborah Lai
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Adam Goodcoff
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois - Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Ali S Raja
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shuhan He
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Digital Growth Strategy, Strategic Alliance Initiative, Center for Innovation in Digital HealthCare, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lee DKL, Ramazan O. Fact-Checking of Health Information: The Effect of Media Literacy, Metacognition and Health Information Exposure. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2021; 26:491-500. [PMID: 34292862 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2021.1955312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
With the rampant circulation of health information, concerns for the information quality are growing. Thereby, scholars are calling for media literacy as an educative means to cultivate fact-checking behavior among information consumers. Focusing on the critical role of metacognition for education effectiveness, this study examined the underlying mechanism that is conducive to the success of media literacy in the context of health information consumption. Based on the survey data collected from 502 Reddit.com users, our findings showed that media literacy was positively associated with fact-checking behavior for health information. Mediation analysis indicated that metacognition mediated the positive relationship between media literacy and fact-checking behavior. In addition, moderated-mediation analysis demonstrated that the mediating effect was weaker for individuals who had higher exposure to health information. The study sheds light on the factors that are essential for the success of media literacy. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Ka Lai Lee
- Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Onur Ramazan
- Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Latack KR, Yuen F, Wang C, Nguyen BT. Online community queries on hormonal male contraception: An analysis of the Reddit "Ask Me Anything" experience. Contraception 2021; 104:159-164. [PMID: 33617839 DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2021.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Reddit is one of the most popular websites in the United States because of its user-driven aggregation and community-based curation of online content. We describe the use and impact of Reddit's Ask Me Anything platform, for public engagement and education about developments in hormonal male contraception (HMC). METHODS We analyzed the content from and user engagement with 2 Reddit Ask Me Anything events that answered user queries about HMC in June 2018 and March 2019. Clinical trial investigators provided real-time responses throughout the events. We examined the 25 most popular posts from each event, analyzing content for salient themes via an inductive approach. To quantify event impact, we examined Google Trends data and subsequent traffic to the investigator website. RESULTS Over 18,000 registered Reddit users interacted with each of the 2 Ask Me Anything events, with each generating over 1600 comments. The most popular posts of each Ask Me Anything event expressed interest in off-target effects associated with the use of HMCs. Additional themes included queries about previous and ongoing clinical trials, HMC physiology, and market analyses and projections of public willingness to use HMCs. The events coincided with a spike in both Google searches for "male birth control" and first-time visits to the study's website where users could express interest in participating in clinical trials. CONCLUSION Reddit Ask Me Anything events conducted by HMC investigators revealed wide public interest in HMCs. The events prompted further searches for more information on male contraception, while driving traffic to the investigator website for trial recruitment purposes. IMPLICATIONS Reddit Ask Me Anything events are a popular, cost-free online platform for publicly responding to a range of HMC-related queries, while providing investigators with insight into stakeholder priorities and preoccupations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle R Latack
- University of Southern California, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Section of Family Planning, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Fiona Yuen
- Division of Endocrinology, The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States
| | - Christina Wang
- Division of Endocrinology, The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States
| | - Brian T Nguyen
- University of Southern California, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Section of Family Planning, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lai D, Wang D, Calvano J, Raja AS, He S. Addressing immediate public coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns through social media: Utilizing Reddit's AMA as a framework for Public Engagement with Science. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240326. [PMID: 33021985 PMCID: PMC7537883 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 has highlighted an opportunity for medical professionals to engage in online Public Engagement with Science (PES). Currently a popular platform for PES is Reddit. Reddit provides an Ask Me Anything (AMA) format for subject matter experts to answer questions asked by the public. On March 11, 2020, from 2:00 to 4:00pm EST, two Emergency Department physicians from Massachusetts General Hospital hosted an AMA session on coronavirus. We retroactively conducted an analysis of the questions and answers from this AMA session in order to better understand the public's concerns around coronavirus and identify future opportunities for medical experts to leverage the Reddit AMA format in communicating with the general public. Results suggested that participants sought not only to obtain information, but to engage in discussion, and did so with each other in the absence of expert responses. The majority of bi-directional discussion occurred between participants. Due to the volume of questions and ratio of experts to participants, not all questions were answered. More posts provided facts or opinions, than posts that providing resources or requesting resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Lai
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology Department, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Wang
- Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Joshua Calvano
- Rocky Vista University College of Medicine, Parker, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Ali S. Raja
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Shuhan He
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Innovation in Digital HealthCare, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Haas MRC, He S, Sternberg K, Jordan J, Deiorio NM, Chan TM, Yarris LM. Reimagining Residency Selection: Part 1-A Practical Guide to Recruitment in the Post-COVID-19 Era. J Grad Med Educ 2020; 12:539-544. [PMID: 33149819 PMCID: PMC7594771 DOI: 10.4300/jgme-d-20-00907.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
|
14
|
Trethewey SP. Strategies to combat medical misinformation on social media. Postgrad Med J 2019; 96:4-6. [PMID: 31732511 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-137201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
|