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Dissemination vs. dialogue: an analysis of public engagement in science online

Murphy, Adam (2017) Dissemination vs. dialogue: an analysis of public engagement in science online. Master of Science thesis, Dublin City University.

Abstract
In 1985 the Bodmer Report was released, which discussed the need for scientists to more effectively communicate their research to the public. The report opined that there was an information deficit among the public, and were this deficit to be remedied, then there would be a greater interest in science among the public. For some time, this model of science communication was the model of choice. In 2000, the Science and Society Report was released by the House of Lords. This report denounced the Bodmer Report. It stated that its core assumption was false, that an increased public knowledge could not be certain to increase public interest. This new report called for engagement with the public and the creation of a dialogue. It suggested that the public should be involved in all aspects of scientific discussion, even in the discussion as to the direction science should take. Since the Science in Society report, a multitude of papers have been published discussing this need for engagement. This opinion calls the Bodmer Report’s approach condescending and unnecessary. While benefits of having two-way dialogues are often discussed, there has been criticism of this movement, pointing out there is a lack of agreed topologies of science engagement, and while most espouse the need for engagement, fewer discuss the defined direction it should take. There have also been suggestions that the public desire differing levels, or “modes” of engagement depending on the platform, and that older models of science communication are sometimes preferred. Through a thematic analysis of popular “YouTube” videos and a discussion analysis of comment threads on various popular websites, it is shown that, even in this relatively new media platform, people still gravitate towards a one-way mode of engagement.
Metadata
Item Type:Thesis (Master of Science)
Date of Award:March 2017
Refereed:No
Supervisor(s):McLoughlin, Eilish and Murphy, Padraig
Uncontrolled Keywords:scientific discussion
Subjects:Physical Sciences > Physics education
Social Sciences > Education
Social Sciences > Communication
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Humanities and Social Science > School of Communications
Research Institutes and Centres > Research Centre in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education (CASTel)
DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science and Health > School of Physical Sciences
Use License:This item is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. View License
Funders:BioAT
ID Code:21619
Deposited On:06 Apr 2017 10:33 by Eilish Mcloughlin . Last Modified 24 Jan 2023 14:48
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