Discovery of the faithfulness gene: a model of transmission and transformation of scientific information.
Details
State: Public
Version: author
Serval ID
serval:BIB_89D4C3A6AC14
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Discovery of the faithfulness gene: a model of transmission and transformation of scientific information.
Journal
British Journal of Social Psychology
ISSN
0144-6665
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2008
Volume
47
Number
Pt 3
Pages
497-517
Language
english
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to study the diffusion and transformation of scientific information in everyday discussions. Based on rumour models and social representations theory, the impact of interpersonal communication and pre-existing beliefs on transmission of the content of a scientific discovery was analysed. In three experiments, a communication chain was simulated to investigate how laypeople make sense of a genetic discovery first published in a scientific outlet, then reported in a mainstream newspaper and finally discussed in groups. Study 1 (N=40) demonstrated a transformation of information when the scientific discovery moved along the communication chain. During successive narratives, scientific expert terminology disappeared while scientific information associated with lay terminology persisted. Moreover, the idea of a discovery of a faithfulness gene emerged. Study 2 (N=70) revealed that transmission of the scientific message varied as a function of attitudes towards genetic explanations of behaviour (pro-genetics vs. anti-genetics). Pro-genetics employed more scientific terminology than anti-genetics. Study 3 (N=75) showed that endorsement of genetic explanations was related to descriptive accounts of the scientific information, whereas rejection of genetic explanations was related to evaluative accounts of the information.
Keywords
Adult, Aged, Extramarital Relations, Female, Gene Expression/genetics, Humans, Information Dissemination, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Science, Sexual Behavior, Social Behavior
Pubmed
Open Access
Yes
Create date
19/11/2007 11:38
Last modification date
20/08/2019 15:48