Scientific information literacy, attitude and persuasiveness in decision making among Nigerian university students

2021 ◽  
pp. 026666692110286
Author(s):  
Adeola O. Opesade ◽  
Mutawakilu A. Tiamiyu

Acceptance and and use of scientific findings have been reported to face challenges that are attributable to inadequacies of science and/or society’s inadequate scientific literacy and attitude. In view of the dearth of studies on these issues in Nigeria, this study explored the levels and variations in the scientific literacy, attitude to science, and persuasiveness of scientific compared to cultural knowledge in some personal decision making contexts of postgraduate students in a Nigerian university. The study collected data through a designed and validated questionnaire administered on 315 postgraduate students in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Findings among others are that attitude to science was very highly positive, religious information had slightly stronger persuasiveness in decision making for the students than scientific information, and much more than cultural information. Knowledge of scientific methodology, and critical thinking behavior have positive influence on students’ persuasiveness of science while cultural belief has negative predictive influence on their persuasiveness of science. The study concludes, amongst others, that students’ attitude to science and their persuasiveness of science can be influenced by their levels of knowledge of science methodology and cultural belief, though in an opposing manner. This implies that publics’ understandanding of the persuasiveness of science could be improved by variations in their levels of knowledge of science methodology and cultural belief, amongst other variables. The study therefore, recommends that scientists should begin to communicate science methods to the public through public-friendly and informal means while also subjecting some of the cultural beliefs to scientific tests and communicating their outcomes to the public.

RevistAleph ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Borges Rocha ◽  
Marana Marana Vargas

A divulgação do conhecimento tem sido uma importante maneira da população ter acesso à informação científica. A questão 40131 do Projeto Ibero-Americano de Avaliação de Atitudes relacionada a Ciência, Tecnologia e Sociedade trata aresponsabilidade do cientista de informar sobre suas descobertas ao público. O presente estudo envolveu 104 participantes da área de humanas. Os dados sobrealfabetização e divulgação científica foram analisados entre pré-universitários, universitários, recém formados e professores. Os primeiros apresentaram os menoresíndices de concordância às categorias adequadas e ingênuas. Assim, possibilitou-se estabelecer relações entre a divulgação e alfabetização científica e gerar uma discussão acerca da importância da escolarização na tomada de decisões. The dissemination of knowledge has been an important way for the population to have access to scientific information. Question 40131 of the Ibero-American Science, Technology and Society Attitude Assessment Project addresses the scientist's responsibility to inform his or her findings to the public. The present study involved 104 participants from the human area. The data on literacy and scientific dissemination were analyzed among pre-university students, university students, recent graduates and teachers. The former presented the lowest indices of agreement to the appropriate and naive categories. Thus, it was possible to establish relationshipsbetween dissemination and scientific literacy and generate a discussion about theimportance of schooling in decision making.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric B. Brennan

Scientific information is a key ingredient needed to tackle global challenges like climate change, but to do this it must be communicated in ways that are accessible to diverse groups, and that go beyond traditional methods (peer-reviewed publications). For decades there have been calls for scientists to improve their communication skills—with each other and the public—but, this problem persists. During this time there have been astonishing changes in the visual communication tools available to scientists. I see video as the next step in this evolution. In this paper I highlight three major changes in the visual communication tools over the past 100 years, and use three memorable items—bamboo, oil and ice cream—and analogies and metaphors to explain why and how Do-it-Yourself (DIY) videos made by scientists, and shared on YouTube, can radically improve science communication and engagement. I also address practical questions for scientists to consider as they learn to make videos, and organize and manage them on YouTube. DIY videos are not a silver bullet that will automatically improve science communication, but they can help scientists to 1) reflect on and improve their communications skills, 2) tell stories about their research with interesting visuals that augment their peer-reviewed papers, 3) efficiently connect with and inspire broad audiences including future scientists, 4) increase scientific literacy, and 5) reduce misinformation. Becoming a scientist videographer or scientist DIY YouTuber can be an enjoyable, creative, worthwhile and fulfilling activity that can enhance many aspects of a scientist’s career.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-76
Author(s):  
Muhammad Retsa Rizaldi Mujayapura ◽  
Karim Suryadi ◽  
Sardin Sardin

This article aims to examine the importance of information literacy and scientific literacy skills to prevent exposure to misinformation in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Believing in misinformation encourages behaviour that is detrimental to individuals and groups due to anxiety, fear, uncertainty, and a lack of critical thinking skills. This study uses a qualitative approach with a systematic literature review (SLR) method. Through the SLR method, this article uses various sources of empirical research by collecting data and information to analyze elements in information literacy and scientific literacy that can identify misinformation. Information literacy is considered to be more useful in preventing belief in misinformation compared to the concepts of digital literacy, media literacy, and news literacy. Information literacy skills with information verification, and supported by scientific literacy with intellectual virtue, can recognize misinformation about COVID-19 so that it can prevent individuals from believing in misinformation that can result in errors of action. Scientific information literacy needs practical intervention to the public, one of which is through the role of educational institutions.


1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 (1) ◽  
pp. 585-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra K. Scholz ◽  
Ann Hayward Walker ◽  
Janet H. Kucklick ◽  
Robert G. Pond

ABSTRACT The potential and perceived environmental risks associated with dispersant use have been addressed by many scientific studies costing millions of dollars and tens of thousands of research hours. Nevertheless, decision makers still have many diverse and contradictory viewpoints, which can impede their ability to evaluate and reach consensus on the actual risks associated with this countermeasure. In an attempt to resolve the problem in a different way, a new approach was formulated, based on the following hypothesis: The inability to create a solid foundation for dispersant decision support is based not only on limitations to scientific information, but also on the wide differences in the way people understand and interpret this information. In other words, a critical aspect of improved decision making for dispersants is related to good risk communication, not more natural science studies. In 1994, industry initiated a research project to test this hypothesis and define the critical risk communication factors for dispersant decision making. This paper presents a summary of the identified dispersant risk communication issues. Building upon previous papers which described the project methodology and analytical results, this paper presents the risk communication messages which need to be shared with decision makers and the public. This information promotes a technically sound, clear, and common framework for evaluating the ecological risks associated with dispersant use in marine waters.


Author(s):  
Hazza Abdu Al-Homaidi, Abdu Mohammed Al-Dagashi

The study aimed to recognize the level of scientific literacy and its relation with making decisions of the third secondary scientific students in the secretariat (Sana'a). -The study used the descriptive statistics methodology that is regarded as a good methodology to this study. The study came up with the following conclusion: • A low – level of the scientific literacy of the study sample on the scientific literacy in general as well as its subsidiary axis than the extreme that the study pointed which is (80%). • There were statically differences at the level (0.05)in the favorite of male students in general exam،and there are no statically differences in the scientific knowledge. • Three were statically differences at the level (0.05) in the favorite of male students in the public schools. However، there were no statically differences in (science nature –scientific knowledge –STS) • No statically differences at the level (0.05) in the average marks of the private schools students in general exam and its subsidiary axis. • No statically differences were found at the level (0.05) between the averages of students' marks in general and (science nature، scientific knowledge) of both the public and private schools، but there were in the (STS) the favorite of private schools. • There were a positive relation (R=0.40) at the level (0.01) between the level of decision making and the scientific literacy together with (science nature، scientific knowledge، STS) R= (0.37-0.39-0.31) respectively. Recommendations: The decision making and level of scientific literacy should be raised among the third secondary science students، and it is necessary to give a list of scientific literacy، to have training sessions to science teachers، in order to renew their information، increase their scientific literacy and their decision making.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (S1) ◽  
pp. 151-152
Author(s):  
Tacila Mega ◽  
Roberta Rabelo ◽  
Aline Silva ◽  
Artur Felipe de Brito

Introduction:Public consultation is one of the phases provided by the law that rules the health technology incorporation process in Brazilian Public Health System (SUS). In the Brazilian model, anyone can participate as long as he/she identifies her/himself. During the decision-making process these suggestions are analyzed by the National Committee for Health Technology Incorporation (CONITEC) and, sometimes, they are responsible for changing a preliminary recommendation for a technology. This study aims to identify the health technologies for which CONITEC revised the initial negative recommendations due to the contributions received during the public consultation.Methods:A descriptive study using as input data the information on coverage decisions available on the CONITEC website.Results:Since CONITEC's creation until October 2017, CONITEC enacted 241 public consultations. Fifteen cases of change to the preliminary negative recommendation were found and among these eight (53 percent) had the economic studies or proposed technology price reconsidered by the companies. In the other seven decisions, the Board also regarded as important the reasons for changing the initial recommendation: new evidence on efficacy and safety as well as the analysis of different outcomes previously unconsidered in the preliminary assessment.Conclusions:During the public consultations, besides technical-scientific information, personal experiences and opinion reports on each health technology analyzed, CONITEC received new price offers and economic studies from the applicants. This new material has allowed, in some cases, these technologies to become competitive and to be included as alternatives to those already available, provided there is no clinical impairment. This study reinforces the importance of the public consultation and social participation in the process of health technologies incorporation in Brazil, considering its capacity to add new information to the decision-making process.


2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 57-60
Author(s):  
Peter Buell Hirsch

Purpose – This article aims to suggest some ways in which the effectiveness of critical scientific communication might be improved. The persistence of anti-vaccine rhetoric, disputes about climate change and other scientific controversies have shone a light on the difficulty of communicating scientific information effectively to the public. Design/methodology/approach – The article looks at some recent research into neuroscience and human decision-making to suggest some best practices in communicating about science to the public. Findings – This literature review suggests that if we can embed rational arguments into a rich emotional narrative, we are more likely to overcome public skepticism and suspicion. Originality/value – While there has been much focus on human decision-making and cognitive bias, the relevant research has not often been related to the effectiveness of scientific communication.


Author(s):  
Лада Владимировна Шиповалова

Научные визуализации рассматриваются в трех контекстах. Первый контекст – визуального поворота, в ходе которого подчеркивается внимание к двойственной роли образов в общественных взаимодействиях: как представлений и как действующих агентов. Второй контекст – кризиса научных репрезентаций, выходом из которого оказывается внимание к научным визуализациям, связывающим, благодаря своему чувственному характеру, теорию и реальность. Третий контекст – публичной научной коммуникации, в которой визуализации активно действуют, изменяя отношения между общественными субъектами, а также репрезентируют важную научную информацию. На переходе от второго контекста к третьему формируется интересующая автора коллизия судьбы научных визуализаций, которые в публичной научной коммуникации оказываются одновременно и научными, и политическими объектами, представляющими научные исследования и включающимися в процессы принятия общественно значимых решений. В профессиональной научной коммуникации двусмысленный характер научных визуализаций оказывается конструктивным. Они существуют одновременно и как представления, отсылающие к реальности, и как действия, собирающие в единство научное сообщество. Однако в публичной научной коммуникации сборка сообщества посредством научных визуализаций оказывается не менее значимой, но более проблематичной, поскольку интересы участвующих во взаимодействии субъектов различны, соответственно, утрачивается возможность однозначного восприятия визуализаций. Тем не менее визуализации в публичной научной коммуникации действуют достаточно эффективно, способствуя распространению научной грамотности в процессах популяризации, вовлечению граждан в управление и принятие политически значимых решений. При этом возникают условия, препятствующие удержанию конструктивной двусмысленности визуализаций. В качестве таких условий в статье рассматриваются цифровые посредники коммуникации, усиливающие действенный характер визуализаций, а также неопределенность как предмет познания современной науки «пост-нормальной эпохи», который сложно репрезентировать посредством образов. В итоге возникает ситуация уклонения к признанию действенности визуализации в ущерб ее репрезентативной функции и, как следствие, принесения научной объективной стороны визуализаций в жертву их политической и даже идеологической составляющей. В заключение автор предлагает выход из этой ситуации, способствующий удержанию необходимой двойственности визуализаций в публичной научной коммуникации. The article discusses scientific visualizations in three contexts. The context of the visual turn emphasizes attention to the ambiguous character of images in social interactions – as representations and as agents. The context of the crisis of scientific representations concerns scientific visualizations, which are the way out of it due to their linking of theory and reality. The context of public science communication demonstrates visualizations as activity changing the relationship between public actors and as representation of important scientific information. In the transition from the second context to the third, the author finds the collision of the destiny of scientific visualizations. Visualizations in public science communication turn out to be both scientific and political objects that represent scientific research and take part in the processes of decision-making. In professional science communication, the ambiguous nature of scientific visualizations turns out to be constructive. Scientific visualizations exist simultaneously as representations referring to reality and as actions that bring together the scientific community. However, in public science communication, the assembly of a community through scientific visualizations turns out to be no less significant, but more problematic since the interests of the subjects participating in the interaction are different. Nevertheless, visualizations in public science communication work quite effectively, contributing to the dissemination of scientific literacy in the popularization and to the involvement of citizens in decision-making. In this case, conditions arise that prevent the retention of the constructive ambiguity of visualizations. As such conditions, the author examines the emerging digital mediators of communication that enhance the activities of visualizations, as well as uncertainty as a subject of “post-normal” science, which is difficult to represent through images. In conclusion, the author proposes a way out of this situation, contributing to the retention of the necessary ambiguity of visualizations in public science communication.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Economides ◽  
C.J. Hourdakis ◽  
C. Pafilis ◽  
G. Simantirakis ◽  
P. Tritakis ◽  
...  

This paper concerns an analysis regarding the performance of X-ray equipment as well as the radiological safety in veterinary facilities. Data were collected from 380 X-ray veterinary facilities countrywide during the on-site regulatory inspections carried out by the Greek Atomic Energy Commission. The analysis of the results shows that the majority of the veterinary radiographic systems perform within the acceptable limits; moreover, the design and shielding of X-ray rooms as well as the applied procedures ensure a high level of radiological safety for the practitioners, operators and the members of the public. An issue that requires specific attention in the optimization process for the proper implementation of veterinary radiology practices in terms of radiological safety is the continuous training of the personnel. The above findings and the regulatory experience gained were valuable decision-making elements regarding the type of the regulatory control of veterinary radiology practices in the new radiation protection framework.


Author(s):  
Konrad RÓŻOWICZ

Aim: In the practice of awarding public contracts, sometimes the behavior of market actors, instead of competing with other entities, are aimed at illegal cooperation, including bid rigging. The above shows that healthy competition is not possible without efficient market control. In public procurement market this control is, primarily, carried out by public procurement entities: the President of the Public Procurement Office (Prezes UZP) and the National Appeal Chamber (KIO), and furthermore by President od the Office of Competition (Prezes UOKiK) and Consumer Protection and the Court od Competition and Consumer Protection. and Consumer Protection (SOKiK). The interesting issue is how the activities of the President of Office of Competition and Consumer Protection targeted  to contend with bid rigging affects on the activities of President of the Public Procurement Office (Prezes UZP) or the National Appeal Chamber (KIO). Design / Research methods: analysis and comparison decisions/ judgment issued by the President of the Public Procurement Office, National Appeal Chamber, the President of  the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection and the Court of Competition and Consumer Protection. Conclusions: The analysis has shown that the existence of specificities in the activities of the decision-making bodies and the judgments examined. However, in keeping with the specificity of the forms and objectives of control, these entities should cooperate, to a greater extent than before. Expanding the scope of cooperation would make it possible to better contend with bid rigging without changing the competition protection model. The introduction of institutionalized instruments for cooperation between the authorities seems to be valuable in terms of system solutions. Value of the article: The main value of the article is the comparison of selectively selected decisions and judgments representative of the problem under consideration and their comparative analysis in order to achieve the research objectives. The article deals with issues relevant to both public procurement practitioners and the state bodies dealing with procurement matters.


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