MORality and SciencE communication (MORSE): factors making people trust science and scientists Social psychological
Progetto 4.1 Abstract Scientists and their knowledge are a hey source of public advice to face
central topics such as climate change and public health. Prior work on the effects of science communication has almost exclusively focused on the role played by the recipient, building on the assumption that the recipients’ scientific expertise is a hey factor influencing individual responses. Yet, this approach neglects that science communication is also about perception: the way in which both scientists and scientific information are perceived could have tremendous impact on recipients’ reactions. Thus, defining the factors that influence the perception of science communication represents a prominent research goal. Within the plethora of factors that can impact upon the perception of science communication, one is moralization, which is defined as the act of relying on moral cues to convey information. Based on these premises, MORSE (MORality in SciencE communication) aims at unveiling the role of morality on science communication perception by adopting an integrated approach that considers (i) the message, (ii) the source, (iii) the recipicnt, and (iv) their potential interplays.
Specifically, MORSE aims to:
1) refine the concept of science moralization, considering both the message structural characteristics and public’s perception;
2) investigate the effects of moralizing scientific information on attention, information processing, judgements and behavioral responses as well as shed light on the potential explanatory variables that might account for such outcomes;
3) analyze the interplay between moralizing scientific information and recipient’s individual dispositions (i.e., moral and social identity) in determining judgment of a specific scientific communication as well as a more generalized endorsement of science;
4) examine the interactive effects of moralization of science (in terms of scientists - citizens relationsh’ip and process of science building) with source characteristics (i.e., scientists’ gender) in affecting people’s willingness to follow scientific advice and trust in science.
The partnership is composed by three research units that will conduct an
eclectic set of 13 studies, organized into 6 Work Packages; the project will also develop a mobile App to assess human behaviors, foster beliavioi-al change, and improve trust endorsement. To increase ecological validity, all studies will employ samples from the general population and one study will be carried out on a sample of scientists. MORSE innovative research program will allow to address several research gaps in current literature, ultimately allowing to better understand how to maize people trust science. In addition to advancing knowledge, MORSE would provicle indications to improve social life (in terms of public health and social wellness). Indeed, MORSE fits with the Horizon 2021-27 objectives, as well as falling within the interest area of the National Research Programme (PNR and PNRR).