Tobias Wingen, Oscar Lecuona, Simone Dohle

Attitudes Towards Science During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction

Attitudes towards science during the covid-19 pandemic. Explore public attitudes towards science during Covid-19, analyzing a psychological network to understand trust, value, and misinformation. Insights for science & health communication.

Abstract

A better understanding of the public attitude towards science could be crucial to tackle the spread of mis- and disinformation related to the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. We here contribute to this understanding by conceptualising and analysing the attitude toward science as a psychological network. For this analysis, we utilised cross-sectional data from a German probability sample (N = 1,009), the “Science Barometer”, collected during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Overall, our network analysis revealed that especially the perceived value of science for curbing the pandemic is central to the attitude towards science. Beliefs about this value are related to trust in science and trust in scientific information and to positive and negative evaluations of scientific controversy and complexity. Further, valuing common sense over science was related to seeking less scientific information on official websites, suggesting that this belief, in particular, may drive mis- and disinformation and could be a promising target for interventions. Finally, we found no evidence that seeking scientific information on social media had detrimental consequences for the attitude towards science. Implications for health communication and science communication, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Review

This paper, "Attitudes Towards Science During the Covid-19 Pandemic," addresses a highly pertinent and critical issue, especially in light of the global challenges posed by misinformation during public health crises. The authors set out to deepen our understanding of public attitudes towards science by conceptualizing and analyzing these attitudes as a psychological network. This methodological approach is a significant strength, offering a nuanced perspective beyond traditional linear models, which is crucial for tackling complex phenomena like trust and skepticism towards scientific information. The use of a robust German probability sample (N = 1,009) and data from the "Science Barometer" collected during the pandemic's first wave further enhances the reliability and topical relevance of the study's foundation. The network analysis yielded several compelling insights. Foremost, the study identifies the perceived value of science in curbing the pandemic as a central node within the psychological network of attitudes. This perceived value is shown to be intricately linked to both trust in science and trust in scientific information, as well as influencing evaluations of scientific controversy and complexity. A particularly salient finding is the observed relationship between valuing common sense over science and a reduced propensity to seek scientific information from official sources, thereby highlighting a potential driver of mis- and disinformation and a promising target for future interventions. Interestingly, the research found no evidence that seeking scientific information on social media platforms inherently led to detrimental consequences for overall attitudes towards science, challenging some prevalent assumptions. These findings collectively offer valuable, actionable implications for health and science communication strategies. While the paper clearly outlines its implications and limitations, a more explicit discussion of the cross-sectional design's inherent constraints, particularly regarding causality, would strengthen the contribution. Future research could benefit significantly from longitudinal data to track the evolution of these attitudes and the impact of communication interventions over time. Exploring these networks in diverse cultural contexts beyond Germany would also broaden the generalizability of the findings. Despite these areas for further exploration, this paper makes a substantial and timely contribution to our understanding of public attitudes towards science during a critical period. Its novel methodological approach and practical insights render it a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners engaged in science communication and public health.

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