Open AccessFostering public trust in science: The role of social media
Author(s) -
Huber Brigitte,
Barnidge Matthew,
Gil de Zúñiga Homero,
Liu James
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
public understanding of science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1361-6609
pISSN - 0963-6625
DOI - 10.1177/0963662519869097
Subject(s) - collectivism , individualism , social media , hofstede's cultural dimensions theory , science communication , sociology , multilevel model , power (physics) , public relations , political science , social psychology , social science , psychology , science education , computer science , machine learning , quantum mechanics , law , physics , pedagogy
The growing importance of social media for getting science news has raised questions about whether these online platforms foster or hinder public trust in science. Employing multilevel modeling, this study leverages a 20-country survey to examine the relationship between social media news use and trust in science. Results show a positive relationship between these variables across countries. Moreover, the between-country variation in this relationship is related to two cultural characteristics of a country, individualism/collectivism and power distance.
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