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Highly esteemed science: An analysis of attitudes towards and perceived attributes of science in letters to the editor in two Dutch newspapers
Jong,Stefan P.L. de Ketting,Elena Drooge,Leonie van
Jong,Stefan P.L. de
Ketting,Elena
Drooge,Leonie van
Abstract
Understanding attitudes towards science is crucial to safeguard the future of science, the application of its results and the inclusivity of decision-making processes related to science and technology. Most studies focus on attributes of social groups to explain attitudes towards science. In this study, we aim to move the discussion forward by focusing on perceived attributes of science itself by analysing over 300 letters to the editor in two Dutch national newspapers. The authors of these letters express a large degree of trust in science as a source of societal progress, if research is conducted according to a specific set of rules. Yet, they believe that these rules are under attack. The interests of universities as organizations and individual academics as well as the involvement of industry and government in research are perceived as conflicting with these rules. We conclude with recommendations for further research and practice.
Description
Funding The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by a Rubicon Grant of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (Grant No. 446-16-013; to S.P.L.d.J.).
Date
2020
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Research Projects
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Keywords
BELIEFS, DEFICIT MODEL, EDUCATION, GENDER-DIFFERENCES, GOVERNMENT, PERCEPTIONS, SCIENTIFIC-KNOWLEDGE, TRUST, academic autonomy, attitudes towards science, attributes of science, conflicts of interest, content analysis, letters to the editor, organization of science
Citation
Jong, S P L D, Ketting, E & Drooge, L V 2020, 'Highly esteemed science : An analysis of attitudes towards and perceived attributes of science in letters to the editor in two Dutch newspapers', Public Understanding of Science, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 37-52. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662519878988