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posted by martyb on Tuesday September 23 2014, @11:11AM   Printer-friendly
from the who-CAN-you-trust? dept.

Phys.org reports:

If scientists want the public to trust their research suggestions, they may want to appear a bit "warmer," according to a new review published by Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

The review, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), shows that while Americans view scientists as competent, they are not entirely trusted. This may be because they are not perceived to be friendly or warm.

[...]

Focusing on scientific communication, Fiske and Dupree administered another online survey asking adults to describe public attitudes toward climate scientists specifically to provide a clearer picture of the public's seemingly mixed feelings. The researchers used a seven-scale item of distrust that included motives derived from pilot work on scientists' alleged motives. These included such motives as lying with statistics, complicating a story, showing superiority, gaining research money and pursuing a liberal agenda, among others.

The abstract for the paper can be found here.

Although distrust is low, the apparent motive to gain research money is distrusted. The literature on climate science communicators agrees that the public trusts impartiality, not persuasive agendas. Overall, communicator credibility needs to address both expertise and trustworthiness. Scientists have earned audiences’ respect, but not necessarily their trust. Discussing, teaching, and sharing information can earn trust to show scientists’ trustworthy intentions.

 
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  • (Score: 2) by buswolley on Tuesday September 23 2014, @03:19PM

    by buswolley (848) on Tuesday September 23 2014, @03:19PM (#97184)

    For the most part I neither trust nor think competent non-scientists (programmers are generally exempted from competency part of this)

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  • (Score: 1) by pnkwarhall on Tuesday September 23 2014, @05:18PM

    by pnkwarhall (4558) on Tuesday September 23 2014, @05:18PM (#97249)

    So you "write off" the majority of humanity? How's that working for you? What effect does it have on your life to trust almost noone? What does "trust" even mean to you?

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    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 23 2014, @06:36PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 23 2014, @06:36PM (#97295)

      He's a little harsh, but I'm the same way. I trust people in that I don't think they're going to murder me and eat my children, or that everyone is out to get me.

      Their opinions on scientific, psychological, or socioeconomic topics are completely meaningless, unless they have some level of expertise more than I in those directions. I don't trust what they think, unless there's some evidence, and I don't think them competent in those areas. This is rarely, if ever, an issue.

      Similarly, I only trust a few of my own opinions, and they're all in areas I've had education or have applied research in. I have formal education in both applied and theoretical computing, but I know my limits. Similarly, I've taken classes and have permits for a few trades, like electrical work and plumbing. To the extent of a homeowner, I feel I can trust myself. When it comes to the economy or sociological things, my opinions are as shitty and irrelevant as everyone else's. Because of this, I meet with bank advisors to deal with loans; I deal with doctors to deal with health issues, and I deal with certified mechanics to fix my car. I trust them in those areas, but I don't trust their thoughts otherwise.

      • (Score: 2) by aristarchus on Wednesday September 24 2014, @07:25AM

        by aristarchus (2645) on Wednesday September 24 2014, @07:25AM (#97523) Journal

        Appeal to authority, one of the time-honored problems in epistemology. So, you trust someone because they know more, at least in that particular area, than you do. But how do you know that is the case? To judge the authority competent, you would have to have at least as much knowledge as the authority, in which case you would know yourself without having to appeal to the authority! So, physician, heal thyself?

        And are you sure about that "not murder me and eat my children" thing? Are there any financial advisors or preppers in your neighborhood?

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 24 2014, @07:50AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 24 2014, @07:50AM (#97531)

          would you trust anyone but a qualified surgeon to operate on you?

          would you trust anyone but an engineer to design the skyscrapers you work in?

          would you trust anyone but a pharmacist to dispense the correct medication for you?

          would you trust anyone but your wife with your most intimate secrets and desires?

          would you trust anyone but the most rotten unscrupulous lawyer to win compensation for you in court?

          would you trust anyone but congress to waste all your precious hard earned tax dollars for you?

          anyone who trusts politicians and journalists to interpret climate change data for them is a moron

    • (Score: 2) by buswolley on Tuesday September 23 2014, @11:28PM

      by buswolley (848) on Tuesday September 23 2014, @11:28PM (#97402)

      It was a joke. Lay people dont trust me cuz Im a scientist, well I dont trust them cuz they are not.

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      subicular junctures
      • (Score: 1) by pnkwarhall on Friday September 26 2014, @03:41AM

        by pnkwarhall (4558) on Friday September 26 2014, @03:41AM (#98484)
        I'm not in as serious a mood tonight, and your joke came off well in the context of the fallout -- I got a few lols from the succeeding comments, particularly:

        Their opinions on scientific, psychological, or socioeconomic topics are completely meaningless

        Says someone posting seriously on the Soylent message board! Oh the irony!

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