Hutmacher, Fabian and Reichardt, Regina and Appel, Markus (2022) The role of motivated science reception and numeracy in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE, 31 (1). pp. 19-34. ISSN 0963-6625, 1361-6609
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
The successful management of the COVID-19 pandemic depends on individuals accepting the current state of research and adhering to the preventive behaviors that follow from it. However, the processing of scientific results is not always rational, but influenced by prior attitudes as well as the ability to understand statistical data. Against this background, this study investigated the role of motivated reasoning and numeracy in the context of the current pandemic. To this end, participants (N = 417; US sample) evaluated two fictitious studies, one indicating that mask mandates in schools are an effective intervention to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and one indicating that mask mandates in schools are counterproductive. Participants evaluated the studies in line with their prior attitude toward mask mandates. In addition, higher numeracy was associated with decreased bias, demonstrating that the ability to reason with numbers can lead to more accurate processing of statistical information.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ATTITUDE; LITERACY; COMPREHENSION; POLARIZATION; INDIVIDUALS; REJECTION; SELECTION; SKILLS; COVID-19 pandemic; motivated reasoning; motivated science reception; numeracy |
| Subjects: | 100 Philosophy & psychology > 150 Psychology |
| Divisions: | Human Sciences > Institut für Psychologie > Lehrstuhl für Psychologie VI (Pädagogische Psychologie) - Prof. Dr. Christof Kuhbandner |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Sep 2022 08:54 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Sep 2022 08:54 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/47172 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
