Decoding Science: Development and Evaluation of a Science Communication Training Program Using a Triangulated Framework

Abstract

The authors describe a science communication training called “Decoding Science” and the steps taken to develop and assess program effectiveness. Evaluation is based on a triangulated framework involving feedback from graduate student trainees, faculty trainers, and ordinary citizens who are not specialists in the field. Three cohorts of graduate STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) students participated in the training in Spring 2016 ( N = 18), Fall 2016 ( N = 11), and Spring 2017 ( N = 14). Analysis of these evaluations indicates significant improvements in trainees’ communication of science. We conclude that our triangulated approach can be useful in science communication training.

Experientially learning how to communicate science effectively: A case study on decoding science

“…To identify the key experiential learning‐related themes, the authors performed a thematic analysis of the available data from the DSP (Rodgers et al, ). Specifically, the researchers used a process, adapted by Elo and Kyngäs () of preparing and organizing materials from the workshops, the student products, and the feedback from the graduate STEM students, in order to identify experiential learning theory principles (D. A. Kolb, ).…”

“…The reporting (Elo & Kyngäs, ) phase of this process occurs in Sections 6 and 7. In these sections, the authors provide an overview of the DSP (Rodgers et al, ) science communication training program, and outline the process of data collection, processing, and analysis.…”

“…The DSP (Rodgers et al, ) is an intervention program designed to improve graduate STEM student trainees' ability to effectively communicate research to the public in a clear, compelling, and convincing way. An evaluation of the program found that trainees experienced significant improvement in their communication skills .…”

“…The DSP (Rodgers et al, ) was developed by a team of seven members—three university faculty researchers (one from strategic communication, two from education) and four faculty trainers (one from biology, engineering, journalism, and theater each). As of this writing, there were 59 ( N = 59) graduate STEM student trainees who were recruited and completed the training.…”

“…The science communication training program “Decoding Science” (Rodgers et al, ) yielded data that were analyzed for the purpose of program evaluation. The decoding science program (DSP) was innovative in its approach, as it targeted graduate STEM students across a variety of disciplines, was developed by an interdisciplinary team of faculty and researchers, and the data were evaluated via triangulation (for a detailed description, see Rodgers et al, ). The current case study returns to the data from “Decoding Science,” utilizing a different and holistic approach, to address the question: What are the key experiential learning‐related themes that are present in “Decoding Science?”…”