Pseudoscience as media effect

Schiele, Alexandre

doi:10.22323/2.19020101

Cited by 12 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…However, although data from Spanish public entities were used [ 59 ], explicit measurements of these variables were not included in the investigation. Taking into account that the dissemination of pseudoscientific information can lead the population to make bad decisions [ 60 – 62 ], it seems necessary for future studies to relate the degree to which decisions based on pseudoscience increase psychopathological risks. To carry out this analysis, the consumption of pseudoscientific information must be measured.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pseudoscientific beliefs and psychopathological risks increase after COVID-19 social quarantine

et al. 2020

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Background: The health crisis caused by COVID-19 has led many countries to opt for social quarantine of the population. During this quarantine, communication systems have been characterized by disintermediation, the acceleration of digitization and an infodemic (excess and saturation of information). The following debate arises: Do the levels related to the psychotic phenotype and pseudoscientific beliefs related to the interpretation of information vary before and after social quarantine? Objectives: This research aims to examine the psychological effects of social quarantine on the psychotic phenotype and pseudoscientific beliefs-experiences of the general nonclinical population. The following hypothesis was posed: social quarantine alters the levels of magical thinking, pseudoscientific beliefs and anomalous perceptions due to quarantine. Methods: A pre-and posttest analysis design was applied based on the difference in means, and complementary Bayesian estimation was performed. A total of 174 Spanish subjects responded to different questionnaires that evaluated psychopathological risks based on psychotic phenotypes, pseudoscientific beliefs and experiences before and after quarantine. Results: Significant differences were obtained for the variables positive psychotic symptoms, depressive symptoms, and certain perceptual alterations (e.g., cenesthetic perceptions), and a significant increase in pseudoscientific beliefs was also observed. The perceptual disturbances that increased the most after quarantine were those related to derealization and depersonalization. However, paranoid perceptions showed the highest increase, doubling the initial standard deviation. These high increases could be related to the delimitation of physical space during social quarantine and distrust towards information communicated by the government to the population. Is it possible that social alarmism generated by the excess of information and pseudoscientific information has increased paranoid perceptual alterations? Conclusions: Measures taken after quarantine indicate that perceptual disturbances, subclinical psychotic symptoms and beliefs in the pseudoscience have increased. We discuss which elements of quarantine coincide with the social marginality theory and its clinical repercussions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pseudoscientific beliefs and psychopathological risks increase after COVID-19 social quarantine

et al. 2020

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“…3) a systematized body of knowledge established by the consensus of the scientific community; 4) 5an institution structured around its own rules, procedures and actors; 5) a social construct that always seeks to embody completeness [16].…”

Section: Results Of the Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Criteria for Demarcation of Pseudoscientific knowledge, Channels and Consequences of its Dissemination

Фіялка

2021

ТТД

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Досліджено критерії розмежування наукових і псевдонаукових тверджень. Схарактеризовано наукову діяльність як систему, її цілі та виокремлено принципи ведення наукової дискусії. Описано технології, які використовують псевдонауковці, щоб вплинути на громадську думку. Підкреслено роль медіа в поширенні псевдонаукової інформації та наголошено на наслідках такого поширення для окремого індивіда й суспільства в цілому. Псевдонаука підриває авторитет науки, заподіює шкоду здоров’ю громадян, дезорієнтує суспільство, завдає збитків державі й бізнесу. Науковці вибудовують теорії на основі методології та системи наукових фактів, оперують суворою системою принципів і підходів до досліджень. Натомість псевдонауковці добирають лише ті судження, які підтверджують спекулятивну теорію, і при цьому ігнорують усі інші факти. У наукових дискусіях існує табу на суб’єктивність, демагогію, погрози, адміністративний, політичний та законодавчий тиск тощо. Найбільш авоторитетним джерелом достовірної наукової інформації є рецензований науковий журнал.

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“…This approach inaccurately represents much of the process of data collection and portrays the results as overly open to interpretation [12,14]. In other instances, the science presented on TV is entirely fabricated, with lasting negative effects on viewers' perceptions of scientists and the process of science itself, accelerating the spread of pseudoscience rather than increasing scientific literacy-as in the 2013 fake stories of Megalodon on the Discovery Channel and the 2012-2013 mermaid "mocumentaries" on Animal Planet [15][16][17]. Further, TV scientists are seldom diverse [18], with the majority portrayed as mature Caucasian men or sexualized young women [16].…”

Section: Preparing the Next Generation Of Stem Professionalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing Water Literacy through an Innovative Television Series Focused on Wai Maoli: Hawai’i Fresh Water Initiative

Seraphin

2020

Water

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This study examined the ability of four 30-min television (TV) episodes to affect viewers’ understanding of, and engagement in, fresh water recharge, conservation, and reuse. We used questionnaires to examine changes in viewers’ perceived understanding, interest, and motivation after watching episodes at in-person screenings during September 2019 (average 27.5 attendees and 19.5 respondents per episode screening). In general, perception of skills and engagement increased after viewing the episode, and viewers reported a willingness to take action themselves as well as to pledge support for the use of public funds in water-related actions. However, viewers were less swayed on topics such as the “ickiness” of recycled water and on policies that allow black water recycling. At the final screening of the series, we also investigated preference for in-depth content versus a synoptic episode via structured focus groups. With a high degree of consensus, focus group participants felt that topics were better presented in episodes with more in-depth content. These results support the use of long-form, content-rich educational videos to teach water science and increase motivation. In combination with TV viewing metrics, our study thus supports the use of TV as an effective medium for reaching a broad demographic. However, our findings also imply that changing viewers’ perceptions on controversial water-use topics requires additional consideration to support the construction of new beliefs, water literacy, and citizen engagement.

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Pseudoscience as media effect

Cited by 12 publications

References 1 publication

Pseudoscientific beliefs and psychopathological risks increase after COVID-19 social quarantine

Pseudoscientific beliefs and psychopathological risks increase after COVID-19 social quarantine

Criteria for Demarcation of Pseudoscientific knowledge, Channels and Consequences of its Dissemination

Enhancing Water Literacy through an Innovative Television Series Focused on Wai Maoli: Hawai’i Fresh Water Initiative

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