Public Engagement With Science Among Religious Minorities: Lessons From COVID-19

Taragin‐Zeller, Lea; Rozenblum, Yael; Baram‐Tsabari, Ayelet

doi:10.1177/1075547020962107

Cited by 38 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Although research has been done on how lay people interpret mathematical information when faced with a personal health hazard or decisions (e.g., Ancker & Kaufman, 2007 ), rarely have studies examined mathematical media literacy. Our findings do connect, however, to research on the scientific aspects of public engagement with COVID-19, which found correlations of science knowledge (operationalized as level of science education achieved in school/university) and understanding the science underlying COVID-19 (Baram-Tsabari et al, 2021 ; Taragin-Zeller et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Mathematical media literacy in the COVID-19 pandemic and its relation to school mathematics education

2021

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In the first months of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic became a top concern worldwide, media coverage became full of information that demands mathematical literacy, or numeracy, to interpret. In this study, we examine the public’s understanding of mathematical notions that are required for understanding the pandemic and predicting its spread. We also explore its correlations with several variables: age group and gender, educational attainment in mathematics, and mathematics identity. To do so, we conducted a cross-sectional survey focusing on mathematical knowledge relevant to the pandemic. The survey was distributed to a representative sample of the Jewish Israeli population ( n = 439). Findings showed that participants’ educational attainment in mathematics was positively correlated with their success in the mathematical media literacy tasks. However, even those with high attainment levels did not always perform well. Moreover, the explanatory variable with the strongest relationship to mathematical media literacy was found to be participants’ mathematical identity. These results suggest that school mathematics, especially in its high levels, may prepare adults to understand critical information important for their well-being, such as at a time of global pandemic. However, they also demonstrate that a weak mathematical identity may significantly hinder adults’ engagement with such information. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10649-021-10075-8.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Mathematical media literacy in the COVID-19 pandemic and its relation to school mathematics education

2021

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“…This is a common challenge in minority group research in Israel, and many studies report using samples that are only partially representative of the groups they are investigating. 65,72,125 As a result, our findings should be treated with caution as they do not necessarily represent older minority group members who are less cooperative when approached to take part in research in general and online studies in particular. Second, it should be stressed that this study measured compliance intentions to a particular and a simulated newly issued health instruction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

"Apples and Oranges:" Examining Different Social Groups’ Compliance With Government Health Instructions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Goren

Vashdi

Beeri

2021

Int J Health Policy Manag

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Background: The coronavirus outbreak has demonstrated the crucial effect of the public’s compliance with the government’s health instructions on the population’s health. However, evidence shows that some communities are less likely to comply with such instructions than others. This study highlights the factors related to intentions to comply with newly issued health directives during an ongoing extreme crisis, such as the current pandemic. In addition, it compares the impact of these factors on different minority groups and the general population in Israel. Methods: Using an online survey (N=1005), we examined the impact of compliance-related factors on compliance intentions with newly issued health directives in two minority groups in Israel: the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community (N=323) and the Arab community (N=361), as well as in the general population (N=321), during the first outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Participants were presented with a new made-up COVID-19-related instruction simulated to be issued by the Israeli Ministry of Health. Compliance intentions and compliance-related factors were measured. Results: The Arab minority expressed greater intentions of complying with the instructions than the other groups. Perceptions on risk and the effectiveness of the instruction were the only two significantly associated factors with compliance intentions in all of the social groups. Additional factors affected different groups to different extents. Trust in government was related to compliance intentions only in the Arab minority. Conclusion: Intentions to comply with health instructions during a crisis differ in various minority groups and in comparison to the general population, both in their levels and in the factors related to them. Policy-makers and health authorities should consider providing information about the risks and negative outcomes of the crisis as well as the expected effectiveness of the recommended behaviors. Future research should examine other minority groups and other types of instructions in different stages of a crisis.

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“…Increased science capital is beneficial as it empowers individuals to engage with science, importantly that which is relevant to society [ 10 , 11 ]. The necessity for the public to be engaged in science, have trust in science and understand the scientific process has been exemplified throughout the COVID-19 pandemic [ 59 , 60 , 61 ]. Within the events described here the participants perceived themselves to have increased their knowledge, and thus it is tempting to speculate we have increased the science capital of an adult cohort, some of whom may not have specifically sought it out, this was supported by the focus group analysis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nights at the museum: integrated arts and microbiology public engagement events enhance understanding of science whilst increasing community diversity and inclusion

Duckett

Hargreaves

Rawson

et al. 2021

Access Microbiology

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This study uses integrated art and science events to explore a blended approach in improving public understanding of current scientific topics and widening participation within the local community. The events were a Halloween-inspired microbiology-themed series of interactive exhibitions hosted within a national museum as part of an existing series of adult education evenings. A representative sample of 102 mixed methods exit questionnaires, based on determining (i) audience diversity and (ii) understanding of scientific topics, were analysed by qualitative and quantitative approaches, and a post-attendance focus group was carried out to determine longer term impact of the event. Participants were grouped as 'Science', 'Arts', 'Both' or 'Neither', according to their past experience and engagement. These events welcomed more participants from the Arts and Neither subsections hence engaging a group of people who would not usually visit science public engagement events or comparative events hosted in traditional academic settings, highlighting the importance of venue choice in reaching new audiences and widening participation. An increase in perceived understanding of science was observed by all groups of participants with reported enjoyment focused around the science talks, presentations and blended art-science activities. A putative impact in science capital is observed with participants reporting an increased likelihood of attending science events in the future. Furthermore, increased discussion and awareness of science in society is evidenced by participants. Blended art and microbiology exhibitions enhance the accessibly of science public engagement events and is likely to increase science capital; the impact of this on cognitive polyphasia is also discussed.

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Public Engagement With Science Among Religious Minorities: Lessons From COVID-19

Cited by 38 publications

References 54 publications

Mathematical media literacy in the COVID-19 pandemic and its relation to school mathematics education

Mathematical media literacy in the COVID-19 pandemic and its relation to school mathematics education

"Apples and Oranges:" Examining Different Social Groups’ Compliance With Government Health Instructions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nights at the museum: integrated arts and microbiology public engagement events enhance understanding of science whilst increasing community diversity and inclusion

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