Abstract
Science education and science communication scholars have dedicated considerable attention to the fact that laypeople must rely on experts to make decisions in everyday life. Direct communication between experts and non-experts has been facilitated by social media. However, little attention has been given to the processes and outcomes of these communication events, and particularly, to the goals and constraints of the experts. Here, we characterize experts' considerations for answering science-and health-related questions on a questions-and-answers (Q&A) Facebook group dedicated to vaccines. Results indicate that experts have a diverse set of goals and constraints, including disseminating knowledge, defending science and calming fears. Constraints include maintaining collegiality and avoiding provision of medical advice. In light of the findings, we propose a concept of experts' "bounded engagement with the public."
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 416-423 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Proceedings of International Conference of the Learning Sciences, ICLS |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue number | 2018-June |
| State | Published - 2018 |
| Event | 13th International Conference of the Learning Sciences, ICLS 2018: Rethinking Learning in the Digital Age: Making the Learning Sciences Count - London, United Kingdom Duration: 23 Jun 2018 → 27 Jun 2018 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Computer Science (miscellaneous)
- Education