Deference to Scientific Authority and Support for Science Across Domains: Influences of Science Education and Religiosity

• In Event: 16.053 - Argumentation and Communication in Science Education

Abstract

This study investigates deference to scientific authority as it relates to support for science across eight sociocultural domains: the economy, the environment, epistemology, science education for all, public health, race and gender, public policy, and religion. Results revealed that deference and support for science were both predicted by greater science education and higher religiosity and revealed two underlying dimensions: an epistemic dimension, combining the deference, epistemology, and religion scales, and differing based on religiosity; and a socioscientific dimension, combining the science education, economy, environment, and public policy scales, and differing based on science education.

Authors

• Craig O. Stewart, The University of Memphis

• John Robert McConnell, Austin Peay State University

• Daniel L. Dickerson, Old Dominion University