Exploring the Role of Science Epistemic Beliefs in COVID-19 Conspiracy Beliefs and Prevention Among Undergraduates

• In Event: Science Education and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

We conducted path analyses to examine the degree to which trust in science and scientists mediates the association between multiplicistic epistemic beliefs about science with COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and science-related conspiracy beliefs. We also investigated the extent to which COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and science-related conspiracy beliefs are associated with compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Participants were 210 undergraduates attending a Hispanic-serving institution in the southern U.S. Results indicated that multiplicistic epistemic beliefs about science were positively associated with science-related conspiracy beliefs after accounting for fundamentalism and conservatism. Moreover, trust in science and scientists mediated the positive association between multiplicistic epistemic beliefs about science with COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs. Finally, belief in COVID-19 conspiracies was negatively associated with COVID-19 prevention guideline compliance.

Authors

• Danya Marie Serrano, University of Houston - Downtown

• Travis Crone, University of Houston-Downtown