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Quantitative study of factors affecting the selection and presentation of scientific material to the general public

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Abstract

The science-related material published in newspapers can be analysed to provide insight into the biases and techniques involved in transferring knowledge from the science community to the general public. A part of such studies can be carried out in quantitative terms. Three such quantitative approaches are illustrated here: (1) measurement of space devoted to science; (2) derivation of readability indices; (3) content analysis.

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References

  1. Eg.H. Krieghbaum,Science and the Mass Media, New York University Press, 1967.

  2. G. Jones, I. Connell, A.J. Meadows, The presentation of science by the Media, PCRC, University of Leicester, 1978.

  3. L. Sklair,Organised Knowledge, Hart-Davis, McGibbon, 1973.

  4. R. Gunning,The Technique of Clear Writing, McGraw-Hill, 1952.

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Dedicated to the memory of Michael J. Moravcsik

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Meadows, A.J. Quantitative study of factors affecting the selection and presentation of scientific material to the general public. Scientometrics 20, 113–119 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02018149

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02018149

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