When experts matter: Variations in consensus messaging for vaccine and genetically modified organism safety

Author:

Lyons Benjamin A.1ORCID,Mérola Vittorio2ORCID,Reifler JasonORCID,Spälti Anna Katharina3,Stedtnitz Christine4,Stoeckel Florian3ORCID

Affiliation:

1. The University of Utah, USA

2. Durham University, UK

3. University of Exeter, UK

4. London School of Economics, UK

Abstract

Does consensus messaging about contested science issues influence perceptions of consensus and/or personal beliefs? This question remains open, particularly for topics other than climate change and samples outside the United States. In a Spanish national sample (N = 5087), we use preregistered survey experiments to examine differential efficacy of variations in consensus messaging for vaccines and genetically modified organisms. We find that no variation of consensus messaging influences vaccine beliefs. For genetically modified organisms, about which misperceptions are particularly prevalent in our sample, we find that scientific consensus messaging increases perception of consensus and personal belief that genetically modified organisms are safe, and decreases support for a ban. Increasing degree of consensus did not have consistent effects. Although individual differences (e.g. a conspiratorial worldview) predict these genetically modified organism beliefs, they do not undercut consensus message effects. While we observe relatively modest effect sizes, consensus messaging may be able to improve the accuracy of beliefs about some contentious topics.

Funder

H2020 European Research Council

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous),Developmental and Educational Psychology,Communication

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