By Federico Neresini
Researchers’ blogs and research institutes’ websites are acquiring the status of credible sources of information on scientific issues, even though television programmes remain at the lead in this context. Almost one Italian out of two considers the former channels reliable, while 31% (especially concentrated in the sector of public older in age and with a lower level of education) cannot give an evaluation on the matter. Similar “niche” dynamics tend to characterise also radio programmes on science: not a small number of interviewees considers them reliable, even though a wide sector is still unsure.
What strikes our attention, and at the same time confirms the success of events like science festivals, is the very positive judgement of reliability ascribed to the direct testimony of scientists.
Article published in Nova24, The newspaper Il Sole24 Ore’s scientific supplement, in January, 2nd, 2009 and translated by dr. Sara Pascoli.
Download the complete results.
The survey was conducted through CATI phone interviews on a sample of 996 cases, stratified as to gender, age and geographic distribution, representative of the Italian population of 15 years of age or over. The Science and Society Monitor is an initiative of the research centre Observa – Science in Society, realised with the support of Compagnia di San Paolo.
The data here presented are published in Valeria Arzenton and Massimiano Bucchi, Annuario Scienza e Società 2009, Bologna, Il Mulino.
(Translation by Sara Pascoli)
