Science Communication Research Articles

Is checkworthiness generalizable? Evaluating task and domain generalization of datasets for claim detection

AbstractThe spread of misinformation has reached a level at which neither research nor fact-checkers can monitor it only manually anymore. Accordingly, there has been much research on models and datasets for detecting checkworthy claims. However, the research in NLP is mostly detached from findings in communication science on misinformation and fact-checking. Checkworthiness is a notoriously vague concept whose meaning is contested among different stakeholders. Against the background of news value theory, i.e., the study of factors that make an event relevant for journalistic reporting, this is not surprising. It is argued that this vagueness leads to inconsistencies and poor generalization across different datasets and domains. For the experiments, models are trained on one dataset, tested on the remaining, and evaluated against the results on the original performance, against a random baseline, and against the scores when the models are not trained at all. The study finds that there is a drastic reduction in comparison with the performance on the original dataset. Moreover, often the models are outperformed by the random baseline and training on one dataset has no or even a negative impact on the performance on the other datasets. This paper proposes that future research should abandon this task design and instead take inspiration from research in communication science. In the style of news values, Claim Detection should focus on factors that are relevant for fact-checkers and misinformation.

Flyways Beyond Migratory Pathways: The Case of Waterbird Conservation

Abstract For almost a century, the term ‘flyways’ has been used to order relations over time and space. It has been used to coordinate scientific research and communication as well as monitoring and management efforts for waterbird conservation. In this article, we revisit the concept of ‘boundary object’ (Star and Griesemer 1989) to investigate how this term ‘flyways’ has been central to common efforts while also having multiple meanings for the actors it connects. The article discusses both contemporary and historical achievements of the term by analysing its underlying knowledge infrastructure. We account for the complex assemblages of social, material, natural, and technical systems that shape how the term ‘flyway’ has been functioning as a boundary object and how this has changed over time. By discussing how the term ‘flyways’ as a boundary object and its underlying knowledge infrastructure shape each other, we empower the actors to define, visualise, communicate, and imagine flyways in more purposeful ways. Our analysis contributes to the literature on boundary objects and knowledge infrastructures by expanding their original definitions, arguing for a co-productive relation between them.

One index, two publishers and the global research economy

ABSTRACT The emergence of a global science system after the second world war was spurred by transformations in academic publishing and information science. Amidst Russian-American technological rivalries, funding for science expanded rapidly. Elsevier and Pergamon internationalised journal publishing, whilst tools such as the Science Citation Index changed the way research was measured and valued. This paper traces the connections between the post-war expansion of academic research, new commercial publishing models, the management of research information and Cold War geopolitics. Today, the analysis and use of research metadata continues to revolutionise science communication. The monetisation of citation data has led to the creation of rival publishing platforms and citation infrastructures. The value of this data is amplified by digitisation, computing power and financial investment. Corporate ownership and commercial competition reinforce geographical and resource inequalities in a global research economy, marginalising non-Anglophone knowledge ecosystems as well as long-established scholar-led serials and institutional journals. The immediate future for academic publishing will be shaped by a growing divide between commercial and ‘community-owned’ open science infrastructures.

Students’ Perspective on Undergraduate Research Experiences in Indonesian Dental Schools

Undergraduate (UG) research is considered as an essential part of dental education. Numerous dental schools have included required course-based undergraduate research in their curricula. However, the implementation of UG research courses in the curriculum may vary between dental schools. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate student perspectives on UG research in the curriculum of Indonesian dental schools. A total of 203 participants from 10 dental schools returned the questionnaire. The participants were clinical students of the dentistry profession program who completed their undergraduate dentistry program from 2017 to 2022. The majority of study participants favored UG research in the curriculum of the undergraduate dentistry study program. Less than 20% participants perceived UG research experiments were not important in dental education. Factors that influenced these perceptions included the availability of adequate time to complete the course and sufficient support from research supervisors. Recommendations for improvement included providing an adequate time to complete UG research and adequate supervision to guide students to understand the conceptual background information of the research topics, designs, and scientific communication of data interpretation. Regular monitoring of students’ performance and progress would ensure completion of UG research courses in a timely manner. In conclusion, although UG research as a compulsory course in the Indonesian dental curriculum was well received by the students, overcoming the challenges is essential for the improvement of the research environment for undergraduate dental students.

Measuring Communication and Collaboration Skills in Sciences of Secondary School Students in New General Curriculum: A Case of Vietnam

Communication and collaboration are important skills for students in the 21st century. In order to develop these skills, students will interact with others in specific situations, where they will need to face a situation directly. In Vietnam, the new general education curriculum was issued by the Ministry of Education and Training in 2018. This curriculum has been developed using competency-based approach. Communication and collaboration are identified as core competencies in this curriculum, and these competencies have been proposed with detail components and criteria for students at the final stage of each education levels (e.g., primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education). However, one of the practical problems teachers and students facing is that these criteria are too general. Therefore, it is difficult for teachers and teachers to monitor and assess these competencies in specific subjects. The purpose of the present research is to propose a detailed assessment framework and to validate an instrument for assessing communication and collaboration competencies in the Science subject based on general criteria of these competencies in the general education curriculum in Vietnam. The present research used Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to analyse the research data. The results show that there are three components to measure communication and collaboration competencies with 19 out of 20 indicators having good factor loadings. Reliability analysis for each factor using Cronbach’s alpha shows that each factor has internal consistency, with values ranging from .704 to .861.

Classification of Scientific Papers based on their Nature and Format

The effective categorization and classification of scientific papers based on their nature and format are vital due to the extensive volume of published scientific literature. This research endeavors to delve into the intricate realm of classifying scientific papers, concentrating on discerning categories such as dissertations, scientific articles, theses, and other pertinent types. By meticulously examining the unique attributes, objectives, and structural elements inherent in each paper type, this study aims to furnish researchers, students, and readers with a comprehensive comprehension of the diverse assortment of scientific papers and their idiosyncratic features. Moreover, this article deliberates upon the significance of accurate classification with regard to proficient literature retrieval, knowledge dissemination, and academic publication. Additionally, it scrutinizes the conceivable challenges and deliberations involved in formulating classification systems for scientific papers, encompassing the dynamic nature of scientific communication and the emergence of alternative formats such as preprints and data papers. By augmenting our grasp of scientific paper classification, this research contributes to the enhancement of accessibility, organization, and utilization of scientific knowledge.

Equivalent user experience and improved community augmented meta-analyses knowledge for a new version of a Plain Language Summary guideline

Plain Language Summaries (PLS) offer a promising solution to make meta-analytic psychological research more accessible for non-experts and laypeople. However, existing writing guidelines for this type of publication are seldom grounded in empirical studies. To address this and to test two versions of a new PLS guideline, we investigated the impact of PLSs of psychological meta-analyses on laypeoples’ PLS-related knowledge and their user experience (accessibility, understanding, empowerment). In a preregistered online-study, N = 2,041 German-speaking participants read two PLSs. We varied the inclusion of a disclaimer on PLS authorship, a statement on the causality of effects, additional information on community augmented meta-analyses (CAMA) and the PLS guideline version. Results partially confirmed our preregistered hypotheses: Participants answered knowledge items on CAMA more correctly when a PLS contained additional information on CAMA, and there were no user experience differences between the old and the new guideline versions. Unexpectedly, a priori hypotheses regarding improved knowledge via the use of a disclaimer and a causality statement were not confirmed. Reasons for this, as well as general aspects related to science communication via PLSs aimed at educating laypeople, are discussed.

If Nobody Hears Us, Do We Really Make a Sound? Investigating Agriculture Faculty Members’ Engagement in Science Communication

If Nobody Hears Us, Do We Really Make a Sound? Investigating Agriculture Faculty Members’ Engagement in Science Communication

Exploring Identities of Extension Faculty and Educators as Science Communicators

Exploring Identities of Extension Faculty and Educators as Science Communicators

Editorial

We are pleased to introduce the first issue of 2024’s Studies in Communication Sciences (SComS). Following a two-year trial period, the thrice-yearly publication rhythm is now firmly established. Thanks to our reviewers and additional efforts of the whole editorial team, it permits us to accommodate the growing number of submissions. The General Section includes an article by Konstantin Schätz and Susanne Kirchhoff from the University of Salzburg. Combining conceptual metaphor analysis and qualitative frame analysis, they explore how Austrian newspapers portrayed the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020. Building on the distinction between rhetorical and technical devices of journalistic framing, the article suggests considering metaphors as an additional “reasoning device.” Thus, ontological metaphors emphasized the fragility of the collective “we,” needing to stand together while guarding the distance. The analysis reveals a consistent journalistic framing in a neutral tone that may have favored a responsible public discussion during the crisis.

Perceptions of Science Communication’s Domain, Practices, and Identity: What Concerns Members on the Peripheral Edge of a Community of Practice

Perceptions of Science Communication’s Domain, Practices, and Identity: What Concerns Members on the Peripheral Edge of a Community of Practice

Technological surveillance of energy efficiency in agricultural production systems: a systematic review

This document highlights Energy Efficiency (EE) in agricultural production systems through the analysis of the life-cycle of publications in Scopus database, along with the help of SigmaPlot and SciMAT software. Among the results obtained; the growth rate on publications was determined until 2019, with trends in EE research in the agricultural sector. According to the search formulas "energy efficiency" (LIMIT-TO (DOCTYPE, "ar)) and "energy efficiency AND agriculture" (LIMIT-TO (DOCTYPE," ar), which made visible the scientific projection according to the inflection point, as well as the most important motor issues, where those related to soil, water, climatic variability, crops, nitrogen and phosphorus are emphasized, being The United States the country with the greatest scientific dissemination in this regard. In addition, publications and institutions relevant to the case of Colombia were established through TAK ("energy efficiency" AND agriculture) AND (LIMIT-TO (AFFILCOUNTRY, "Colombia").

Diversity of Research Participant Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in Communication Sciences and Disorders: A Systematic Review and Quantitative Synthesis of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Publications in 2020

Purpose: One manifestation of systemic inequities in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) is the chronic underreporting and underrepresentation of sex, gender, race, and ethnicity in research. The present study characterized recent demographic reporting practices and representation of participants across CSD research. Method: We systematically reviewed and extracted key reporting and participant data from empirical studies conducted in the United States with human participants published in the year 2020 in journals by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA; 407 articles comprising a total of 80,058 research participants, search completed in November 2021). Sex, gender, race, and ethnicity were operationalized per National Institutes of Health guidelines. Results: Sex or gender was reported in 85.5% of included studies; race in 33.7%; and ethnicity in 13.8%. Sex and gender were clearly differentiated in 3.4% of relevant studies. Where reported, median proportions for race and ethnicity were significantly different from the U.S. population, with underrepresentation noted for all non-White racial groups and Hispanic participants. Moreover, 64.7% of studies that reported sex or gender and 67.2% of studies that reported race or ethnicity did not consider these respective variables in analyses or discussions. Conclusions: At present, research published in ASHA journals frequently fails to report key demographic data summarizing the characteristics of participants. Moreover, apparent gaps in the representation of minoritized racial and ethnic groups threaten the external validity of CSD research and broader health care equity endeavors in the United States. Although our study is limited to a single year and publisher, our results point to several steps for readers that may bring greater accountability, consistency, and diversity to the discipline. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25718412

Engaging Patients in Decision Making about Treatment of Kidney Failure: The Art and Science of Communication.

Engaging Patients in Decision Making about Treatment of Kidney Failure: The Art and Science of Communication.

Review of the VIII institutional conference of the Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of Buenos Aires: History and innovation

Introduction: Nursing is the pillar of the health system that is oriented in a scientific and humanistic way to the care of the person, family, groups, and communities. Qualitative historical-documentary research was carried out whose objective of this article is to describe the historical evolution and innovation in the Bachelor's Degree in Nursing at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). Nursing acquired its character as a university degree in 1960 and is structured in two cycles. The teaching scenarios of the career are organized in the central academic unit and in a decentralized manner in 16 Nursing Teaching Units distributed in the City and Province of Buenos Aires. The future perspectives and focus on career innovation include promoting scientific research, editorial management and scientific publication, health communication, clinical simulation, telehealth, and advanced education, as well as training in teaching and research careers and continuation in programs of postgraduate programs to all those who work in higher education and optimize the study plan in accordance with national curricular standards, which strengthened the narrative of the topics presented at the VIII institutional nursing conference of the UBA on November 24, 2023.Objective: to characterize the origins of nursing in Argentina and in the regional context linked to patterns that typify the birth and development of the Bachelor of Nursing degree at the UBA in epoch and contextual terms, highlighting the sociohistorical and institutional contributions both in the unit central academic center and in the nursing teaching units where the program operates, crystallizing the integrative dimensions that work in university life.Method: Qualitative historical-documentary research. The research methods used were both theoretical and empirical. The theorists facilitated fulfilling the epistemological function of the conceptual interpretation of the information, which were: Analytical-Synthetic; Deductive-Inductive and Historical-Logical:Development: a dialectical, discursive sequencing and a narrative of events that appeal to organizational values or define in a sense attribute of the reference institution that anchors in amalgamation with the mission and vision of the Bachelor of Nursing degree at the UBA were programmed.Conclusions: The process of making the proposal programmed for the VIII institutional day of the Bachelor of Nursing degree at the UBA was enhanced as in a tessellar network, as it represented an organizational, operational and collaborative logic that highlighted the unity in action, guided by the leadership and direction of the course direction and with notable support in terms of the presence of prominent authorities from the House of Higher Studies itself, the Ministry of Health of the Nation and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, of disciplinary organizations: Argentine Nursing Federation, Nursing Association of the Federal Capital, Association of University Schools of Nursing of the Argentine Republic, Argentine Nursing Networks, career directors of local universities, as well as the UBA educational community made up of students, teachers, graduates, directors, coordinators of headquarters, areas and commissions that the convergence space selected for the occasion has flourished in the imposing Aula Magna “José Arce”, with a spirit of joy commemorating on such an occasion Nursing Day in Argentina, as an anniversary declared of interest by the race managers, focused on history and innovation.

Structured abstract generator (SAG) model: analysis of IMRAD structure of articles and its effect on extractive summarization

AbstractAn abstract is the most crucial element that may convince readers to read the complete text of a scientific publication. However, studies show that in terms of organization, readability, and style, abstracts are also among the most troublesome parts of the pertinent manuscript. The ultimate goal of this article is to produce better understandable abstracts with automatic methods that will contribute to scientific communication in Turkish. We propose a summarization system based on extractive techniques combining general features that have been shown to be beneficial for Turkish. To construct the data set for this aim, a sample of 421 peer-reviewed Turkish articles in the field of librarianship and information science was developed. First, the structure of the full-texts, and their readability in comparison with author abstracts, were examined for text quality evaluation. A content-based evaluation of the system outputs was then carried out. System outputs, in cases of using and ignoring structural features of full-texts, were compared. Structured outputs outperformed classical outputs in terms of content and text quality. Each output group has better readability levels than their original abstracts. Additionally, it was discovered that higher-quality outputs are correlated with more structured full-texts, highlighting the importance of structural writing. Finally, it was determined that our system can facilitate the scholarly communication process as an auxiliary tool for authors and editors. Findings also indicate the significance of structural writing for better scholarly communication.

A survey of listeners' perceptions of an extension-produced invasive plant podcast

A survey of listeners' perceptions of an extension-produced invasive plant podcast

What qualitative systems mapping is and what it could be: integrating and visualizing diverse knowledge of complex problems

AbstractResearchers in sustainability science deal with increasingly complex problems that cross administrative, geographical, disciplinary, and sectoral boundaries, and are characterized by high stakes and deep uncertainties. This in turn creates methodological challenges to frame, structure, and solve complex problems in science and practice. There is a long tradition in visualizing systems as diagrams, and concept and cognitive maps, but there is insufficient differentiation and comparison between these methods and no clear umbrella term has yet been established. Against this background, we systematically review three foundational methods from different academic disciplines—causal diagrams, concept mapping, and cognitive mapping. Comparing and contrasting them, we facilitate a coherent understanding of qualitative systems mapping (QSM) as an umbrella term. We then proceed to explore the evident intersections between these methods to showcase some of the inter- and transdisciplinary opportunities and challenges crystallizing in integrated QSM approaches. Finally, we share case study insights from the food–water–biodiversity nexus in Austria and elaborate on some of the methodological nuances to data integration in QSM. Overall, with this overview paper, we lay the groundwork for a systematic, transparent, and yet flexible development and application of QSM methods to support mixed-methods research design and clear case study documentation, as well as fostering effective inter- and transdisciplinary communication in sustainability science. Further research needs to explore these QSM applications in depth across alternative sustainability science contexts, particularly with respect to efficient and rigorous protocols for knowledge and data integration vis-a-vis complex problems and transdisciplinary research processes.

Sustainability Science Communication: Case Study of a True Cost Campaign in Germany

The Anthropocene, marked by human-induced climate change, necessitates urgent action to address climate goals and respect planetary boundaries. While sustainability research provides knowledge, the first challenge lies in communicating the findings in an adequate manner to the public and several stakeholders, such as economic and political actors. Therefore, this study explores the significance of science communication in sustainability science, focusing on a case study—the True Cost Accounting (TCA) campaign by the University of Greifswald, Technical Institute of Nuremberg, and German retailer PENNY. TCA herein serves as a transparency tool, economic incentive, and discussion basis for sustainable consumption. This study investigates consumer perceptions of ecological prices of foods through a face-to-face survey during the 2023 PENNY campaign, comparing results to an informational campaign carried out in 2021. Findings indicate a high awareness of the true cost campaign in 2023, with 50.8% of participants hearing about it. Consumers’ willingness to pay true costs and potential behavior changes were explored. In comparison to results from the informational campaign of 2021, customers showed a decrease in this WTP when the true prices would actually impact their spending, indicating an attitude–behavior gap. In addition, a willingness to reduce the consumption of animal foods—if TCA was implemented—of 60.5% was determined, which suggests that TCA has the potential for sustainable behavior change. This study highlights factors that influence consumer attitudes and preferences regarding the inclusion of TCAs, such as environmental, social, and animal welfare costs. Customers’ understanding of increased prices—like, in this case, the compensation for environmental and social costs—is an argument in favor of true prices. The results emphasize the need for differentiated scientific communication strategies to bridge knowledge and action gaps in sustainability science.

Modulation instability and comparative observation of the effect of fractional parameters on new optical soliton solutions of the paraxial wave model

This work focuses on the study of the paraxial wave model with a space–time fractional form. This model has more importance for describing light propagation in nonlinear optical fibers and telecommunication lines. The main aim of this work is to observe the effect of the fractional parameters and compare the truncated M\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$M$$\\end{document}-fraction with the beta-fraction, conformable fraction form, and classical form of the PW model. For this observation, we applied the Simplest equation technique to acquire analytical solutions to the space–time (spatiotemporal) M\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$M$$\\end{document}-fractional paraxial wave model. We are able to acquire several new optical soliton solutions, including periodic waves, kink-type waves, rogue-type waves, and several novel periodic waves, by providing the appropriate fractional parametric values. These solutions have significance for shedding light on a number of physical phenomena in the realms of optical fiber and communication sciences. The diverse values of fractional parameters and the three-dimensional and contour plot graphs of certain chosen solutions are depicted, which are the most accurate physical characterizations of the outcomes. We also sketch the comparative graph of diverse fractional forms and the classical form of the paraxial wave equation in two-dimensional plots. Consequently, our findings represent an important breakthrough in this complex area and help further develop our comprehension of the behavior of solitons.