Belief updating when confronted with scientific evidence: Examining the role of trust in science.

ABSTRACT: In one exploratory study (N = 985) and one preregistered study (N = 1100), we investigated whether trust in science influences belief change on a medico-scientific issue when laypersons are confronted with scientific evidence. Moreover, we tested whether individuals with high trust in science trust science "blindly," meaning that their trust in a scientific claim's source prevents them from adequately evaluating the claim itself. Participants read eight fictitious studies on the efficacy of acupuncture, which were experimentally manipulated regarding direction (evidence favoring acupuncture vs diverging evidence) and quality (high vs low; only Study 2). Acupuncture-related beliefs were measured before and after reading. Moderator and mediator analyses showed that the magnitud

SUBMITTER: Rosman T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10958746 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature