Readers weigh in on framing
The results from our online poll are in. Here's the most up-to-date information on what you think about framing in science
| 1. First, a bit about you. How would you describe yourself? | |||
 | Response Percent | Response Count | |
| A practicing scientist in the lab |  | 41.0% | 166 |
| A former scientist in the lab or science graduate | | 34.1% | 138 |
| A non-scientist | | 24.9% | 101 |
Responses from practicing scientists in the lab:
| Science in the media | ||||||
| The media does a good job of informing the public about important or sensitive science issues. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 0.0% (0) | 23.8% (31) | 46.9% (61) | 28.5% (37) | 0.8% (1) | 3.05 | 130 |
| The best media for reaching the public are science sections in mainstream media outlets such as the New York Times science section, BBC news, or NPR's Science Friday. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No... | ||
| Public understanding of science | ||||||
| If the public had a better understanding of embryonic stem cells, current restrictions on research would be lifted. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 14.6% (19) | 43.1% (56) | 33.1% (43) | 5.4% (7) | 3.8% (5) | 2.30 | 130 |
| If scientists were more effective at communicating the science behind climate change, governments would be more likely to support measures to combat it. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 15.4% (20) | 42.3% (55) | 33.8% (44) | 6.9% (9) | 1.5% (2) | 2.33 | 130 |
| If scientists were more effective at communicating the evidence for evolution, fewer people would believe that creationism should be taught in science classes. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 17.7% (23) | 36.2% (47) | 34.6% (45) | 10.0% (13) | 1.5% (2) | 2.38 | 130 |
| If the public had a better understanding of science, governments would increase their funding for science. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 34.6% (45) | 40.8% (53) | 15.4% (20) | 3.1% (4) | 6.2% (8) | 1.86 | 130 |
| Science would be better off today if we had more scientists like Carl Sagan. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 20.8% (27) | 36.2% (47) | 11.5% (15) | 4.6% (6) | 26.9% (35) | 2.00 | 130 |
| The role of scientists in the media | ||||||
| Scientists do a good job of communicating complex technical issues to the public. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 0.0% (0) | 14.6% (19) | 60.8% (79) | 23.8% (31) | 0.8% (1) | 3.09 | 130 |
| In public, scientists should only comment on the technical details of their work and not discuss the ethical or policy implications of research. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 3.8% (5) | 6.2% (8) | 55.4% (72) | 33.1% (43) | 1.5% (2) | 3.20 | 130 |
| Research needs to be explained to lay audiences in all its complexities, no matter the type of media outlet or the nature of the audience. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 13.8% (18) | 29.2% (38) | 40.8% (53) | 14.6% (19) | 1.5% (2) | 2.57 | 130 |
| When scientists communicate with the public, the most important thing is technical accuracy. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 10.8% (14) | 31.5% (41) | 41.5% (54) | 13.8% (18) | 2.3% (3) | 2.60 | 130 |
| When scientists communicate with the public, the most important thing is accommodating their message to suit the audience. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 20.8% (27) | 42.3% (55) | 26.9% (35) | 8.5% (11) | 1.5% (2) | 2.23 | 130 |
| Communications training and research | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| Graduate students in the sciences should receive formalized training in public communication. | ||||||
| 42.3% (55) | 47.7% (62) | 6.9% (9) | 1.5% (2) | 1.5% (2) | 1.67 | 130 |
| Scientific organizations should conduct systematic research in order to better understand which messages are most likely to promote public interest and understanding. | ||||||
| 25.4% (33) | 46.9% (61) | 19.2% (25) | 3.8% (5) | 4.6% (6) | 2.02 | 130 |
| Scientists who make a major impact as communicators deserve as much recognition for their contributions as leading researchers. | ||||||
| 40.8% (53) | 33.8% (44) | 15.4% (20) | 5.4% (7) | 4.6% (6) | 1.85 | 130 |
| Funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health should prioritize funding for research and programs devoted to science communication. | ||||||
| 26.9% (35) | 38.5% (50) | 26.9% (35) | 4.6% (6) | 3.1% (4) | 2.10 | 130 |
Responses from former lab scientists or science graduates:
| Science in the media | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| The media does a good job of informing the public about important or sensitive science issues. | ||||||
| 0.9% (1) | 21.7% (23) | 45.3% (48) | 29.2% (31) | 2.8% (3) | 3.06 | 106 |
| The best media for reaching the public are science sections in mainstream media outlets such as the New York Times science section, BBC news, or NPR's Science Friday. | ||||||
| 8.5% (9) | 51.9% (55) | 34.9% (37) | 3.8% (4) | 0.9% (1) | 2.34 | 106 |
| The best media for reaching the public are science-based publications such as Nature, Scientific American, The Scientist, or New Scientist. | ||||||
| 2.8% (3) | 10.4% (11) | 52.8% (56) | 34.0% (36) | 0.0% (0) | 3.18 | 106 |
| Public understanding of science | |||||||
| If the public had a better understanding of embryonic stem cells, current restrictions on research would be lifted. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 9.4% (10) | 38.7% (41) | 39.6% (42) | 8.5% (9) | 3.8% (4) | 2.49 | 106 | |
| If scientists were more effective at communicating the science behind climate change, governments would be more likely to support measures to combat it. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 14.2% (15) | 50.0% (53) | 26.4% (28) | 7.5% (8) | 1.9% (2) | 2.28 | 106 | |
| If scientists were more effective at communicating the evidence for evolution, fewer people would believe that creationism should be taught in science classes. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 26.4% (28) | 35.8% (38) | 29.2% (31) | 7.5% (8) | 0.9% (1) | 2.18 | 106 | |
| If the public had a better understanding of science, governments would increase their funding for science. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 18.9% (20) | 46.2% (49) | 24.5% (26) | 4.7% (5) | 5.7% (6) | 2.16 | 106 | |
| Science would be better off today if we had more scientists like Carl Sagan. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 17.0% (18) | 40.6% (43) | 15.1% (16) | 3.8% (4) | 23.6% (25) | 2.07 | 106 | |
| The role of scientists in the media | |||||||
| Scientists do a good job of communicating complex technical issues to the public. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 0.9% (1) | 9.4% (10) | 59.4% (63) | 29.2% (31) | 0.9% (1) | 3.18 | 106 | |
| In public, scientists should only comment on the technical details of their work and not discuss the ethical or policy implications of research. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 3.8% (4) | 9.4% (10) | 49.1% (52) | 37.7% (40) | 0.0% (0) | 3.21 | 106 | |
| Research needs to be explained to lay audiences in all its complexities, no matter the type of media outlet or the nature of the audience. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 11.3% (12) | 26.4% (28) | 39.6% (42) | 19.8% (21) | 2.8% (3) | 2.70 | 106 | |
| When scientists communicate with the public, the most important thing is technical accuracy. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 13.2% (14) | 24.5% (26) | 51.9% (55) | 8.5% (9) | 1.9% (2) | 2.57 | 106 | |
| When scientists communicate with the public, the most important thing is accommodating their message to suit the audience. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 20.8% (22) | 52.8% (56) | 17.0% (18) | 8.5% (9) | 0.9% (1) | 2.13 | 106 | |
| Communications training and research | ||||||
| Graduate students in the sciences should receive formalized training in public communication. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 36.8% (39) | 47.2% (50) | 11.3% (12) | 0.9% (1) | 3.8% (4) | 1.75 | 106 |
| Scientific organizations should conduct systematic research in order to better understand which messages are most likely to promote public interest and understanding. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 23.6% (25) | 51.9% (55) | 17.0% (18) | 4.7% (5) | 2.8% (3) | 2.03 | 106 |
| Scientists who make a major impact as communicators deserve as much recognition for their contributions as leading researchers. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 36.8% (39) | 47.2% (50) | 9.4% (10) | 5.7% (6) | 0.9% (1) | 1.84 | 106 |
| Funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health should prioritize funding for research and programs devoted to science communication. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 32.1% (34) | 44.3% (47) | 17.0% (18) | 3.8% (4) | 2.8% (3) | 1.92 | 106 |
Responses from non-scientists:
| Science in the media | ||||||
| The media does a good job of informing the public about important or sensitive science issues. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 4.5% (3) | 20.9% (14) | 40.3% (27) | 32.8% (22) | 1.5% (1) | 3.03 | 67 |
| The best media for reaching the public are science sections in mainstream media outlets such as the New York Times science section, BBC news, or NPR's Science Friday. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 13.4% (9) | 43.3% (29) | 31.3% (21) | 10.4% (7) | 1.5% (1) | 2.39 | 67 |
| The best media for reaching the public are science-based publications such as Nature, Scientific American, The Scientist, or New Scientist. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 6.0% (4) | 28.4% (19) | 40.3% (27) | 23.9% (16) | 1.5% (1) | 2.83 | 67 |
| Public understanding of science | ||||||
| If the public had a better understanding of embryonic stem cells, current restrictions on research would be lifted. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 19.4% (13) | 38.8% (26) | 26.9% (18) | 9.0% (6) | 6.0% (4) | 2.27 | 67 |
| If scientists were more effective at communicating the science behind climate change, governments would be more likely to support measures to combat it. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 19.4% (13) | 41.8% (28) | 28.4% (19) | 6.0% (4) | 4.5% (3) | 2.22 | 67 |
| If scientists were more effective at communicating the evidence for evolution, fewer people would believe that creationism should be taught in science classes. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 25.4% (17) | 31.3% (21) | 29.9% (20) | 10.4% (7) | 3.0% (2) | 2.26 | 67 |
| If the public had a better understanding of science, governments would increase their funding for science. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 26.9% (18) | 58.2% (39) | 10.4% (7) | 3.0% (2) | 1.5% (1) | 1.89 | 67 |
| Science would be better off today if we had more scientists like Carl Sagan. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 23.9% (16) | 38.8% (26) | 10.4% (7) | 0.0% (0) | 26.9% (18) | 1.82 | 67 |
| The role of scientists in the media | |||||||
| Scientists do a good job of communicating complex technical issues to the public. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 6.0% (4) | 10.4% (7) | 56.7% (38) | 23.9% (16) | 3.0% (2) | 3.02 | 67 | |
| In public, scientists should only comment on the technical details of their work and not discuss the ethical or policy implications of research. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 7.5% (5) | 13.4% (9) | 43.3% (29) | 35.8% (24) | 0.0% (0) | 3.07 | 67 | |
| Research needs to be explained to lay audiences in all its complexities, no matter the type of media outlet or the nature of the audience. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 14.9% (10) | 25.4% (17) | 35.8% (24) | 22.4% (15) | 1.5% (1) | 2.67 | 67 | |
| When scientists communicate with the public, the most important thing is technical accuracy. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 13.4% (9) | 28.4% (19) | 46.3% (31) | 10.4% (7) | 1.5% (1) | 2.55 | 67 | |
| When scientists communicate with the public, the most important thing is accommodating their message to suit the audience. | |||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| 28.4% (19) | 35.8% (24) | 22.4% (15) | 10.4% (7) | 3.0% (2) | 2.15 | 67 | |
| Communications training and research | ||||||
| Graduate students in the sciences should receive formalized training in public communication. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 43.3% (29) | 47.8% (32) | 4.5% (3) | 0.0% (0) | 4.5% (3) | 1.59 | 67 |
| Scientific organizations should conduct systematic research in order to better understand which messages are most likely to promote public interest and understanding. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 28.4% (19) | 47.8% (32) | 17.9% (12) | 1.5% (1) | 4.5% (3) | 1.92 | 67 |
| Scientists who make a major impact as communicators deserve as much recognition for their contributions as leading researchers. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 40.3% (27) | 34.3% (23) | 19.4% (13) | 0.0% (0) | 6.0% (4) | 1.78 | 67 |
| Funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health should prioritize funding for research and programs devoted to science communication. | ||||||
| Strongly Agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | No Opinion | Rating Average | Response Count |
| 31.3% (21) | 46.3% (31) | 17.9% (12) | 1.5% (1) | 3.0% (2) | 1.89 | 67 |
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