Understanding Public Support for Stem Cell Research: Media Communication, Interpersonal Communication and Trust in Key Actors
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2009
Publication Title
Public Understanding of Science
Publisher
Sage
Volume
18
Issue
6
Abstract
This paper analyzes data from a 2005 telephone survey of 1200 people in the US that included questions about attitudes toward stem cell research and a broad range of communication variables. After all controls, trust in university scientists and religious leaders, exposure to national television news, familiarity, and religious service attendance produced statistically significant main effects on perception of research benefits, together explaining about 31% of the variance. Interpersonal communication may also have contingent effects.
Keywords
Interpersonal communication; Mass media; Media exposure; Public opinion; Stem cells – Research – Public opinion; Trust
Disciplines
Health Policy | Interpersonal and Small Group Communication | Journalism Studies | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Science and Technology Policy | Science and Technology Studies
Language
English
Repository Citation
Liu, H.,
Priest, S. H.
(2009).
Understanding Public Support for Stem Cell Research: Media Communication, Interpersonal Communication and Trust in Key Actors.
Public Understanding of Science, 18(6),
Sage.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0963662508097625