October 2, 2023
8:00 am – 11:30 am
Eric P. Newman Education Center (EPNEC), 320 S Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110
Keynote Speaker: Ellen Peters
“The power of numeric evidence in science communication.”
Advantages and disadvantages exist for presenting numeric information in science communication. On the one hand, public innumeracy and experts’ concerns about providing numbers suggest not showing them. On the other hand, people often prefer getting them and their provision can increase comprehension, trust, engagement, and healthy behaviors while reducing risk overestimates and supporting decision-maker autonomy. Presenting numeric facts without considering their comprehensibility and usability though is like throwing good money after bad. Thus, we’ll briefly examine theory-based strategies that improve understanding and use of numbers.
Ellen Peters is the Director of the Center for Science Communication Research (SCR) and Professor in both the School of Journalism and Communication and the Psychology Department at the University of Oregon.