Experts' Goals and Constraints when Discussing Vaccines with Laypeople on a Facebook Group

Aviv J. Sharon, Ayelet Baram-Tsabari

Abstract: Science education and science communication scholars have dedicated considerable attention to the fact that laypeople must rely on experts to make decisions in everyday life. Direct communication between experts and non-experts has been facilitated by social media. However, little attention has been given to the processes and outcomes of these communication events, and particularly, to the goals and constraints of the experts. Here, we characterize experts' considerations for answering science- and health-related questions on a questions-and-answers (Q&A) Facebook group dedicated to vaccines. Results indicate that experts have a diverse set of goals and constraints, including disseminating knowledge, defending science and calming fears. Constraints include maintaining collegiality and avoiding provision of medical advice. In light of the findings, we propose a concept of experts' "bounded engagement with the public."

External IDs:dblp:conf/icls/SharonB18a