Why do some accurate science explanations still create the…
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Why do some accurate science explanations still create the wrong takeaway?
I have been thinking about a problem in science communication: an explanation can be technically correct and still leave people with a misleading mental model.
For example, a short explanation often has to simplify:
- what the evidence actually shows
- what the uncertainty is
- whether a result is general or very specific
- whether the finding is new, settled, or still debated
The hard part is that adding all the nuance can make the explanation less readable, but removing too much nuance can make it easier to misunderstand.
When you explain science to non-specialists, what do you think is the best way to keep it clear without flattening the uncertainty?
#technology
I have been thinking about a problem in science communication: an explanation can be technically correct and still leave people with a misleading mental model.
For example, a short explanation often has to simplify:
- what the evidence actually shows
- what the uncertainty is
- whether a result is general or very specific
- whether the finding is new, settled, or still debated
The hard part is that adding all the nuance can make the explanation less readable, but removing too much nuance can make it easier to misunderstand.
When you explain science to non-specialists, what do you think is the best way to keep it clear without flattening the uncertainty?
#technology
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