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Science communication and public trust in science through an audience-centered quality perspective
1TU Braunschweig, Institute for Communication Science, Bienroder Weg 97, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
Current Opinion in Psychology
|December 24, 2025
Summary
Good science communication builds public trust by translating complex information effectively. Focusing on audience needs and clear messaging is key to fostering trust in science.
Area of Science:
- Science Communication
- Public Trust in Science
- Audience-Centric Research
Background:
- Public trust in science is crucial but often undermined by communication challenges.
- Information intermediaries must translate complex scientific knowledge, managing ambiguity and uncertainty.
- Audience expectations significantly influence how scientific messages and science itself are evaluated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define "good science communication" for enhancing public trust.
- To introduce audience-centered frameworks for evaluating science communication quality.
- To conceptualize public trust in science as a multidimensional construct.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the audience-centered Quality Assessment Scale (15 dimensions).
- Employed the Public Trust in Science Scale (expertise, integrity, benevolence, transparency, dialogue orientation).
- Mapped communication quality signals to trust outcomes.
Main Results:
- Identified key dimensions of quality assessment from the audience's perspective.
- Conceptualized public trust in science as multilevel and multidimensional.
- Established a framework for linking communication strategies to trust-building outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Effective science communication requires balancing detail, uncertainty, relevance, and engagement without compromising rigor.
- Recommendations are provided for designing, measuring, and iterating trust-building communication strategies.
- A foundation is laid for improving science communication to foster greater public trust.
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