Identifying trust cues: how trust in science is mediated in content about science

Schröder, Justin T. ; Brück, Janise und Guenther, Lars (2025): Identifying trust cues: how trust in science is mediated in content about science. In: Journal of Science Communication, Vol. 24, No. 1, A06

Abstract

Most public audiences in Germany receive scientific information via a variety of (digital) media; in these contexts, media act as intermediaries of trust in science by providing information that present reasons for public audiences to place their trust in science. To describe this process, the study introduces the term “trust cues”. To identify such content-related trust cues, an explorative qualitative content analysis has been applied to German journalistic, populist, social, and other (non-journalistic) online media (“n” = 158). In total, “n” = 1,329 trust cues were coded. The findings emphasize the diversity of mediated trust, with trust cues being connected to dimensions of trust in science (established: expertise, integrity, benevolence; recently introduced: transparency, dialogue). Through this analysis, the study aims for a better understanding of mediated trust in science. Deriving this finding is crucial since public trust in science is important for individual and collective informed decision-making and crises management.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Keywords: Digital science communication; Science and media; Representations of science and technology
• Faculties: Social Sciences > Department of Communications and Media (IfKW)
• Subjects: 300 Social sciences > 380 Commerce, communications and transportation
• ISSN: 1824-2049
• Language: English
• DFG: Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - 456602133