Science Popularisation Agents’ Potential Against Pseudo-Scientific Knowledge

Abstract

This article analyses results of a preliminary research inquiry into various groups of popularisation agents in Russia. Research helped to define professional and personal qualities of these agents, their motives, as well as their position towards pseudo-science, including typical means of pseudo-science development interruption. Pseudo-science development is seen as a permanent process in modern society, gaining this quality from negligent attitude of scientific institutions, state, business and society in general. In the first part of the article authors suggest that popularisation has two roots. Either an institutional root, when science is made public by journalists and editors, who are professionals in the field of information; or a functional one, when scientists themselves, untrained in journalism, take on the task of popularisation. The article then continues with the research, which was based on a sample of self-identifying popularisation agents. These agents represented four groups: journalists, scientists, higher education professionals and popularisation agents specialising in this activity. The initial hypothesis was that actions against pseudo-science propagation were rooted not in objective qualities of popularisation agents, but in their values, especially the value of «true science». The research shows that only a fifth of popularisation agents are concerned with the issue. They have an especially strong desire to protect the society. These agents are younger than the rest, they have less experience in professional field, and they demonstrate high enthusiasm in the task of fighting pseudo-science.