Lying increases trust in science, study finds

[Tim]

Lying increases trust in science, study finds

The study revealed that, while transparency about good news increases trust, transparency about bad news, such as conflicts of interest or failed experiments, decreases it.

Therefore, one possible solution to the paradox, and a way to increase public trust, is to lie (which Hyde points out is unethical and ultimately unsustainable), by for example making sure bad news is hidden and that there is always only good news to report.

Instead, he suggests that a better way forward would be to tackle the root cause of the problem, which he argues is the public overidealising science. People still overwhelmingly believe in the ‘storybook image’ of a scientist who makes no mistakes, which creates unrealistic expectations.

Underlying article:

Lying increases trust in science - Theory and Society

[Hat-tip: Slashdot]

[nwrickert (Neil Rickert)]

I’m more inclined to see the problem as being in the media/press coverage of science. There’s too much of a tendency to emphasize flashy headlines, and not enough emphasis on what makes for good science.

[AllenWitmerMiller (Semi-Expired Professor & Minister.)]

I don’t know about science but lying seems to increase trust in a few other non-scientific contexts I can think of. (I suppose it depends upon the skills of the particular liar.)

[Tim]

@nwrickert

I’m more inclined to see the problem as being in the media/press coverage of science. There’s too much of a tendency to emphasize flashy headlines, and not enough emphasis on what makes for good science.

I think this is true of modern “media/press coverage” pervasively – it’s just that its results are particularly dysfunctional when it’s science getting the treatment.

[Tim]

@AllenWitmerMiller

I suppose it depends upon the skills of the particular liar.

I think it also depends on how strong the desire of the audience to believe is. I’ve seen some particularly bad (as in blatant) lying prove successful recently.