DFG Project on the Role of Media in Building Confidence in Medical Knowledge

Through online media, especially the offerings of “web 2.0” or “social web”, the relation changes between experts and non-professionals in public communication on scientific information: on the Internet new arenas of science transfer arise (e.g. expert public spheres, collaborative public spheres, personal public sphere). Using the example of medical information the question is explored which role the various communication arenas take in building confidence in medical knowledge. Through group discussions and sampling it is examined, how medical laymen create confidence in medical knowledge with the help of different information and communication offerings and by which indicators and factors related to recipients and situations this confidence is affected.

In a follow-up project also supplementary case studies are planned to examine the concrete mechanisms of selection and presentation of medical knowledge as well as the users’ situational dealing with such online-based arenas. The project is part of the DFG priority programme “Science and the General Public: Understanding Fragile and Conflicting Evidence” (SPP 1409).  project description