Public Concerns And Perception Of Science: Newspaper Article Assignment

Newspaper Article Assignment:

Scenario You Are A Journalist That Has Been Asked To Take Part In A Debate On The Public Concerns And Perception Of Science.  You Need To Answer The Question: What Is The General Perception Of Science And What Impact Have Different Media Types Had On It? Useful Websites Http://Www.Guardian.Co.Uk/Science/2005/Sep/08/Badscience.Research Http://News.Bbc.Co.Uk/1/Hi/Sci/Tech/4771154.Stm Http://Www.Senseaboutscience.Org/

Assignment 5.2: Science, The Media And Public Perception The Table Below Shows The Pass, Merit And Distinction Criteria For This Assignment. Be Sure You Have Addressed These Sufficiently In Your Work.

Criteria	Description
P2	Identify Public Perception About Science
P3	Explain How The Media Has Influenced Public Perception Of Science
M2	Explain Whether Concerns Raised About Science In The Media Are Justified
D2	Analyse Whether The Media Makes A Positive Contribution   Student Declaration: I Confirm That All Work Submitted For This Assignment Is My Own. Sign: ____________________________    Date: ____________________ to the public’s perception of Science

  Task 1: Public Perceptions Of Science You Are A Journalist That Has Been Asked To Take Part In A Debate On The Public Concerns And Perception Of Science.  You May Present Your Work As A Newspaper Article Or As Notes For A Filmed Interview. You Must Include:

1. A general overview of the public perception of Science
2. At least two case studies of situations where the public perception of science has clearly been influenced by the media in some way.
3. Be sure to provide evidence on how public concerns could link to the influence of the media
4. Suggest why one particular media type may have had a greater influence than others, by relating public concerns to the way material is presented
5. A detailed analysis on whether the media affects public perception of science positively or negatively.
6. Be sure to discuss how the media raise concerns about scientific developments
7. Refer to the way the information is presented and whether this makes their concerns valid
8. Conclude with your own carefully considered opinion

Suggested Ways To Carry Out Your Research Are:

1. Either make a questionnaire that asks at least 20 people about their perception of science.

Questions Could Include: What Is Good About Science? What Is Bad? What Are Your Thoughts On: Ebola, Swine Flu, MMR Vaccine, Cloning, Three-Parent Babies, Mitochondrial DNA, Or Other Areas Of Science That Have Come Up In The News? What Is Your Biggest Concern In Relation To Science? Why Is That? In What Type Of Media Form Do They Most Often Come In Contact With Science (Media Type: Sci-Fi Films, Documentaries, TV News, Journals, Broad-Sheet Newspapers, Tabloid Newspaper, Magazines)? Be Sure To Ask Their Age, Occupation, Science Education/Interest And If Possible Where They Got Their Opinions From (Is It From A Particular Media Type?). Try To Include A Range Of Participants So That You Have Results That Can Be Analysed. You Could Use Survey Monkey, Google Forms, Paper Forms, Or Notes Of Verbal Interviews. You SHOULD Submit An Analysis Of The Results (Table Or Graph).  

1. OR Internet based research of scientific case-studies (e.g. all the topics listed above) that have affected people’s opinions and caused concerns.         Be sure to include evidence for changes in opinion either in the form of well referenced quotes, referenced graphs, or other data. Make sure:
2. You carefully reference any information you include from other sources and in particular take care with quoting people’s opinions properly
3. You have considered audience (type and size), hidden agenda, language, style,
4. You don’t speak in absolutes or stereotype and evidence all your statements
5. You have addressed all the assessment criteria in your work