21 pages., via online journal., Scholars are divided over whether communicating to the public the existence
of scientific consensus on an issue influences public acceptance of the
conclusions represented by that consensus. Here, we examine the
influence of four messages on perception and acceptance of the scientific
consensus on the safety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs): two
messages supporting the idea that there is a consensus that GMOs are safe
for human consumption and two questioning that such a consensus exists.
We found that although participants concluded that the pro-consensus
messages made stronger arguments and were likely to be more
representative of the scientific community’s attitudes, those messages did
not abate participants’ concern about GMOs. In fact, people’s premanipulation attitudes toward GMOs were the strongest predictor of of our outcome variables (i.e. perceived argument strength, post-message GMO
concern, perception of what percent of scientists agree). Thus, the results
of this study do not support the hypothesis that consensus messaging
changes the public’s hearts and minds, and provide more support, instead,
for the strong role of motivated reasoning.
Blake, B.F. (author), Patrick, G.F. (author), Whitaker, S.H. (author), and Purdue University, Department of Agricultural Economics; Purdue University, Department of Agricultural Economics; Purdue University, Department of Agricultural Economics
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
1979
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 27 Document Number: B02710
Notes:
See also C00717 and C01640; Includes summary sheet., West Lafayette, IN : Purdue University, Department of Agricultural Economics, 1979. 63 p. Report submitted to Horace Tyler, Agricultural Information
Russell, H.M. (author / Senior Scientific Services Officer, Department of Agriculture, Victoria, Australia) and Senior Scientific Services Officer, Department of Agriculture, Victoria, Australia
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1976
Published:
Australia: Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Melbourne
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 45 Document Number: B05495
cited reference, The training of farmers to act as "counsellors' to other farmers who may need assistance to cope with problems of change was proposed. The evidence of similar ventures would suggest that the idea of employing non-professional counsellors as paid opinion leaders was unlikely to achieve results in the matter of farmers' welfare, although some non-professional extension aides make important contributions as members of existing extension and welfare services.
16 pages., Via online journal., This study explores potential factors that lead to environmental opinion leadership behaviors such as informing the public about environmental issues and encouraging preventative behaviors among various social groups. Building on the theoretical framework of the diffusion of innovations model, these analyses explore the effects that mass media may have on perceptions of self-efficacy among opinion leaders and how self-efficacy may, in turn, encourage leaders to communicate about aquatic invasive species (AIS) to others in their social networks. Results indicate that mass media and governmental media can have both a positive and negative influence on levels of self-efficacy, and that opinion leaders with higher levels of self-efficacy are more likely to participate in behaviors that could potentially influence their social network(s). These findings not only highlight factors that influence opinion leadership regarding advocacy of environmental behaviors, but also offer insights as to how future campaigns can work with these groups to promote prevention strategies.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C26970
Notes:
Pages 19-34 in Jon Entine (ed.), Let them eat precaution: how politics is undermining the genetic revolution in agriculture, AEI Press, Washington, D.C. 203 pages., Cites results of research among worldwide opinion leaders representing the food industry and national governments.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 192 Document Number: D04629
Notes:
Tables of Contents and Summary, James F. Evans Collection; Cited Reference, Columbia, MO: Lucas Brothers, 1956. (Report fir the Department of Rural Sociology, University of Missouri)
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 96 Document Number: C07659
Notes:
Evans; material compiled for 1993 Australia-IRRI Day, winner of the 1994 Golden ARC awards program, Theodore Hutchcroft Collection, Mimeograph, 1993. 1 p. International Rice Research Institute.
Dubey, V.K. (author), Dwivedi, N.N. (author), and Department of Agricultural Extension, K.A. Post-Graduate College of Agriculture, Allahabad, India; Department of Agricultural Extension, K.A. Post-Graduate College of Agriculture, Allahabad, India
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1972-03
Published:
India
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 44 Document Number: B05341
