Fiducia nella scienza e innovazione sociale

Dalle visioni di scienza agli atteggiamenti sui vaccini: conoscenze, politiche, sistema mediatico

Adriana Valente, Valentina Tudisca, Claudia Pennacchiotti

DOI: 10.36134/PBDSU-2024-5 Download in formato .PDF

The Policy Brief highlights the need to distinguish between different visions of science in public perception: on the one hand, “salvific” science, which can solve any kind of problem; on the other, “tangible” science, which makes our lives easier, more comfortable and healthier. Although in the European context levels of trust in tangible science are on average higher than for salvific science, it is important to point out that in the countries more inclined to a vision of salvific science (Italy, Spain and Poland) there is also a less strong perception that the scientific community is taken into account in policy choices by the government. Thus, a conception of science as distant and unrelated to reality prevails. In these same countries there is a belief that there is nothing to do but trust those who govern S&T, with an attitude that is more submissive than conscious and participatory.

The distinction between two visions of science also allows us to detect the incidence of levels of scientific knowledge on trust: this is clear and sharp for questions that underlie a vision of tangible science, while it is not observed or, in some countries, is even negative for questions attributable to a vision of salvific science. The Italian population, traditionally reluctant to vaccinate compared to other countries, has changed its attitude toward vaccines with the pandemic, finding itself more favorable than the European average not only toward vaccines against Covid-19, but toward vaccines in general. The sense of disorientation with respect to which information sources to consider reliable, connected with the reasons for not vaccinating, provides fertile ground for misinformation and misinformation.

How to cite

Valente, A., Tudisca, V. & Pennacchiotti, C. (2024). Fiducia nella scienza e innovazione sociale. Dalle visioni di scienza agli atteggiamenti sui vaccini: conoscenze, politiche, sistema mediatico (DSU Policy brief 5). CNR-Dipartimento di Scienze Umane e Sociali, Patrimonio culturale. https://doi.org/10.36134/PBDSU-2024-5.

Last updated: 8 July 2024