Abstract
To develop an instrument to assess the content and balance of media stories about genetic discoveries relevant to human diseases and assess its ability to detect variability. Methods: Consumer focus groups to help develop the instrument, and surveys of scientists and journalists to evaluate the items. Ratings by at least two readers assessed reliability. Variability was measured by comparing scores of 47 stories emanating from two discoveries. Results: Reader agreement on content items was good (kappa = 0.74). Consumers, scientists, and journalists were in substantial agreement about what content items should be included. Some items deemed essential by journalists appeared in very few stories. One-third of stories exaggerated the benefits of the discovery and one-third presented a balanced selection of expert opinion. Coverage of specific items varied from 11.5 percent to 84.6 percent. The instrument is reliable; contains items deemed important by consumers, scientists, and journalists; and detects variability.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 458-478 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Science Communication |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 2003 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Genetic discoveries
- Genetic diseases
- Genetic tests
- Genetics
- Mass media
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Communication
Cite this
Assessing mass media reporting of disease-related genetic discoveries : Development of an instrument and initial findings. / Mountcastle-Shah, Eliza; Tambor, Ellen; Bernhardt, Barbara A.; Geller, Gail; Karaliukas, Reda; Rodgers, Joann Ellison; Holtzman, Neil A.
In: Science Communication, Vol. 24, No. 4, 06.2003, p. 458-478.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing mass media reporting of disease-related genetic discoveries
T2 - Development of an instrument and initial findings
AU - Mountcastle-Shah, Eliza
AU - Tambor, Ellen
AU - Bernhardt, Barbara A.
AU - Geller, Gail
AU - Karaliukas, Reda
AU - Rodgers, Joann Ellison
AU - Holtzman, Neil A.
PY - 2003/6
Y1 - 2003/6
N2 - To develop an instrument to assess the content and balance of media stories about genetic discoveries relevant to human diseases and assess its ability to detect variability. Methods: Consumer focus groups to help develop the instrument, and surveys of scientists and journalists to evaluate the items. Ratings by at least two readers assessed reliability. Variability was measured by comparing scores of 47 stories emanating from two discoveries. Results: Reader agreement on content items was good (kappa = 0.74). Consumers, scientists, and journalists were in substantial agreement about what content items should be included. Some items deemed essential by journalists appeared in very few stories. One-third of stories exaggerated the benefits of the discovery and one-third presented a balanced selection of expert opinion. Coverage of specific items varied from 11.5 percent to 84.6 percent. The instrument is reliable; contains items deemed important by consumers, scientists, and journalists; and detects variability.
AB - To develop an instrument to assess the content and balance of media stories about genetic discoveries relevant to human diseases and assess its ability to detect variability. Methods: Consumer focus groups to help develop the instrument, and surveys of scientists and journalists to evaluate the items. Ratings by at least two readers assessed reliability. Variability was measured by comparing scores of 47 stories emanating from two discoveries. Results: Reader agreement on content items was good (kappa = 0.74). Consumers, scientists, and journalists were in substantial agreement about what content items should be included. Some items deemed essential by journalists appeared in very few stories. One-third of stories exaggerated the benefits of the discovery and one-third presented a balanced selection of expert opinion. Coverage of specific items varied from 11.5 percent to 84.6 percent. The instrument is reliable; contains items deemed important by consumers, scientists, and journalists; and detects variability.
KW - Genetic discoveries
KW - Genetic diseases
KW - Genetic tests
KW - Genetics
KW - Mass media
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037595515&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0037595515&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1075547003024004003
DO - 10.1177/1075547003024004003
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0037595515
VL - 24
SP - 458
EP - 478
JO - Science Communication
JF - Science Communication
SN - 1075-5470
IS - 4
ER -