Bettering Biotech Foods’ Foul Flavor: An Experiment on Correcting Citizens’ Misconceptions About Genetic Modification

This study aims to develop and test “myth-busting,” a promising strategy for science communicators to debunk common misconceptions among citizens. Widely spread counterfactual beliefs about biotechnologically produced food (BTF) as (a) unhealthy and unsafe, (b) unsustainable, and (c) unnatural served as context of application. A preregistered online experiment (N = 2,925) showed that myth-busting messages effectively correct misconceptions. Trust in science but not pre-existing beliefs moderated this effect. Reduced misconceptions in turn led to greater changes in attitudes toward BTF. The study exemplifies an interesting option for science communicators to address citizens’ misbeliefs about complex science and technology.

• Publication year

  2024

• Venue

  Science communication

• Publication date

  2024-12-31

• Fields of study

  Not labeled

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1177/10755470241308532
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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