Dan M. Kahan|Ellen Peters|Erica Dawson|Paul Slovic
Motivated numeracy and enlightened self-government
Yale University|The Ohio State University|Cornell University|Decision Research|University of Oregon
abstract public conflict societal risks persist face compelling widely accessible scientific evidence conducted experiment probe two alternative answers science comprehension thesis sct identifies defects publics knowledge reasoning capacities source controversies identityprotective cognition thesis ict treats cultural conflict disabling faculties members public use make sense decisionrelevant science experiment presented subjects difficult problem turned ability draw valid causal inferences empirical data expected subjects highest numeracy measure ability disposition make use quantitative information substantially better less numerate ones data presented results study new skin rash treatment also expected subjects responses became politically polarized even less accurate data presented results study gun control ban contrary prediction sct polarization abate among subjects highest numeracy instead increased outcome supported ict predicted numerate subjects would use quantitativereasoning capacity selectively conform interpretation data result consistent political outlooks discuss theoretical practical significance findings