Caitlin Drummond|Baruch Fischhoff
Development and Validation of the Scientific Reasoning Scale
Decision Sciences (United States)|Carnegie Mellon University|Decision Sciences (United States)|Carnegie Mellon University
abstract scientific findings innovations play important role range decisions faced nonscientists yet little known skills nonscientists need order read evaluate scientific evidence drawing research public understanding science cognitive developmental psychology behavioral decision research develop individual difference measure scientific reasoning skills defined skills needed evaluate scientific findings terms factors determine quality present results three studies assessing psychometric validity results indicate scientific reasoning scale srs internally consistent distinct extant measures scientific literacy participants higher srs scores likely beliefs consistent scientific consensus potentially contentious issues beyond education political religious beliefs scores two widely used measures scientific literacy participants higher srs scores also better performance task requiring analyze scientific information results suggest srs provides theoretically informed contribution decoding lay responses scientific results controversies copyright 2015 john wiley amp sons ltd