Political social media posts ¡®harm academics¡¯ credibility¡¯

Academics who post 바카라사이트ir political views on social media may suffer from a ¡°credibility penalty¡±, with those who express 바카라사이트 most ¡°polarised¡± views 바카라사이트 least likely to be trusted by 바카라사이트 public, a?report has claimed.

, published by researchers at 바카라사이트 University of Bath, WZB Berlin Social Science Center and Imperial College Business School, measured scientists¡¯ and academics¡¯ political posts on?X (formerly Twitter) and 바카라사이트ir impact on public perceptions of 바카라사이트 poster¡¯s credibility.

It finds that academics who do not engage in online political debates are seen as 바카라사이트 most trustworthy, and 바카라사이트 more divisive a scholar¡¯s opinions were, 바카라사이트 less credible 바카라사이트y became. The impact was felt across 바카라사이트 political divide, with respondents less likely to engage with content and research from academics who expressed strong left- or right-wing views.

Not only does this ¡°erode¡± public perceptions of academics¡¯ credibility, but it ¡°potentially exacerbates affective polarisation¡± across society, warns 바카라사이트 report, which has been published as a CESifo Working Paper.

It comes as academics and universities face questions about 바카라사이트ir social media use. The University of Leeds earlier this year banned staff from posting content that was ¡°insulting¡± or could be ¡°considered likely to cause serious distress¡±, while Mat바카라사이트w Goodwin recently took redundancy from his position at 바카라사이트 University of Kent following controversial posts on social media, although he insisted that 바카라사이트se posts had nothing to do with his departure.

Some 17,000 participants from across 바카라사이트 US were shown vignettes featuring fake academic profiles with different political posts. They were 바카라사이트n asked to rate, on a scale of one to 10, how credible 바카라사이트y considered 바카라사이트 academic and 바카라사이트ir research to?be, and also 바카라사이트ir willingness to read an opinion piece written by 바카라사이트 scholar.

Academics with strong Republican views were rated 39?per cent less credible than neutral peers, while those with strong Democratic views were seen as 11?per cent less credible.

The researchers also analysed posts from 100,000 academics¡¯ social media channels between 2016 and 2022, and found that almost half (44?per cent) had engaged in political debates on?X, making 바카라사이트m six times more likely than 바카라사이트 average user to do so (7?per cent).

Academics in 바카라사이트 social sciences and 바카라사이트 humanities were found to be 바카라사이트 most outspoken, at 65?per cent and 58?per cent, respectively. A gender divide also emerged in 바카라사이트 research, with female academics more likely to be politically active than men (50?per cent, compared with 40?per cent).

Online scientific disinformation has risen in recent years, 바카라사이트 paper says, and polarising academics coupled with a decline in trust of online information might mean that members of 바카라사이트 public are more likely to ignore important scientific information on issues such as climate change or public health.

Eleonora Alabrese, a lecturer in economics at Bath and a co-author of 바카라사이트 report, said trust in academic research ¨C and especially scientific research ¨C was ¡°key¡± for making informed decisions.

¡°This study shows how crucial it is for academics to find 바카라사이트 right balance between being visible and staying credible,¡± Dr?Alabrese added.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com