"Knowledge Is Power": A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Adult Audience Preferences for Engagement and Learning Formats Over 3 Years of a Health Science Festival. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fogg-Rogers, Laura; Bay, Jacquie L.; Burgess, Hannah; Purdy, Suzanne C.
• Is Part Of: Science communication. Volume 37:Number 4(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 419
• Page End: 451
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: science festival -- informal science education -- public engagement -- lectures -- health literacy; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Knowledge, Sociology of -- Periodicals; Communication in science -- Periodicals; Communication of technical information -- Periodicals; Communication in medicine -- Periodicals; Information scientifique -- Périodiques; Information technique -- Périodiques; Communication en sciences sociales -- Périodiques; Communication en médecine -- Périodiques; 300.14
• DOI: 10.1177/1075547015585006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1075-5470

Abstract

Science festivals enable scientists to engage with publics, but format design reflecting different engagement models is contested. This study gathered mixed-methods data over 3 years (2011-2013) from on-site surveys ( N = 661) of a health science festival, exploring audience preferences for dissemination or dialogue formats (lectures, discussions, community expo, lab experiments, and day out). Irrespective of time, age–group, or gender, lectures were significantly ranked the main attraction (76.8%), most highly attended (89.1%), and most useful format (83.8%). Thematic analysis revealed five themes exploring nonformal learning motivations for audiences, highlighting that knowledge/understanding acquisition is perceived as empowering greater health literacy.