Americans' Support for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope: Effects of Traditional Texts Compared to Interactive Media. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weber, Ryan; Dinc, Semih; Williams, Matthew
• Is Part Of: Science communication. Volume 38:Number 5(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 601
• Page End: 625
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: NASA -- new media -- interactivity -- political support for space exploration -- space exploration; 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: 10.1177/1075547016663001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1075-5470

Abstract

This study tested responses to traditional or interactive material about NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) project. A total of 660 participants were divided into three groups: a science guide group that viewed an online PDF, an interactive group that viewed a YouTube video and FlyBy simulation, and a control group that received no supporting texts about JWST. Interactive media outperformed traditional texts in increasing levels of support for JWST construction. However, the traditional text and interactive media showed no difference in other measures of support for JWST construction. No texts increased support for NASA funding or prompted participant advocacy.