Science, especially new science, often faces rejection. But when the health crisis struck, people tend to be better in learning how to stay healthy.
The wrong information and disinformation cannot be denied eroding confidence in institutions, including health authorities and news media. Conspiracy theories form a public health discourse, leading to handling ineffective and even harmful treatments, and poisoning efforts to implement evidence-based policies such as vaccination and use of masks.
"It's worrying
Fortunately, according to Jamieson, this is not a representation of the overall science literacy for the past year. Because, people not only improve their scientific vocabulary, but also be interested in studying the important concepts of biology and public health. For example, students are now more interested in the role of scientists and health workers.
"We have the opportunity during a pandemic to increase science knowledge. And actually, the pandemic produces science knowledge. This is the good news," Jamieson said as quoted by Wired, Wednesday (5/1 / 2022).
Meanwhile, Allan Brandt, who taught the history of medical and public health in Harvard and has studied the HIV / AIDS epidemic, said that situations like pandemics make people become more sophisticated overall about what is risky and what should be avoided.
Experts such as Brandt are interested in how this crisis coincides with the emergence of various scientific approaches to social problems. Science literacy plays an important role in that.
"When people understand relevant science, they become more likely to support science funding, or receive medical actions or relating to public health, because of confidence to form action," he said.
Although Covid-19 may feel like infiding us forever, in reality scientists are able to understand this disease and educate the public about pandemics in a relatively fast time, two years.
The Jamieson team at Public Policy Center Annenberg has conducted a survey of scientific knowledge during a pandemic. They ask for participants' opinions about the effectiveness of vaccines, masks, and other behaviors. And, regardless of the Hoax whirlpool and distrust against knowledge, Jamieson found that people actually become learning.
In two surveys of around 800 Americans were randomly taken in July to November 2020, the majority of respondents said that they agreed that using a mask helped prevent the spread of respiratory disease.
That number jumped from 79% to 85% over a five-month period. In a separate survey from March and April this year, 75% said getting a Covid-19 vaccine was safer than the virus.
"Most people get the right answer. And they don't have that answer before Covid, because this answer is specific to Covid," he said.
Indeed, that number is not 100%. But for Jamieson, this is a surprising number that should be celebrated. "People not only accept new vaccines. If they do it, we will have a higher vaccine absorption. That's the sign they learn something," he explained.
Participants doubtful about the vaccine in Jamieson's research showed that they also studied something new about public health.
"Before the Pfizer vaccine received full approval, the people told us, 'it hasn't been passed. No, wait a minute! It hasn't been approved. This means they now know something about the approval and authorization process," said Jamieson.
The researchers are not sure how much this learning will survive. It's too difficult to answer it when we are still in crisis. But at least, now we have science resistance to unprecedented health threats.
