Bao Luye, Calice Mikhaila N, Brossard Dominique, Beets Becca, Scheufele Dietram A, Rose Kathleen M
University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA; Morgridge Institute for Research, USA.
Public Underst Sci. 2023 Feb;32(2):124-142. doi: 10.1177/09636625221094413. Epub 2022 Jun 2.
The call for public scholarship to emphasize the broader impacts of science has raised questions about how universities can support this work among their scientists. This study quantitatively assesses how institutional factors shape scientists' participation in public scholarship, a subset of public engagement focusing on scientists' involvement in public debate and democratic decision-making related to science policy. Based on a 2018 survey of scientists from 46 US land-grant universities ( = 6,242), hierarchical linear modeling results show that institutional factors, including tenure guidelines and the extent of government funding, play a minor role in influencing scientists' public scholarship participation. More importantly, scientists' perceptions of the university climate on support for engagement, including support from high-level administrators and for graduate students, are significant predictors of participation in public scholarship. Ultimately, these findings support the recommendation that universities should coordinate individual motivations with institutional missions to support a broader culture of public engagement.
呼吁公众奖学金强调科学的更广泛影响，这引发了关于大学如何在其科学家群体中支持这项工作的问题。本研究定量评估了制度因素如何塑造科学家对公众奖学金的参与，公众奖学金是公众参与的一个子集，侧重于科学家参与与科学政策相关的公众辩论和民主决策。基于2018年对美国46所赠地大学（n = 6242）科学家的调查，分层线性建模结果表明，包括终身教职指导方针和政府资助程度在内的制度因素，在影响科学家参与公众奖学金方面作用较小。更重要的是，科学家对大学支持参与氛围的认知，包括高层管理人员的支持和对研究生的支持，是参与公众奖学金的重要预测因素。最终，这些发现支持了这样的建议，即大学应将个人动机与机构使命相协调，以支持更广泛的公众参与文化。
