Appropriate use of humor can make science communication more effective, study suggests

Authentic, intelligent, responsible, serious – if you are asked to describe a scientist’s general personality, you will probably use such attributes. However, “ridiculous” would not be the first word to come to mind. Scientists, in fact, rarely adopt a ridiculous accent when talking to the public, perhaps for fear of being less trusted.

Still, I appeared a new research Journal of Science Communications Absolutely suggests: Use of humor – in this study, especially in the context of artificial intelligence – can increase the choice of scientists and the reliable reliable of their scientific information.

Politicians learned this lesson a long time ago: a well -known joke is a great joke to gain the attention of the masses and to create confidence. Scientists, however, hesitate to use humor when engaging in science communication. They may be afraid that they may be less authentic from a lightweight point of view, and as a result, scientific results can be shown less credible.

However, the good news is that science itself contradicts this assumption. A new study led by Alexandra Lin Frank, a doctor at Georgia University’s Grady College of Mass Communication, has revealed that, in scientific content communication, with humor, humor with humor, with humor, as well as a communication effects. “

The study of Frank and his colleagues has increased the growing body of research, which has investigated the use of humor (such as stand -up) in science communication in recent years. It has been examined by “humor” in the context of scientists’ social media posts.

“The purpose of our study is to eliminate this gap by enhancing the understanding of the understanding of scientists and science communications, providing practical insights to scientists and science communications,” Frank said.

The study focused on artificial intelligence content, which was presented by cartoons posted by a fantasy scientist, Dr. Jamie Devon on Twitter/X. The type of sarcasm has been used in three types: sarcastic (a light, hovering type), using anthropomorphism (using animals or things that behave like humans), or a combination of both.

An online survey was used in this study with an embedded experience (participants knew they were conducting a survey but not that they were part of an experiment). To ensure the representation of 2,212 participants, they were selected using quota samples associated with US census data.

Participants were shown one of the eight versions of a fantasy Twitter/X conversation launched by Dr. Devon. The tweet contained a cartoon about artificial intelligence (AI), and the humor factor was different in four terms: no humor (control), anthropomorphism, sarcasm, and a combination of both.

After seeing the contents, the participants said how much happiness they had experienced, how much they liked the scientist and assessed the justification of content as a suitable form of science communication.

“Politicians, entertainers, and advertisers often use humor because people like and contact people who can laugh. When people find something funny, they usually are less likely to discuss or reject the message or its supply. Are

This means that sarcasm should be effective and genuinely clear by the audience. Otherwise, the opposite can have an effect.

“However, it is important to note that recent research by my co -authors shows that rigorous forms of sarcasm can be considered aggressive, which can damage the reputation of scientific information.”

For example, targeting someone in a sarcastic or aggressive manner is extremely discouraged. This is why studies like Frank and his colleagues are important. “The purpose of our research is to provide valuable insights to help these professionals in developing a public communication strategy,” Frank explained.

“When used responsibly, humor is a powerful tool that can make scientists humanity and create meaningful links with the public on social media. By taking advantage of humor, scientists can simplify complex concepts, which can make them more relevant and easier to understand.

“This approach not only promotes goodwill but also has the ability to remove misconceptions in a friendly way. In addition, comedy can give rise to curiosity, which can encourage people to get additional information on important scientific topics.”