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Backtracking and the Ethics of Framing: Lessons from Voles and Vasopressin

McKaughan, Daniel and Elliott, Kevin (2013) Backtracking and the Ethics of Framing: Lessons from Voles and Vasopressin. Accountability in Research, 20 (3). pp. 206-226.

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Abstract

When communicating scientific information, experts often face difficult choices about how to promote public understanding while also maintaining an appropriate level of objectivity. We argue that one way for scientists and others involved in communicating scientific information to alleviate these tensions is to pay closer attention to the major frames employed in the contexts in which they work. By doing so, they can ideally employ useful frames while also enabling the recipients of information to “backtrack” to relatively uncontroversial facts and recognize how these frames relate to their own values and perspectives. Important strategies for promoting this sort of backtracking include identifying the weaknesses of particular frames, preventing misunderstanding of them, differentiating well-supported findings from more speculative claims, and acknowledging major alternative frames.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
McKaughan, Danieldaniel.mckaughan@bc.edu
Elliott, Kevinke@sc.edu
Keywords: framing; scientific communication; research ethics; science and values; neuroscience
Subjects: General Issues > Ethical Issues
Specific Sciences > Neuroscience
General Issues > Rhetoric of Science
General Issues > Science and Society
General Issues > Science and Policy
General Issues > Values In Science
Depositing User: Kevin Elliott
Date Deposited: 01 Oct 2013 12:19
Last Modified: 01 Oct 2013 12:19
Item ID: 10028
Journal or Publication Title: Accountability in Research
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Official URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0898962...
Subjects: General Issues > Ethical Issues
Specific Sciences > Neuroscience
General Issues > Rhetoric of Science
General Issues > Science and Society
General Issues > Science and Policy
General Issues > Values In Science
Date: 30 September 2013
Page Range: pp. 206-226
Volume: 20
Number: 3
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/10028

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