Contrary to the science comprehension thesis, political polarization of data interpretation did not abate among the most numerate subjects but increased¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r? · q2
Currency · newest study 2017 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Polarization on the gun control framing did not decrease among subjects highest in numeracy; it increased, contrary to the science comprehension thesis prediction. → DAN M. KAHAN 2017

Evidence¶

DAN M. KAHAN 2017¶

DAN M. KAHAN, ELLEN PETERS, ERICA CANTRELL DAWSON and PAUL SLOVIC. (2017). Motivated numeracy and enlightened self-government. Behavioural Public Policy, Volume 1, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.1017/bpp.2016.2

q2 · i? · causal · r?

This is the article's headline experimental result: the expected SCT pattern (polarization shrinking as numeracy rises) was reversed. The article reports polarization "did not abate among subjects highest in numeracy; instead, it increased". No effect size is printed in the supplied text.

"But contrary to the prediction of SCT, such polarization did not abate among subjects highest in numeracy; instead, it increased"

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Number Sense — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes
• Inferencing — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• Subjects highest in numeracy draw valid causal inferences from data better than less numerate subjects when the data are politically uncharged (skin rash treatment framing) — related
• Politically charged framing (gun control ban) makes responses to the same data politically polarized and less accurate — related
• Numeracy is defined and used as a measure of the ability and disposition to make use of quantitative information in causal-inference tasks — related