What Shapes Our Trust in Scientific Information? A Review of Factors Influencing Perceived Scientificness and Credibility

Abstract

Science literacy is a crucial part of information literacy, enabling individuals to understand and critically evaluate scientific information and arguments. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for science literacy skills to navigate the vast amount of information available, and to understand and engage with scientific issues that impact society. The perceived scientificness of information is closely related to its credibility, but something that appears scientific may not be accurate or true. Pseudoscience can be used to claim scientificness and credibility for something that is not scientific. This paper reviews the scientific literature on factors that can mislead individuals into thinking information is credible or scientific when it is not. By understanding these factors, individuals can become more discerning consumers of scientific information and better equipped to make informed decisions.