Inoculation Theory and the Communication of Scientific Findings

False information is ubiquitous in the media. This has led to profound and unnecessary confusion regarding scientific issues like climate change, vaccines, and recycled water. A climate of divisiveness and the rapid rate of scientific advances present a monumental challenge to those wishing to communicate scientific research. In this context, inoculation theory as a communication strategy seeks to protect valued scientific beliefs by forewarning recipients that such beliefs might come under attack and then arming the same with effective arguments to refute such attacks. This chapter begins with describing the impacts of scientific misperceptions and is followed by a discussion of the philosophy of science, inoculation theory and its efficacy, effective communication, and the possible roles loss aversion, social networks, and agent-based modeling might play in the application of inoculation theory.