IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Jan 2002

Perceptions of accuracy in science writing

L.D. Carsten ; D.L. Illman

Abstract

Technical experts and writers often disagree about what constitutes accuracy in popular writings about science and technology, such as news media reports. In previous attempts to quantify accuracy in science news reporting, many of the sources' comments pointed to objective errors, but a sizable number dealt with lack of completeness or stylistic issues. There has been no consensus among communication researchers on the kind of scheme that should be used to code such information. We suggest a scheme for categorizing empirical information about the different kinds of perceived "errors" that technical sources identify in articles about their work by journalists and other writers. This study may lead to strategies for enhancing the accuracy of popular writings about science and technology.

Journal
IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Published
2002-01-01
DOI
10.1109/tpc.2002.801632
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
scientific writing
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

References (14) · 1 in this index

  1. 10.1177/107769907004700404
     ↗
  2. 10.1177/107769907405100204
     ↗
  3. 10.1177/107769907805500220
     ↗
  4. 10.1177/107769908506200415
     ↗
  5. 10.1111/j.1460-2466.1990.tb02284.x
     ↗
Show all 14 →
  1. 10.1207/s15327027hc0702_4
     ↗
  2. 10.2307/375964
     ↗
  3. Nelkin (1995)
    Selling Science
  4. 10.1177/1075547096018002005
     ↗
  5. Dunwoody (1982)
    A question of accuracy
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  6. 10.1177/107769907605300119
     ↗
  7. Dunwoody (1986)
    Scientists and Journalists: Reporting Science as News
  8. Shepard (1996)
    Show and print
    Amer. Journalism Rev.
  9. Weinberg (1990)
    So what’s wrong with pre-publication review?
    The Quill
CrossRef global citation count: 11 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Written Communication Jan 2026
    Notions About Drafts in Scientific Research Articles: A Case Study With Writers at Different Levels of Expertise ↗
    Paloma Domínguez Jeria; Mónica S. Cárdenas-Claros; Alejandra Figueroa-Leighton; Teresa Alonzo; Carola Alvarado Barra
    scientific writing qualitative research
  2. Technical Communication Quarterly Nov 2025
    “That’s What You’re Supposed to Do on Twitter”: Emotion, Affect, and Positivity in Online Climate Science Communication ↗
    Shelton Weech
    scientific writing social media affect and writing
  3. Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy Aug 2025
    From Information to Action: Technical (Science) Communication and Digital Engagement ↗
    Daniel Card; Danielle DeVasto
    service learning technical communication scientific writing
  4. Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy Aug 2025
    North Woods Project: Mobilizing Digital Field Methods and Art-Based Research for Science Communication and Environmental Advocacy ↗
    Madison Jones; Ally Overbay; Joseph Ahart; AnnaFaith Jorgensen; Ashley Katusa; Erin Edmonds; Travess Smalley
    scientific writing digital rhetoric place and space
  5. Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy Aug 2025
    Bite-Sized Science: Student Interactions with Public Science Communication ↗
    Caitlin Martin; Sandy Branham; Jenna Hejnar; Jennifer Wojton; Jessica Snitko
    scientific writing