Measuring Science Literacy in a Digital World: Development and Validation of a Multi-Dimensional Survey Scale

Mede, Niels G.; Howell, Emily L.; Schäfer, Mike S.; Metag, Julia; Beets, Becca; Brossard, Dominique

Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed

Abstract

We present a new multilingual 14-item scale for measuring science literacy in survey and experimental research. The scale captures three essential dimensions of science literacy in a digital world: civic science literacy, science media literacy, and cognitive science literacy. We developed, tested, and validated the scale through two preregistered national quota surveys in Switzerland and the United States in four languages (English, German, French, Italian). Iterative factor analyses, Bayesian Item Response Theory analyses, and validity tests confirm robustness and reliability of the scale.

Details about the publication

Journal: Science Communication

Volume: 0

Page range: 1-35

Status: Published

Release year: 2025 (25/02/2025)

Language in which the publication is written: English

DOI: 10.1177/10755470251317379

Link to the full text: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10755470251317379

Keywords: scientific literacy; skills; knowledge; science in society; public understanding of science; methodology; survey

Authors from the University of Münster

Metag, Julia

Professorship for communication science

Projects the publication originates from

WissensCHaftsbarometer Schweiz

Duration: 01/08/2020 - 31/12/2022

Funded by: Stiftung Mercator Schweiz, Gebert Rüf Stiftung

Type of project: Individual project

Vorträge zur Publikation

Assessing science literacy across digital societies: A new survey measure for civic, media, and cognitive science literacy.
Mede, Niels G.; Schäfer, Mike S.; Metag, Julia, Howell, Emily; Brossard, Dominique; Beets, Becca, & Calice, M. (17/10/2024)
PCST China symposium “Communicating Science across Cultures: Approaches, Perspectives and Challenges”, Suzhou
Type of talk: scientific talk