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The Unforeseen Catalyst? A Qualitative Approach to Exploring the Diffusion of Telepsychotherapy through Compulsion
No full textThe Covid-19 pandemic significantly impacted the mental health of populations globally even as in-person psychotherapy sessions became increasingly challenging to conduct. This amplified the need to provide alternative treatment options, including telepsychotherapy (TPT). In the wake of the pandemic, which presented a ‘compulsory testing phase’, therapists’ opinions remain polarised. This study investigates factors influencing attitudes towards telepsychotherapy and its diffusion, thus contributing to theoretical insight into innovation diffusion due to compulsion. Drawing on theories on the diffusion of innovation and technology acceptance, we conducted explorative, semi-structured interviews with twelve German psychotherapists and identified a shift in influencing factors and decision-making processes, thus indicating the need for augmented models that describe real-world processes and drive beneficial innovations. We provide a foundation for describing diffusion processes affected by temporary compulsion, which we show has directly affected TPT’s perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, social influence, and facilitating conditions in a number of ways. Furthermore, we identify three affordances of TPT that partially explain today’s heterogenous attitudes amongst psychotherapists: the accessibility of therapy, especially for vulnerable people, its customisability, and its flexibility for therapists. Further research is necessary to investigate the influence exerted by these affordances and their application to other diffusion processes
Acknowledgements 2024
No full textIn this editorial, we look back at 2024 and want to acknowledge and thank all those who have contributed to the European Journal of Health Communication by reviewing submissions, serving as editors, or submitting their work
Exploring Public Attitudes Toward Generative AI for News Across Four Countries
No full textAs generative artificial intelligence increasingly permeates most life domains, studying how the public perceives, uses, and understands AI-driven tools becomes crucial. Especially relying on generative AI for news seeking, information acquisition, and political opinion formation warrants attention from a democratic point of view. Therefore, we conduct a standardized survey of public assessments toward GenAI for news-related purposes, its adoption by news organizations, and how these attitudes relate to a series of individual-level characteristics across four countries (CH, DE, JP, US). Our findings indicate that audiences do not (yet) extensively use GenAI for news-related purposes and possess relatively limited AI knowledge despite acknowledging various risks and benefits. Cross-nationally, trust in the journalistic deployment of AI-powered tools is relatively low. However, assessments vary depending on individual-level characteristics and macro-level contexts. We conclude by discussing our findings\u27 implications for building and maintaining trust between journalism and its audience
Exploring Alternatives to Animal Testing: Scientific, Legal and Ethical Challenges in Developing Novel Alternative Methods with a Focus on Organoids as Potential NAMs
No full textOrganoids are multicellular, three-dimensional structures derived from stem cells. They require an extracellular matrix and are capable of recapitulating cell types, organ structure, and organ function. Their characteristics indicate the potential for a wide range of applications. Moreover, they have the potential to promote and serve the 3R principle – i.e. the replacement, reduction and refinement of animal testing. To this end, however, organoids have to be accepted as so-called novel alternative methods or new approach methodologies (NAMs). NAM’s main objective is the promotion of the 3R using non-animal research methods. In this paper, we outline and analyze the legal and regulatory framework that governs the 3R-principle, the use of NAMs as well as the use of organoids using the example of Swiss law. In doing so, we identify concrete important limitations on the use of organoids as NAMs: their validation requires substantive financial and personal commitments and even a successful validation does not lead to their widespread adoption. Against this background, the paper makes first proposals to promote the adoption of organoids as NAMs.Organoids are multicellular, three-dimensional structures derived from stem cells. They require an extracellular matrix and are capable of recapitulating cell types, organ structure, and organ function. Their characteristics indicate the potential for a wide range of applications. Moreover, they have the potential to promote and serve the 3R principle – i.e. the replacement, reduction and refinement of animal testing. To this end, however, organoids have to be accepted as so-called non-animal novel alternative methods or new approach methodologies (NAMs). The main objective of NAMs is the promotion of the 3Rs using non-animal research methods. In this paper, we outline and analyze the legal and regulatory framework that governs the 3R-principle, the use of NAMs as well as the use of organoids using the example of Swiss law. In doing so, we identify concrete important limitations on the use of organoids as NAMs: their validation requires substantive financial and personal commitments and even a successful validation does not lead to their widespread adoption. Against this background, the paper makes first proposals to promote the adoption of organoids as NAMs.
Trust Cues: Mediated Trust in Science
No full textPublic trust in science can be mediated via trust cues – defined as trust-evoking information in content about science (Schröder et al., 2025; see also Bentele, 1994). These trust cues provide reasons to trust in science by referring to the dimensions of trust in science: expertise, integrity, benevolence, transparency, and dialogue (e.g., Reif & Guenther, 2022).
Field of application/Theoretical foundation:
Since German audiences mostly get in contact with science via media (e.g., Wissenschaft im Dialog, 2023), content-analytical research about how trust in science is mediated is vital. The theory of public trust by Bentele (1994) acknowledges the importance of media and their contents for trust relationships such as between public audiences and science. In this relationship, media act as intermediaries of trust in science (see also Reif & Guenther, 2022; Schäfer, 2016). This content depicts trust cues that provide audiences with reasons to trust science; hence, cues that can be used to decide whether to trust science, scientific organizations, and scientists (e.g., Intemann, 2023). These reasons to trust refer to the dimensions of trust in science: Expertise, integrity, and benevolence are well established in research about trust in science (e.g., Hendriks et al., 2016); transparency and dialogue were recently added (Reif & Guenther, 2022) and tested (Reif et al., 2024). The dimensions of trust in science will be defined in Table 1 below (see “Information about variables”).
References/Combination with other methods of data collection:
To date, public trust in science is predominantly assessed through direct survey measures, often overlooking specific aspects on how this trust is mediated. However, regarding mediated trust in science, empirical studies remain scarce. Existing content analytical research about trust in science typically focuses on isolated dimensions or specific aspects connected to these dimensions (e.g., by only analyzing the institutional background of researchers to signal expertise; see Hijmans et al., 2003). In a holistic analysis about how trust in science is mediated, Schröder et al. (2025) systematically identified trust cues in content about science. The use of trust cues was also quantified (Schröder & Guenther, 2025) and the effect of trust cue exposure on public trust in science was tested (Guenther et al., 2024; see also Reif et al., 2024).
Example studies:
With the identification of trust cues in content about science, Schröder et al. (2025) build the foundation for future research about mediated trust in science. Following up on this, Schröder and Guenther (2025) developed a codebook to enable quantification of trust cues across different media types. This codebook includes 35 different trust cues connected to the dimensions of trust in science (i.e., expertise, integrity, benevolence, transparency, and dialogue). Using this codebook, differences in the use of trust cues across different media types became evident: Overall, journalism was the most important source for trust cues and scientists (i.e., science as an actor at the micro level) were the most prevalent object of trust—with female scientists being underrepresented. Trust cues most often referred to the dimension of expertise, followed by integrity, benevolence, transparency, and dialogue.
Research question: (a) What trust cues can be identified in content about science mediating trust between science and publics, and (b) how do they link to the established dimensions of trust in science?
Object of analysis: German media contents about science (n = 158) including professional journalistic media, right-wing populist, non-mainstream media, social media, and other internet-based media.
Time frame of analysis: Three constructed weeks from March 2022 to August 2022
Information about Variables
Variables: Mediated public trust in science was examined using a combination of deductive and inductive approaches. Deductively, the analysis was guided by the five dimensions of trust in science. At the same time, the process remained open to additional trust-relevant aspects that could be identified inductively from the texts.
Level of analysis: Textual content about science (e.g., articles, texts of social media posts) and transcripts for TV and YouTube content
Variables and values: see Table 1 for the results of the study by Schröder et al. (2025) that build the base for study by Schröder & Guenther (2025)
Information on Schröder & Guenther, 2025
Authors: Justin T. Schröder & Lars Guenther
Research question: How does the use of trust cues in content about science vary across different (digital) media and genders of the scientists represented?
Object of analysis: Media contents German audiences use to get informed about science (n = 906) including (1) professional journalistic (i.e., TV, print, and online) media, (2) right-wing populist, non-mainstream media, (3) social media (including YouTube, Instagram, X, Facebook), and (4) other internet-based media (i.e., blogs, news aggregators).
Time frame of analysis: Seven constructed weeks from March 2022 to March 2023
Information about Variables
Variables: Mediated public trust in science was examined by five measures: trust cues that refer to the dimensions of (a) expertise, (b) integrity, (c) benevolence, (d) transparency, and (e) dialogue. These trust cues are also connected to an object of trust, i.e. scientists, scientific organizations, or the system of science, that is described with these trust cues.
Level of analysis: textual content about science (e.g., articles, texts of social media posts) and transcripts for TV and YouTube content
Variables and values: see Table 1
Table 1. Variables and values.
Variables
Values*
Expertise cues (100s codes) refer to the function and ability of science, scientific organizations, and scientists to identify, analyze, and/or solve problems based on specific knowledge and experience, education, and qualification in the field of research.
110 Academic education
120 Professional experience
Qualification is coded using the following values:
131 Department or area/discipline of expertise
132 Affiliation to an institution
133 Professional position
134 Academic degree
135 Reputation
Benevolence cues (200s codes) denote science, scientific organizations, and scientists as serving the common good. This includes the orientation towards ethical norms and moral values as well as the social responsibility that scientific knowledge aims for positive impacts on the world and society.
210 Ethical norms
Social responsibility is coded using the following values:
221 Research-related risks
222 Prediction
223 Assessment of public events/current affairs
Benefit of society is coded using the following values:
231 Social significance of science
232 Discoveries and breakthroughs
233 Applicability of results
234 (Science-based) recommendations
235 Personal reasoning for benevolent behavior
Integrity cues (300s codes) signal the assurance of objectivity and reliability by adhering to scientific standards and processes. This includes the appropriate use of methods, independence from external expectations/interests, and maintained quality assurance.
Independence is coded using the following values:
311 Client
312 Funding source
313 Interests
Scientific quality assurance is coded using the following values:
321 Correction/Revision
322 (Un)Certainties (& Limitations)
Scientific standards and processes is coded using the following values:
331 Legal framework for research
332 Research collaboration
333 Working conditions in science
334 Publication
335 Description (and explanation) of research processes
Dialogue cue (400s codes) describe that science, scientific organizations, and scientists participate in and enable interaction with, and engagement by different publics. Activities and measures range from public lectures and discussions to citizen science projects.
410 Participation at public events
420 Public engagement in research
Media presence is coded using the following values:
431 Journalistic media presence
432 Direct media presence
433 Further media presence
Transparency cues (500s codes) signal that science, scientific organizations, and scientists make research and related information accessible to different publics in a clear and comprehensible manner.
510 Accessibility of results
520 Comprehensible language
* Exact definitions of these values are provided in the codebook.
Quality assurance: The trust cues were identified by four coders through a consensus-based approach.
Codebook: in the appendix (see also supplemental material in Schröder & Guenther, 2025)
References
Bentele, G. (1994). Öffentliches Vertrauen: Normative und soziale Grundlage für Public Relations. In W. Armbrecht, & U. Zabel (Eds.), Normative Aspekte der Public Relations:Grundlegende Fragen und Perspektiven (pp. 131–158). Springer VS.
Guenther, L., Schröder, J. T., Reif, A., Brück, J., Taddicken, M., Weingart, P. and Jonas, E. (2024). Intermediaries in the limelight: how exposure to trust cues in content about science affects public trust in science. Journal of Science Communication, 23(09), A06. https://doi.org/10.22323/2.23090206
Hendriks, F., Kienhues, D., & Bromme, R. (2016). Evoking vigilance. Would you (dis)trust a scientist who discusses ethical implications of research in a science blog? Public Understanding of Science, 25(8), 992–1008. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662516646048
Intemann, K. (2023). Science communication and public trust in science. Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, 48(2), 350–365. https://doi.org/10.1080/03080188.2022.2152244
Metzger, M. J., & Flanagin, A. J. (2013). Credibility and trust of information in online environments: the use of cognitive heuristics. Journal of Pragmatics, 59(Part B), 210–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2013.07.012
Reif, A. & Guenther, L. (2022). How representative surveys measure public (dis)trust in science: A systematisation and analysis of survey items and open-ended questions. Journal Of Trust Research, 11(2), 94–118. https://doi.org/10.1080/21515581.2022.2075373
Reif, A., Taddicken, M., Guenther, L., Schröder, J. T., & Weingart, P. (2024). The Public Trust in Science Scale: A Multilevel and Multidimensional Approach. Science Communication, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10755470241302758
Schäfer, M. S. (2016). Mediated trust in science: concept, measurement and perspectives for the ‘science of science communication’. Journal of Science Communication, 15(05), C02. https://doi.org/10.22323/2.15050302
Schröder, J. T., & Guenther, L. (2025). Mediating trust in content about science: Assessing trust cues in digital media environments. Public Understanding of Science, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/09636625251337709
Schröder, J. T., Brück, J. and Guenther, L. (2025). Identifying trust cues: how trust in science is mediated in content about science. Journal of Science Communication, 24(01), A06. https://doi.org/10.22323/2.24010206
Wissenschaft im Dialog. (2023). Wissenschaftsbarometer 2023. https://wissenschaft-im-dialog.de/projekte/wissenschaftsbarometer
conexus 6/2 2025: Liebe und Hass. Zweiter Teil
Full text linkDer vorliegende zweite Teil der conexus-Nummer zum Thema Liebe und Hass versammelt Beiträge aus religionswissenschaftlicher, philologisch-hermeneutischer, kunsthistorischer und jugendpsychologisch-schulpädagogischer Perspektive. Untersucht werden (1) der im dritten vorchristlichen Jahrhundert entstandene Mythos von Dumuzi und Inana, in dem Liebe und Tod nicht als Gegensätze, sondern als miteinander verflochten erscheinen – ein Narrativ, das das komplexe Phänomen der Hassliebe veranschaulicht, (2) das christliche Gebot der Feindesliebe, das sich in der Praxis als äusserst herausfordernd erweist und in konkreten Situationen oft an seine Grenzen stösst, (3) die vielschichtige Darstellung von Liebe und Hass in der bildenden Kunst des Mittelalters und der Renaissance sowie (4) die Frage, wie Jugendliche über starke Gefühle, insbesondere über die Liebe, schreiben.
Publiziert mit Unterstützung der Privatdozenten-Stiftung der Universität Züric
Protest for the Future: Between Repression and Becoming a Political Subject
No full textDie Klimaaktivist*innen der Letzten Generation führen zunehmend radikale Protestaktionen durch, um die Dringlichkeit der Erderwärmung zu verdeutlichen. Dabei greifen sie auf Mittel des zivilen Ungehorsams zurück, welche mit der Übertretung von Gesetzen und Strafverfolgung einhergehen. Die Bereitschaft, strafrechtliche Konsequenzen zu tragen, legitimieren die Aktivist*innen über die Unzulänglichkeit der gegenwärtigen Klimapolitik, welche trotz absehbarer Folgen die körperliche Unversehrtheit, ein individuelles Freiheitsrecht zukünftiger Generationen, verletzt. Somit dient der Protest nicht nur als soziale Validierung einer wahrgenommenen Rechtsverletzung, sondern ermöglicht den Beteiligten einen Raum zur Subjektwerdung und (Fort-)Entwicklung politischer Bildungsprozesse. In der vorliegenden Diskussion wird erläutert, welche sozialisatorischen Aneignungen durch umweltpolitischen Protest gebildet werden, wann sich die Grenzen des gerechtfertigten politischen Ausdrucks in der Wahrnehmung von Aktivist*innen verschieben und inwiefern politisches Engagement zum gesellschaftlichen Ausschluss führt.The climate activists of the Last Generation are increasingly engaging in radical protest actions to highlight the urgency of global warming. In doing so, they employ methods of civil disobedience that involve breaking the law. Their willingness to face criminal prosecution is legitimized by the inadequacy of current climate policies, which violate the physical integrity and individual freedom of future generations. Thus, the protest serves not only as a social validation of a perceived violation of human rights but also provides participants with a space for subject formation and the development of political learning processes.
The discussion paper explores the forms of socialization that emerge through civil disobedience, the shifting boundaries of legitimate political expression and the extent to which political engagement may lead to social exclusion
Facing the Facts: Exploring Narrative vs. Statistical Communication Strategies for Enhancing Radon Risk Perception and Promoting Radon Protective Actions
No full textRadon poses a significant health risk when present indoors. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking. Effective communication strategies are essential for raising awareness about radon and encouraging individuals to test and mitigate. However, current approaches, which primarily focus on statistical information, have not proven sufficiently effective. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the impact of narratives—compared to statistical texts—on personal and general risk perception and intentions to adopt radon protective behaviour. Additionally, the mediating role of psychological distance was investigated, building on the risk convergence model. Using a between-subject design, an online experiment was conducted with three conditions: a narrative condition (N = 124), a statistical condition (N = 126), and a control condition (N = 133). The study revealed that narratives are effective in influencing personal and general risk perception. They also played a pivotal role in encouraging behavioural intentions, such as the intention to seek information, intention to test and mitigate. This underlines the importance of different communication strategies in shaping risk perception and behavioural intent. These findings contribute to the development of more effective communication strategies for reducing radon-related health risks and enhancing overall public health
Unveiling Strategic Governance and User Dynamics in Weibo\u27s Community-driven Content Moderation System
No full textSocial media companies continuously experiment with various platform governance models to tackle content moderation challenges, which calls for a comprehensive and empirical understanding of how a content moderation system evolves over the long term. Our study aims to fill this gap through a quantitative and qualitative study of Weibo’s community-driven content moderation system, leveraging eleven million public moderation cases and decision data from 2012 to 2021. Based on reporting activities, platform decisions, and jury actions, we investigated the motivations and behavior patterns of three important actors in this governance model: reporting users, the platform, and user jurors. We suggest that users who frequently reported content and initiated the community-driven content moderation process tend to exhibit patterns of voluntarily policing the community or abusing others, sometimes coordinately, and were also treated differently by the platform. We indicate that Weibo’s strategic moderation decisions have significantly distinctive preferences over cases from various topic categories and different levels of harmfulness, and the cases involving socially sensitive issues were given more consideration and penalized more severely than common misbehaviors. We also explore how the platform leveraged the usually one-sided votes of digital jurors to endorse its final decisions and find that the reason notes given by crowdsourced jurors also revealed a serious issue of decaying motivation. Our findings offer important insights into the coordination between a social media platform and its volunteer moderators to moderate an online community and address the question of how an autonomic content moderation model can prevail or perish
Guest Editorial: Multimedia political communication. Channels, content, usage, and impact
Full text linkThirty years ago, the Society for the German Language chose “multimedia” as its ‘Word of the Year 1995,’ positioning it as a guiding word for the journey into the brave new media world. At the time, multimedia referred to the integration of various modes of communication—including text, images, audio, video, and interactive elements—within a single, often digital, medium. Today, such integration has become an essential part of political communication, encompassing both traditional forms like election posters and flyers, as well as contemporary formats like politicians’ TikTok videos and political memes circulating across digital platforms