Exploring accuracy in journalism stories reporting on neuroscience research findings

152 Pages·2017·1.23 MB·English

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Andrea M. Campbell-Davison, The University of Western Ontario
Supervisor: Dr. Nadine Wathen, The University of Western Ontario
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Health Information
Science degree in Health Information Science
© Andrea M. Campbell-Davison 2013
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Campbell-Davison, Andrea M., "Exploring accuracy in journalism stories reporting on neuroscience
research findings: A comparative case study" (2013). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 1813.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/1813
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EXPLORING ACCURACY IN JOURNALISM STORIES

EXPLORING ACCURACY IN JOURNALISM STORIES REPORTING ON
NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH FINDINGS: A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY

(Thesis Format: Monograph)

by

Andrea Campbell-Davison

Graduate Program in Health Information Science

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Health Information Science

The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Western University
London, Ontario, Canada

© Andrea Campbell-Davison 2013

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EXPLORING ACCURACY IN JOURNALISM STORIES

Abstract
Neuroscience has seen explosive growth in research and public interest, but research
findings are often reported inaccurately, impacting public understanding. Exploratory
descriptive case study methods were used to analyze two peer reviewed research articles,
one on brain imaging for patients in a Persistent Vegetative State (PVS), and another on
Brain Training (BT), and all journalism stories regarding these two studies. Statistical
and content analyses were used to analyze the accuracy of the translation of the research
into journalism stories. PVS research received more media attention and this reporting
was less accurate than for BT research; the information was also discussed and presented
in different ways, including broad implications and generalizations in the PVS, but not
the BT, stories. The difference in level of media saturation and accuracy between PVS
and BT research is likely because the PVS stories often linked the social/ethical issues of
life and death to the research.

Keywords: Case Study, Knowledge Translation, Journalism, Neuroscience, Health and
Medical Research, General/Lay Public, Science Communication.
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EXPLORING ACCURACY IN JOURNALISM STORIES

EPIGRAPH

“The whole notion of journalism being an institution whose fundamental purpose is to
educate and inform and even, one might say, elevate, has altered under commercial
pressure, perhaps, into a different kind of purpose, which is to divert and distract and
entertain.” (Tom Stoppard, 2011)

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EXPLORING ACCURACY IN JOURNALISM STORIES

DEDICATION

~ This thesis is dedicated to my amazing son Shayne and my amazing daughter Emily,
for without their love and support none of this would have been possible. They are the
reason I went to university in the first place. They have been my sole source of strength
since their birth. ~

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EXPLORING ACCURACY IN JOURNALISM STORIES

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am very happy to have the opportunity to thank the many people who helped make this
thesis possible.
First of all, I would like to thank my thesis advisors, Dr. Nadine Wathen, Meredith
Levine, and Dr. Anita Kothari. Their time and efforts have been tremendous. They have
added invaluable contributions and helped me through this endeavour; more than that
their knowledge and passion have been an inspiration.
I would also like to thank Nazi Torabi for helping in the development of the search
strategy.
Last but not least, I would like to thank Ian Arra for his never-failing love and
encouragement and support. You are the strongest and most determined person I know.
You are my role model, and my heart.

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EXPLORING ACCURACY IN JOURNALISM STORIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE i
ABSTRACT ii
EPIGRAPH iii
DEDICATION iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v
TABLE OF CONTENTS vi
LIST OF TABLES vii
LIST OF FIGURES x
LIST OF APPENDICES xi
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xiii

1 Introduction 1
2 Literature Review 7
2.1 Journalism 7
2.2 Neuroscience in the Media. 11
2.3 Background 14
2.4 Research Questions 17
2.5 Hypotheses 18
3 Methods 20
3.1 Methodology 20
3.2 Sample and Context 22
3.3 Data Collection 24
3.4 Outcome Measures 25
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EXPLORING ACCURACY IN JOURNALISM STORIES

3.5 Analysis 1 27
3.6 Analysis 2 29
3.7 Ethics/Consent 31
3.8 Strategies to Ensure Quality and Trustworthiness 31
4 Results 34
4.1 Included Journalism Stories 34
4.2 Question 1: Media Uptake 34
4.3 Question 2: Accuracy 36
4.4 Additional Analysis 40
4.5 Question 3: Content Analysis 42
4.5.1 Five W’s and H 43
4.5.2 Other Categories 57
4.5.3 Word Usage 66
4.5.4 Additional Observations 70
4.6 Readability Tests 71
5 Discussion 72
5.1 Quantitative Analysis 72
5.1.1 Comparison of cases 72
5.1.2 Comparison of accuracy 75
5.1.3 Additional analysis 77
5.2 Content Analysis 78
5.2.1 Included/excluded and added? 78
5.2.2 Language use 88
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EXPLORING ACCURACY IN JOURNALISM STORIES

5.2.3 Other Observations 90
5.3 Summary 91
5.4 The larger picture 92
5.5 Limitations 98
5.6 Suggestions for Future Research 100
6 Conclusions 102

BIBLIOGRAPHY 105
APPENDICES 117
CURRICULUM VITAE 137

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Percent of stories, reporting key content by research type 49

Table 2: Percent of stories, by research type, word usage 68

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