Dialogue as a science communication process has been idealized in both practitioner and scholarly literature. However, there is inconsistency in what is meant by dialogue, the forms it should take, and its purported consequences. Empirical research on the experienced benefits of dialogue is limited. The present study addresses this gap by examining attitudinal changes among laypeople and scientists in dialogue on the topic of human biotechnology (HBT). We found that, as a result of participation in dialogue, laypeople's attitudes toward scientists were more positive and scientists' and laypeople's attitudes toward HBT tended to converge. Additionally, laypeople reported increased communicative self-efficacy after the dialogue experience. However, effects in some cases differed by dialogue format. Implications for practice and research are discussed.

Immigration has significant psychological and social consequences for a migrant family. This study explores the adaptation of two groups of South African immigrants to life in New Zealand. Sixty-three per cent of the 72 ex-South Africans contacted, using convenience sampling, had lived in New Zealand for less than five years. The perceived difficulties related to relocating as well as the coping strategies associated with self-identified problems related to the relocation and the length of tenure in New Zealand were both qualitatively and quantitatively assessed. A problem-oriented semi-structured questionnaire and the Dimensions of Stress and Cybernetic Coping scales were used to collect the data. It appears that the longer the immigrants have been in New Zealand the less control they perceive themselves to have over the problems associated with relocation and the more likely they are to use the coping strategy of avoidance rather than actively trying to change their situation.

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