Vernacular science knowledge: its role in everyday life communication

Abstract

This paper argues that our understanding of how the public understands science is incomplete as long as we do not answer the question of why, under which conditions, and in which form the general public assimilate scientific background knowledge. Everyday life and communication are governed by criteria of social efficiency and evidence. Under the conditions of everyday life, it is sufficient for the lay person to possess and employ metaphoric and iconic representations of scientific facts-called "vernacular science knowledge"-that are wrong in scientific terms, as long as they are able to serve as acceptable and legitimate belief systems in discourses with other lay people. These representations are tools for a purpose that follow local rules of communication. Research within the framework of Social Representation Theory-collective symbolic coping with biotechnology in Europe, lay understanding of sexual conception, as well as traditional versus modern psychiatric knowledge in India-is presented to illustrate.

Headlice eradication as everyday engagement with science: An analysis of online parenting discussions

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The Agricultural Community as a Social Network in a Collaborative, Multi-Stakeholder Problem-Solving Process

“…Vernacular knowledge is the outcome of a process where environmental problems are deliberated and solutions are negotiated by stakeholders [8,13,14]. The co-production of vernacular knowledge is important because it encourages greater participation by engaging the community in the negotiation and implementation of solutions to complex problems [8,38,39]. Ideally, this involves the community in developing a broadly accepted and locally relevant knowledge that will form the foundation for tackling complex problems [8,36,39].…”