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• Date of publication Oct 07, 2026 Category: Article

  Shifting self-efficacy, beliefs about engagement, and behavioral intentions through a research communication training program: results from an intervention study among university researchers

  by Paul R. Brewer , Erin Oittinen , Wyatt Dawson , Barbara L. Ley

  Building on studies of science communication training program outcomes along with the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Integrated Behavioral Model, this study examines shifts in self-efficacy, beliefs about engagement, and behavioral intentions among participants in a university-based research communication training program for graduate students, postdocs, and faculty members. An analysis of data from a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest intervention study found that participants reported greater communication self-efficacy and willingness to communicate about their research after completing the program, though the results revealed no discernible shifts in beliefs about engagement (which already tended toward positivity). These findings provide new evidence that training programs can bolster foundations for effective communication on the part of university researchers. In terms of practice, the results suggest future directions for program development.

  Volume 25 • Issue 6 • 2026

• Date of publication Jul 23, 2025 Category: Article

  Who thinks we’ll be uploading minds on terraformed planets? Science fiction, science news, and attitudes toward speculative technologies

  by Paul R. Brewer , Liam Cuddy

  Extending previous research on how science fiction viewing and science news use predict attitudes toward a range of emerging technologies, this study draws on theories of genre-specific cultivation and narrative transportation to analyze how media consumption predicts attitudes toward two speculative technologies: mind uploading and terraforming. Results from a survey of the U.S. public (N = 1,015) show that science fiction viewing was positively related to support for mind uploading, while science fiction transportation was positively related to support for terraforming, belief that people are likely to develop mind uploading, and belief that people are likely to develop terraforming. Transportation also mediated relationships between science fiction viewing and attitudes. In addition, science news use was positively related to support for each technology and belief that people are likely to develop each technology. These findings highlight the potential role of media factors in predicting attitudes about hypothetical technologies.

  Volume 24 • Issue 04 • 2025