Matthew Nisbet and Chris Mooney Video on Framing Science

 
Chris Mooney has challenged me to respond to a video (see below the fold) of a talk that he and Matt Nisbet gave on framing. Over on his blog, Chris criticizes PZ Myers who couldn't sit through the whole hour [PZ, You Can Do Better Than This....]. Neither could I, but at least I got to the 50 minute mark which was more than twice as far as PZ.

Chris and Matt believe their talk is much more detailed than their short paper in Science or any of their other articles. They think that with this longer version they will have answered the objections raised by a number of scientists. This is quite in line with the position they have taken over the past few months. Their main defense has been to proclaim that we just don't understand framing and that's why we don't appreciate their opinions. That defense has the tremendous advantage (for them) of avoiding having to deal with any of the objections that have been raised. It's probably a good example of framing on their part.

Here's how Chris Mooney puts it today in addressing PZ,

So, c'mon, PZ. You've ripped the "framing science" concept based upon brief essay-style presentations of it. Now we've gone all out and produced a much more thorough presentation--one that covers, in depth, the concept of framing; evolution; stem cell research; global warming; hurricanes; and then closes by presenting policy solutions--and you won't engage.

I'm disappointed by this, but I also know you're a thoughtful guy. So I'll happily give you the benefit of the doubt here and ask you again to engage with our arguments as we have now chosen--comprehensively--to present them.

Notice how this works. PZ, and others, have already explained why they have a problem with framing science. Matt and Chris didn't listen. Now they want everyone to explain it to them once again just because they've produced an extended version of their opinions.

Well, Chris, I hate to break it to you, but there's nothing new in the video. It's just the same old fluffy rhetoric that we've seen before. I watched for 50 minutes and you never once addressed the main objections that you heard from many scientists. The ball was clearly in your court and you dropped it. You had one hour to engage our arguments and show that you were listening but you didn't do that. Why?

Have you forgotten the problem? You claim to be talking about "science education" and "science communication" but you are actually talking about politics. Scientists do not deliberately "frame" science. They tell it like it is. On the other hand, if you are trying to score political points or advocate policy change then you can use any trick in the book if you think you can get away with it. The fact that some of these political battles might be related to science is interesting but almost irrelevant. You could make exactly the same case for framing if you were engaging in political battles over the constitution, economic policy, or the war in Iraq.

As far as I'm concerned you and Matt are doing serious harm to science. You are strongly implying that it's okay to spin the science in order to achieve a political objective. Not only are you implying that, you are criticizing scientists for not learning how to spin frame science properly. One thing you could easily do to fix this problem would be to stop talking about framing science communication and substitute talk about framing political debates concerning scientific topics.

The other problem with your talk is that you continue to criticize Richard Dawkins for raising problems about religion and promoting atheism. Fine, that's your opinion and you're stuck with it. But you know damn well that many of us think you are way off base on that one. You've heard this point of view many times but you never addressed it in your talk. Why couldn't you have discussed the other point of view; the one that says arguments about religion are not the same as arguments about science? I would have had much more respect for you if you had showed me that you were listening to your opponents. At the very least you could have mentioned the difference between long-term goals and short-term goals and explained why you think Dawkins should sacrifice his long-term goal in favor of your short-term goal.

Finally, there's a problem that only concerns me and other non-Americans. Everything you say is "framed" as an American problem. You're talking about the American public, American politics, and American journalism. Your solutions only apply in that context. Your chosen frame does not resonate with me. Maybe you don't care about scientists in Canada or Europe (I'm sure you don't) but when you're broadcasting to the entire world don't be surprised if some of us don't care about you either.

You do realize, don't you, that Richard Dawkins lives in the United Kingdom? Do you understand that in terms of political debates, different spins will be adopted by people in different countries? It's just not possible for you and Matt to impose your American values on scientists in Japan, India, and Europe. But since we now live in a global village these foreigners are going to be heard in your country as well. How do you propose to maintain discipline under those circumstances? You are tying to herd cats, this strikes me as more than a little naïve.

For the benefit of readers, here's the video. The part about how to frame a political debate on evolution and creation can be found about 22 minutes into the talk at the 48 minute marker. (The timer starts at 70 minutes and counts down.)