Abstract
There currently exists a dearth of research on the transmission and assimilation of myths. To overcome this limitation, we developed a novel scale that measures belief in science-related myths. A total of 363 participants completed this new scale along with measures of personality (the Big Five factors), anti-scientific attitudes, and New Age orientation. Exploratory factor analysis showed that the items of the belief in myths scale could be reduced to two factors concerning human-related and non-human-related myths. Both factors were internally reliable, were moderately inter-correlated, and were not rated significantly differently by women and men (although human-related myths were rated as significantly more believable than non-human-related myths). Further analysis showed that only human myths were significantly predicted by anti-scientific attitudes and the Big Five factor of Extraversion. These results are discussed in relation to the promotion of scientific literacy.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 404-408 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Learning and Individual Differences |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Anti-scientific beliefs
- Big Five
- New Age orientation
- Scientific myths
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Education
- Developmental and Educational Psychology