Ideally Easy and Scientific? Text Features, the Role of Reader Characteristics and Trustworthiness

In a time characterized by an increasing availability of online science information and a growing prevalence of fake news, conspiracy theories and science denial, understanding factors contributing to the perceived trustworthiness of scientific publications is vital. Previous research demonstrated an effect of text easiness and scientificness on lay readers’ trust in science. However, both the easiness- and the scientificness-effect have mainly been examined separately, without focus on potential interactions or confounds. Additionally, it is conceivable that individual variations of the easiness-effect and scientificness-effect arise from reader differences in epistemic justification beliefs or need for cognitive closure (NCC). To jointly examine both effects and explore the influences of readers’ epistemic justification beliefs and NCC, we carried out a preregistered online study with N = 1,467 German general-population lay readers. Readers received four short research summaries based on published psychological journal articles that systematically varied text easiness and scientificness in a 2x2 design (low vs. high). After each summary, ratings of text and author trustworthiness were collected. In addition, participants completed questionnaires related to their individual epistemic justification beliefs and NCC. Mixed-model regression analyses revealed that higher text scientificness significantly predicted increases in text and author trustworthiness. Furthermore, an interaction effect between scientificness and personal justification beliefs as well as justification by multiple sources emerged. However, no significant effects were found regarding text easiness. Implications for future studies and for increasing the trustworthiness of lay-friendly research summaries in light of reader characteristics will be discussed.