Reporting Science: The Case of Aggression

Originally published in 1986, this is a nonscientific book about science. It is concerned with the relationships among social science, journalism, public information, and public policy. Reporting Science: The Case of Aggression explores some of the obstacles – and suggestions for overcoming them – to the mutual exchange of information when that information concerns research and theory on a sensitive issue, in this instance, violence.

Among the issues explored are:

• What is the social scientist’s responsibility, if any, for the public dissemination of his or her work?
• How accurate are mass media reports of scientific research on such socially sensitive issues as violence and the effects of mass media portrayals of sex and aggression?
• How do science journalists select particular pieces of research for study?
• How can interested scientists more effectively present their work to the public?
• What are the ethical issues involved in greater scientist-journalist cooperation?