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pmpk20/PhD_CEPaper: How confident are you in the ability of experts to provide reliable information? Evidence from a choice experiment on microplastics: A supporting dataset
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This study explores how much people trust scientists and experts when they share information about microplastics (tiny plastic particles found in water, food, and even our bodies) and their health risks. Using a survey-based experiment where people made choices based on different information, the researchers looked at whether people's trust in expert sources affects how they respond to health guidance. This matters because if people don't trust the experts warning them about microplastic risks, they may ignore useful safety information—so understanding trust levels can help scientists communicate more effectively about emerging health concerns.
Data + code to support my paper in Environment and Development Economics (https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355770X25100077) "How confident are you in the ability of experts to provide reliable information? Evidence from a choice experiment on microplastics"
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pmpk20/PhD_CEPaper: How confident are you in the ability of experts to provide reliable information? Evidence from a choice experiment on microplastics: A supporting dataset
AI summary Read the abstract
This study looked at how much people trust experts (like scientists) when they give information about microplastics—those tiny plastic particles found in water, food, and even our bodies. Using a survey where people made choices based on different information sources, the researchers found that trust in experts significantly shapes how people react to microplastic risks. This matters because if people don't trust the experts warning them about microplastics, they may ignore useful safety information—making clear, credible science communication just as important as the research itself.
How confident are you in the ability of experts to provide reliable information? Evidence from a choice experiment on microplastics
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This study examined whether people's pre-existing trust in expert knowledge shaped how they responded to a survey asking about willingness to pay for microplastic reduction policies in the UK. Researchers found that respondents who trusted experts more were less likely to stick with the status quo and expressed greater certainty in their choices, though the effect on actual dollar amounts was modest. Understanding how public trust in science shapes environmental policy support is important for designing effective communications about microplastic risks.
Uncertainty about the risks associated with microplastics among lay and topic-experienced respondents
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Researchers surveyed 1,681 respondents globally and found significant uncertainty about microplastic health risks not only among the general public but also among scientists who study plastics, reflecting the genuine knowledge gaps in current research on microplastic hazards.
Scientists’ mental models of microplastics: insights into expert perceptions from an exploratory comparison of research methods
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Researchers interviewed and surveyed microplastics scientists to understand how experts mentally map the sources, pathways, and health risks of plastic particle pollution in freshwater systems. Experts consistently pointed to household plastic consumption as a primary driver but acknowledged major gaps in understanding dose-response relationships — how much exposure causes how much harm — highlighting where science communication and risk management need to improve.
Trusted but underused: The credibility–accessibility gap in food-safety risk communication among urban consumers in Ivory Coast
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In Ivory Coast, people trust doctors and scientists most on food safety, including concerns like microplastics and pesticides, but rarely turn to them for actual information. Instead they rely on more accessible sources like family or shops. This means health worries often go unaddressed, so getting trusted experts into everyday channels could help people make safer food choices.
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