Who is listening? Profiles of policymaker engagement with scientific communication

The evolving science around COVID-19 made timely digital communication with policymakers increasingly important for all constituencies. This holds true particularly for the scientific community, where evidence-informed policymaking can influence the effectiveness of public responses. In this context, understanding how to reach policymakers effectively and which policymakers are likely to engage with scientific information delivered through digital mediums is critical. This study provides a novel observational approach to understanding reach with policymakers through science email campaigns. Using a sample of nearly 3000 state policymakers, we assessed data from five digital messaging campaigns. Results indicate four profiles of legislators: those who rarely open and open slowly (Never Openers), those who only opened a couple of emails (Rare Openers), those who open quickly, but do not always open (Intermittent Openers), and those that consistently open quickly (Always Openers). Female legislators and legislators who had served for fewer terms were more likely to be Always Openers or Intermittent Openers, relative to male legislators and legislators who had served more terms. This study reveals patterns of email engagement and indicates science communication efforts may need to adopt more targeted strategies that better reach policymakers who tend to engage less frequently with emailed research content.

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Pugel, J., Long, E. C., Fernandes, M. A., Cruz, K., Giray, C., Crowley, D. M., & Scott, J. T. (2022). Who is listening? Profiles of policymaker engagement with scientific communication. Policy & Internet, 14, 186– 201., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/poi3.273. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.

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Work Title Who is listening? Profiles of policymaker engagement with scientific communication
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Open Access
Creators
  1. Jessica Pugel
  2. Elizabeth C. Long
  3. Mary A. Fernandes
  4. Katherine Cruz
  5. Cagla Giray
  6. D. Max Crowley
  7. J. Taylor Scott
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Policy and Internet
Publication Date October 25, 2021
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1002/poi3.273
Deposited August 19, 2022

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  • Added Creator Jessica Pugel
  • Added Creator Elizabeth C. Long
  • Added Creator Mary A. Fernandes
  • Added Creator Katherine Cruz
  • Added Creator Cagla Giray
  • Added Creator D. Max Crowley
  • Added Creator J. Taylor Scott
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