Societal problem solver or deficient discipline? The debate about social science in the online public sphere

Brigitte Huber, Irmgard Wetzstein, Ingrid Aichberger
2019 JCOM: Journal of Science Communication  
This study uses the online discourse surrounding an Austrian publicly-funded study about "Islamic kindergartens" as a case study to approach communication about the social sciences in the online public sphere. Results from a discourse analysis of 937 user comments in online forums of two Austrian daily newspapers show that the social sciences are often referred to as a "special case". While some use this argument to neglect its societal relevance, others use it to highlight its role as societal
more » ... problem solver. Moreover, users discuss characteristics of "true" social scientists and scrutinise the independence of institutionalised social science.
doi:10.22323/2.18020204 fatcat:7hwbsvovijh2rozwebvznyyt6i