Describing Mechanisms in COVID-19 Media Coverage: Insights for Science Education

Public media serves as a significant source of scientific information for non-scientists. However, the simplifications and omissions inherent in media reporting often alter the nature of scientific information, potentially influencing understanding and perceptions of science and the nature of science. This study investigates how mechanistic explanations about biological processes are represented in public media, focusing on two forms of incomplete mechanistic information: “gray boxes” and “black boxes”. Using COVID-19 as a case study, we analyzed 122 media reports of biological mechanisms to understand how incomplete parts are masked by more complete explanations and their implications. Our findings highlighted three main points. First, incomplete information often appears alongside complete information within other parts of the explanation. Second, some parts of similar mechanisms are presented differently, which can create a sense of conflicting information if incompleteness is not recognized. Third, multiple filler terms are used to mask black boxes within biological explanations (e.g., “cause”, “fight”, or “mutate”). While filler terms enhance narrative flow, they can obscure gaps in scientific knowledge and lead to anthropocentric or teleological explanations. We categorized these filler terms into three groups and discussed their relevance to teaching and learning. Implications for addressing partial information in the science classroom are discussed.