Too sure or not sure enough? Trust may hinge on scientists’ uncertainty matching knowledgeable audiences’ tolerance for it

Uncertainty, though integral to scientific practice and advancement, is routinely omitted from science communication. While extensive study has uncovered the effect of this in politicized scientific fields, its influence in unpoliticized sciences is murkier. This survey-experiment study in the USA investigates audience perceptions of communicator trustworthiness when reading excerpts of neuroimaging journalism portraying the field as (a) uncertainty-filled or (b) certain enough to be on the cusp of enabling mind-reading. Findings bolster hitherto mixed results and (exploratorily) suggest perceived communicator trustworthiness may hinge on an author’s uncertainty matching audience members’ tolerance for uncertainty—when they score high in science literacy.