Cracking the CodeCracking the Code

In 2018 KQED received a $3 million grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the project Cracking the Code: Influencing Millennial Science Engagement to work in partnership with academic researchers at Texas Tech University’s Science Communication and Cognition Lab and evaluators at Rockman et al. The three-year grant provided funding for an unprecedented research initiative between science media professionals and science communication academics with the goal of identifying how best to engage younger, more diverse audiences with science media. The grant ended in December 2021 and the research continues. New findings will be added as they are available. Check back here for updates.

Best Practices

Cracking the Code

Science Audience Engagement: An Audience Research Collaboration Guide for Media Professionals, Evaluators and Communication Researchers

Cracking the Code

Science Media Audience Engagement: A Guide For Identifying Your Missing Audience

Cracking the Code

Science Media Audience Engagement: Steps For Conducting Media Research and Research Protocols

National Surveys

Cracking the Code

Millennial Science Media Habits and Engagement Cracking the Code Project Summary

Cracking the Code

Influencing Millennial Science Engagement: A New Survey in 2021

Cracking the Code

Cracking the Code: Survey Results on Millennials and Their Science Curiosity

COVID-19

Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

RAPID: Filling Knowledge Gaps and Crisis Reporting

Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

COVID-19 and Mask Content & Media Format: A Facebook Test

Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

Covering Climate and the Pandemic: Understanding Audiences

Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

Covering Climate and the Pandemic: Infodemic and Health Disparities

Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

Covering Climate and the Pandemic: A New Definition of Risk

Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

Covering Climate and the Pandemic: Disaster Reporting in the 21st Century

Sea Level Rise
Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

KQED Science and the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Changing Nature of Disaster Reporting

COVID-19
Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

RAPID Process Evaluation Report

COVID-19
Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

Conceptual Understandings of COVID-19: The Virus, the Myths, the Legends

Deep Look

Cracking the Code

How Women Engage with Deep Look: A Facebook Science Content Experiment

Cracking the Code

Study Advances Understanding of Women’s Intentions to Watch Deep Look YouTube Videos

Cracking the Code

Do Stories about Health – and Sex – Draw Women to Watch KQED’s Deep Look Science Videos?

Cracking the Code

Cracking the Code: What’s Keeping Women from Watching Deep Look’s Science Videos? No Easy Answers

Cracking the Code

Cracking the Code: What’s the Value of Behind-The-Scenes Content for a Science Series like KQED’s Deep Look?

Cracking the Code

Cracking the Code: Survey Takes A 'Deep Look' at Science Video Audience and Gender Disparity

Social Media

Cracking the Code

How Women Engage with Deep Look: A Facebook Science Content Experiment

Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

COVID-19 and Mask Content & Media Format: A Facebook Test

Misinformation on Twitter
Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

COVID-19 Misinformation On Twitter During The Pandemic

Science News

Cracking the Code

When Science News Is Awesome

Cracking the Code

Experimenting with Science News Headline Format to Maximize Engagement

Project Evaluation

Cracking the Code

Cracking the Code: Process Evaluation Report

Cracking the Code

Blog Series: A Science Media - Research Partnership for Improving the Quality of Science Communication

Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

Covering Climate and the Pandemic: Understanding Audiences

Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

Covering Climate and the Pandemic: Infodemic and Health Disparities

Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

Covering Climate and the Pandemic: A New Definition of Risk

Sea Level Rise
Rapid Response Research (RAPID)

KQED Science and the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Changing Nature of Disaster Reporting

Press Releases

Cracking the Code

KQED and Texas Tech Univ. Wrap $3 Million National Science Foundation Grant, Expand Research into Engaging Younger Audiences with Science Media

Cracking the Code

KQED and Partners Receive $3 Million National Science Foundation Grant