Like a coin spinning in the air: the effect of (non-)metaphorical explanations on comprehension and attitudes towards quantum technology

TL;DR

This study examined how metaphorical and non-metaphorical explanations influence understanding and attitudes towards quantum technology, finding no significant advantage of metaphors over non-metaphorical explanations in improving comprehension or attitudes.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence that metaphors do not enhance understanding or attitudes towards quantum technology compared to non-metaphorical explanations.

Findings

Both explanation types increased actual comprehension.

Neither explanation type significantly affected attitudes.

Metaphors offered no additional communicative benefit.

Abstract

The complexity of the science underlying quantum technology may pose a barrier to its democratization. This study investigated whether metaphors improve comprehension of, and shape attitudes toward, quantum technology. In an online experiment (n = 1,167 participants representative of the Dutch population), participants read a news article that included a metaphorical, non-metaphorical, or no explanation of a quantum phenomenon. Both explanation types reduced perceived comprehension of the news article compared to the control group, but increased actual comprehension of the quantum phenomenon. No direct effects were found on affect-based or cognition-based attitudes. Mediation analyses revealed a very small negative indirect effect of explanations on attitudes, through lower perceived comprehension, and a very small positive indirect effect of explanations on attitudes via increased actual comprehension - though the latter was counteracted by a negative direct effect. As metaphors offered no additional benefit over non-metaphorical explanations, the findings suggest they do not provide a communicative advantage for enhancing understanding or shaping attitudes in this context.