UC Irvine

Activists often claim that science is on their side, even when scientists themselves seem to disagree. This dissertation explores when, why, and how activists make science claims in political venues. When science is used to challenge a movement, activists must demonstrate that their claims are scientific to a broader public—including people with little knowledge of the relevant research. To do so, activists seek out scientific resources as proof that their claims are scientifically sound. How activists form their claims is shaped by the movement’s access to mainstream scientific resources: the experts, publications, and statements that are seen as credible by mainstream scientific institutions. These institutions function as scientific gatekeepers, determining what does and does not qualify as science. Thus, resources approved by these sources can reassure lay audiences that a claim is backed by real science.

When movements enjoy mainstream scientific resources, activists rely on these resources to make their case. When movements lack scientific resources, they must find or create new resources that support their stance. But critically, what is considered mainstream science can change over time. Thus, activists can cultivate new mainstream resources. If these attempts fail, activists will create alternative scientific resources: experts, publications, and associations that are not recognized by scientific gatekeepers, but may be seen as scientific by lay people. Since movements can develop their own scientific resources, they are unlikely to concede. Instead, the use of science by one movement encourages the creation of new scientific resources by its opponents.

I explore these dynamics using the case of LGBT conversion therapy. Critically, the position of scientific gatekeepers on conversion therapy has changed over the past sixty years. As a result, both sides have been in the position of enjoying mainstream scientific resources, and of lacking these resources. Thus, the case illuminates how activists deploy scientific resources, develop new resources, and adapt their strategies in response to changing scientific and political contexts.