Discussion
This study suggests that it is possible for theory-based, enhanced research dissemination efforts to influence state legislators’ public discourse by increasing their access to scientific evidence. This is noteworthy because science-based discourse may counteract misinformation and support the government’s role in sharing accurate health information with the public [In contrast, intervention legislators posted less often about creating and disseminating evidence (i.e., knowledge generation). Perhaps intervention offices perceived existing research to be sufficient in supply, in line with the availability heuristic, therefore feeling less need for additional studies [This work builds on literature related to research dissemination and use by addressing some consistent methodological limitations. Previous work on supporting policymakers’ access to and use of scientific information is primarily retrospective, correlational, representative of only a small portion of legislators, and subject to social desirability (i.e., rely on self-report [