In what is considered the most comprehensive post-pandemic survey of trust in scientists, researchers found that a majority of people around the world have widespread trust in scientists, viewing them as honest, competent, qualified and concerned about public welfare.
Researchers surveyed more than 72,000 people in 68 countries about their perceptions of scientists’ trustworthiness, competence, openness and research priorities.
The results, published in the journal Human behavioralso showed the general public’s desire for increased engagement from scientists through communication and policy-making.
“This was a major collaborative study, involving dozens of labs from around the world, all asking the same questions of specific audiences, in their specific languages, based on their own customs,” said Tim WeningerFrank M. Freimann College Professor of Engineering and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Computer science and engineering at the University of Notre Dame. “This is the first time I have seen such a distributed and collaborative effort in the social sciences. Our results show that, in general, people around the world do trust scientists.
Weninger is an expert on disinformation and fake news and one of 241 researchers who contributed to the study as part of the Many Labs Project on Trust in Scientists and Science-Related Populism (TISP)an international, multidisciplinary consortium of researchers from 179 institutions around the world.
Researchers sought to identify levels of trust in scientists, the impact of demographic and national factors on trust and vary across countries, perceptions of scientists in societal roles and policy making , and the questions people think scientists should prioritize.
A challenge for a “popular and dominant narrative”
The study challenges “a popular and dominant narrative asserting a crisis of confidence in science and scientists,” the authors say. Building on previous studies, primarily focused on attitudes in the United States and Europe, the survey also includes individuals and countries long underrepresented in research.
An overwhelming majority of respondents (83%) believe that scientists should communicate scientific concepts and research results to the public. More than half (52%) think scientists should be more involved in policymaking.
According to the study, “higher levels of trust were found among women, older adults, residents of urban areas (compared to rural areas), people with higher incomes, individuals who identify as religious and those with left-wing or liberal political views. Education is also positively correlated with confidence.
However, in most countries, political orientation is not linked to trust in scientists, the study finds – one of several findings that provide insight into world views.
Additionally, while some people might think that religion and science are at odds, the TISP study found a positive association between trust, science, and religious identity.
“That’s what surprised me the most,” Weninger said. “Religiosity was positively and significantly correlated with trust in science. Science and religion are often seen as being at odds. This global study shows that religiosity and trust in science are generally shared by people around the world.
The desire for more commitment
Overall, attitudes reveal a desire among the public for scientists to be involved in science communication and policymaking – advocating for policies that address specific issues such as climate change and communicating the results of their research to government officials and politicians.
People also want scientists to prioritize improving public health, solving energy problems, and reducing poverty. The survey showed that people generally believe that the scientific community prioritizes defense and military technology above all other research goals, which turns out to be a lower priority for most respondents.
Previous studies have shown that trust in science and scientists is essential to managing global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Weninger and the study authors said the TISP survey results “can help scientists and science communicators better tailor their communication to different audiences” and highlighted the need for international research that includes populations under -represented and understudied.
Challenges and recommendations
Although the results of the TISP study strongly challenge current narratives, the consortium noted that their findings reveal some areas of concern.
Although 57 percent of global respondents think scientists are honest and 56 percent think scientists care about public welfare, only 42 percent think scientists are receptive to feedback or pay attention to issues. from the view of others.
“Anti-scientific attitudes, even if shared only by a minority of people, raise concerns about a potential crisis of trust in science, which could call into question the epistemic authority of science and the role of scientists in supporting evidence-based policymaking,” the authors. indicated in the study.
With this in mind, the consortium suggested that scientists find ways to be more open to public comment and dialogue, increase public science communication efforts to highlight ongoing research in the areas of public health and energy, to consider ways to reach conservative groups in Western countries, and to consider the role of the scientist in setting priorities aligned with public values.
The full survey dataset is available via a comprehensive dashboardproviding insights into science-related populism, science communication behaviors, and public perceptions of climate change. Through the dashboard, users can explore specific data at the country level and compare results.
Contact: Jessica Sieffassociate director of media relations, 574 631-3933, jsieff@nd.edu