Global study finds strong public trust in scientists

A new international study on public trust in science, conducted in 68 countries, found that most people trust scientists and think they should be more involved in society and policy-making. Furthermore, a majority of survey participants believe that scientists should be more involved in society and policy-making.

Published in Human behaviorThis research was conducted by TISP, a consortium based at Harvard University led by Dr Viktoria Cologna (Harvard University, RTH Zurich) and Dr Niels G Mede (University of Zurich), which includes 241 researchers from 169 institutions in the worldwide, including the University of Bath.

The study, which includes 71,922 respondents, including 2,008 in the UK, provides the largest global dataset on trust in scientists since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main findings

• Widespread trust: Across 68 countries, the study finds that a majority of the public has relatively high trust in scientists (average trust level = 3.62, on a scale of 1 = very low trust to 5 = very high trust ). Majorities also perceive scientists as qualified (78%), honest (57%) and concerned about people’s well-being (56%).
• Desire for scientists to participate: A large majority (83%) agree that scientists should communicate their scientific knowledge to the public. Only a minority (23%) believe that scientists should not actively advocate for specific policies. 52% believe that scientists should be more involved in the policy-making process.

World rankings

• Most trusted countries: Egypt tops the list, followed by India, Nigeria, Kenya and Australia.
• Middle of the pack: The United Kingdom ranks 15th, three places behind the United States, but ahead of Canada (17th) and Sweden (20th).
• Least reliable: At the bottom of the scale, Albania ranks 68th, followed by Kazakhstan (67th), Bolivia (66th), Russia (65th) and Ethiopia (64th).

Dr Eleonora Alabrese, an economist at the University of Bath, collected responses from part of the UK sample. She said: “The UK generally has high levels of trust in science, ranking above many European countries including Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Belgium. Trust in scientists is higher among women, older people and those with more education.

“Interestingly, a conservative political orientation is linked to less trust in science in North America and parts of Europe. However, this trend does not apply globally, this which suggests that political leaders can influence such attitudes in different regions.”

Lead researcher Dr Viktoria Cologna from Harvard University and ETH Zurich said: “Our results show that most people in most countries have relatively high trust in scientists and want them to play an active role in society and in policy making.”

The second leader of the study, Dr Niels G Mede from the University of Zurich, said: “The study provides the most comprehensive post-pandemic snapshot of trust in scientists, societal expectations regarding their involvement in society and policy-making, and public opinions on research priorities. »

Challenges

The findings also highlight some areas of concern. Globally, less than half of respondents (42%) believe that scientists pay attention to the opinions of others. The results also show that many people in many countries feel that the priorities of science do not always align well with their own priorities. Participants placed high priority on research dedicated to improving public health, solving energy problems and reducing poverty.

Research into the development of defense and military technologies was given lower priority. In fact, participants explicitly believe that science prioritizes defense development and military technology more than they want.

Recommendations

The consortium of academics recommends that scientists take these findings seriously and find ways to be more receptive to feedback and open to dialogue with the public, consider ways in Western countries to reach conservative groups and , when the time comes, to reflect on their role in establishing priorities aligned with public values.

Dr Eleonora Alabrese said: “While trust in science remains generally high, even a slight drop in trust from a minority could influence how scientific evidence is used in policymaking. These results are crucial for scientists and policy makers who strive to maintain public trust In science“.