Public Trust in Science and Scientists

Transcription

1 Public Trust in Science and Scientists Cary Funk Associate director, research on science and society

2 Majority of Americans say science has had a mostly positive effect on society Science has had a effect on society Mostly negative 4% Equal positive and negative 27% Mostly positive 67% 2% No answer Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults March 2-28, 2016.

3 Public confidence to act in the public interest is highest for military, followed by medical scientists and scientists Have of confidence in each of the following groups to act in the best interests of the public The military Medical scientists Scientists K-12 principals/superintendents Religious leaders The news media Business leaders Elected officials A great deal A fair amount Not too much No confidence

4 Confidence in the leaders of the scientific community has been stable since the 1970s Have a great deal of confidence in the people running these institutions General Social Surveys, NORC.

5 Confidence in the leaders of the military has gone up Have a great deal of confidence in the people running these institutions General Social Surveys, NORC.

6 Declining confidence in the leaders of other institutions Have a great deal of confidence in the people running these institutions General Social Surveys, NORC.

7 Confidence in the leaders of the scientific community Have a great deal of confidence in the people running these institutions General Social Surveys, NORC.

8 Gaps between AAAS members and the public on a range of science topics Safe to eat genetically modified foods U.S. adults 37% 51 point gap AAAS members 88% Favor use of animals in research Safe to eat foods grown with pesticides Climate change is mostly due to human activity Humans have evolved over time Favor building more nuclear power plants Childhood vaccines such as MMR should be required Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults Aug , 2014; AAAS survey Sept. 11-Oct 13, 2014.

9 About half of Americans believe Earth is warming due to human activity The Earth is getting warmer Mostly due to natural patterns 31% Mostly due to human activity 48% There is no solid evidence of warming 20% 2% No answer Note: Beliefs about climate change include those who lean toward each response.

10 A decade of political divides over climate change Earth is getting warmer mostly due to human activity Trend based on two questions, Democrat Republican Note: Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who lean toward the parties. Pew Research Center surveys of U.S. adults 2006 through May 10-June 6, 2016.

11 Few Americans think climate scientists understand these aspects of global climate change very well Climate scientists understand Whether or not global climate change is occurring Very well Fairly well Not too well Not at all well The causes of global climate change The best ways to address global climate change

12 Deep political divides over how well climate scientists understand climate-related issues Climate scientists understand very well Whether climate change is occurring The causes of climate change Conservative Republican Mod/lib Republican Liberal Democrat Mod/cons Democrat The best ways to address climate change Note: Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who lean toward the parties.

13 Most Americans see health benefits in organics, a sizable minority sees GM foods as a health risk Note: Beliefs about effects of GM foods include those who lean toward each response.

14 Democrats and Republicans hold largely similar views about genetically modified, organic foods Genetically modified foods are worse for health Organic fruits and vegetables are better for health Republican Democrat Note: Beliefs about effects of GM foods include those who lean toward each response. Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who lean toward the parties.

15 Mirroring perspectives on the health effects of GM foods and organic produce U.S. adults Genetically modified foods are worse for health 39 Organic fruits and vegetables are better for health 55 AMONG THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT THE ISSUE OF GM FOODS... A great deal Some Not too much/ Not at all Note: Beliefs about effects of GM foods include those who lean toward each response.

16 Most Americans rate MMR vaccine s preventive health benefits as high, risk of side effects as low Note: Responses of low/very low and high/very high are combined.

17 Majorities of Republicans and Democrats say the MMR vaccine has high preventive health benefits, low risk of side effects Preventive health benefits HIGH Republican 75 Risk of side effects HIGH MEDIUM LOW Overall rating THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE RISK 91 Democrat Note: Responses of low/very low and high/very high are combined. Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who lean toward the parties.

18 Parents of younger children see lower benefits and a higher risk of side effects from the MMR vaccine Preventive health benefits PARENT HIGH Children age Children age No children under Risk of side effects HIGH MEDIUM LOW Overall rating THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE RISK AGE Note: Responses of low/very low and high/very high are combined.

19 TRUST AND MISTRUST OF SCIENTISTS AND THEIR RESEARCH

20 Public sees limited scientific consensus, especially on the causes of climate change and GM food safety medical scientists agree the MMR vaccine is safe ALMOST ALL 55 MORE THAN HALF 28 climate scientists agree climate change is mostly due to human activity scientists agree GM foods are safe to eat

21 Many Americans are skeptical of scientific understanding, especially on causes of climate change, GM food safety medical scientists agree the MMR vaccine is safe ALMOST ALL 55 MORE THAN HALF 28 Medical scientists understand the health effects of the MMR vaccine climate scientists agree climate change is mostly due to human activity Climate scientists understand the causes of climate change 14 scientists agree GM foods are safe to eat 28 Scientists understand the health effects of GM foods VERY WELL FAIRLY WELL

22 Americans are more likely to trust scientists than other groups for information about the MMR vaccine, climate change, GM foods Trust each of these groups a lot to give full and accurate information on The health risks and benefits of the MMR vaccine The causes of climate change The health risks and benefits of eating GM foods Medical scientists 55 Climate scientists 39 Scientists 35 Pharma industry 13 Energy industry 7 Small farmers 29 Holistic/alternative health groups 9 The news media 7 Food industry 10 The news media 8 Elected officials 4 The news media 9 Elected officials 6 Elected officials 4

23 About half of Americans or fewer say the best available scientific evidence influences research most of the time Research findings are influenced by each of the following most of the time Medical scientists on childhood vaccines Climate scientists on climate change Scientists on GM foods Best available evidence Concern for the public/ children s best interest

24 Americans most inclined to say best available scientific evidence influences research on childhood vaccines Research findings are influenced by each of the following most of the time Medical scientists on childhood vaccines Climate scientists on climate change Scientists on GM foods Best available evidence Concern for the public/ children s best interest Scientists desire to advance their careers Scientists own political leanings Researchers desire to help their industries

25 Trust in climate scientists is low among Republicans; considerably higher among liberal Democrats Climate scientists understand the causes of climate change very well Almost all climate scientists agree climate change is mostly due to human activity Conservative Republicans Mod/Lib Republicans Liberal Democrats Cons/Mod Democrats U.S. adults Trust climate scientists a lot for full and accurate information on the causes of climate change Climate scientists research findings are influenced by the best available evidence 9 55 most of the time

26 Most Democrats with high science knowledge believe climate change is due to human activity The Earth is getting warmer mostly due to human activity Republican Among those with science knowledge Democrat Among those with science knowledge % Low Medium High Low Medium High Note: Beliefs about climate change include those who lean toward each response. Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who lean toward the parties. Science knowledge based on 9-item index.

27 Role of science knowledge in perceptions of climate research depends on one s political views Climate scientists research findings are influenced by the best available scientific evidence most of the time Republican Among those with science knowledge Democrat Among those with science knowledge 73 17% Low Medium High Low Medium High Note: Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who lean toward the parties. Science knowledge based on 9-item index.

28 Republicans with at least medium science knowledge more inclined to see climate research as influenced by scientists political leanings Climate scientists research findings are influenced by scientists own political leanings most of the time Republican Among those with science knowledge Democrat Among those with science knowledge 34% Low Medium High Low Medium High 8 Note: Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who lean toward the parties. Science knowledge based on 9-item index.

29 Americans with high science knowledge are more trusting of scientists and their research on GM foods Scientists understand the health effects of eating GM foods very well Among those with science knowledge Low 16 Medium 20 High U.S. adults 19 Almost all scientists agree GM foods are safe to eat Trust scientists a lot for full and accurate information on the health effects of eating GM foods Scientists' research findings are influenced by the best available evidence most of the time

30 High science knowledge Americans have more positive views of medical scientists and their research on the MMR vaccine Medical scientists understand the health effects of the MMR vaccine very well Among those with science knowledge Low 37 Medium 64 High U.S. adults 47 Almost all medical scientists agree the MMR vaccine is safe Trust medical scientists a lot to provide full and accurate information on the health effects of the MMR vaccine Medical scientists' research findings are influenced by the best available evidence most of the time

31 Younger Americans are more skeptical of medical scientists and their research on childhood vaccines Medical scientists understand the health effects of the MMR vaccine very well U.S. adults 47 Almost all medical scientists agree the MMR vaccine is safe Trust medical scientists a lot to provide full and accurate information on the health effects of the MMR vaccine Medical scientists' research findings are influenced by the best available evidence most of the time

32 Most Americans say scientists should have a major role in science-related policy decisions Each of these groups should have a major role in making policy decisions about Childhood vaccines Climate change Genetically modified foods Medical scientists 73 Climate scientists 67 Scientists 60 General public 47 General public 56 Small farmers 60 Pharma industry 27 Energy industry 53 General public 57 Health insurance companies 26 Leaders from other nations 45 Food industry 42 Elected officials 25 Elected officials 44 Elected officials 24

33 Cary Funk Associate director, research on science and