Public Trust in Science and Scientists Cary Funk Associate director, research on science and society Email: cfunk@pewresearch.org Twitter: @surveyfunk
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.
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 5 4 3 13 13 21 24 24 33 33 37 39 54 40 53 44 32 55 46 60 27 15 18 12 21 14 14 19 5 4 3 7
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.
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.
Declining confidence in the leaders of other institutions Have a great deal of confidence in the people running these institutions General Social Surveys, NORC.
Confidence in the leaders of the scientific community Have a great deal of confidence in the people running these institutions General Social Surveys, NORC.
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 47 42 89 Safe to eat foods grown with pesticides Climate change is mostly due to human activity Humans have evolved over time 28 40 50 65 37 68 33 87 98 Favor building more nuclear power plants Childhood vaccines such as MMR should be required 45 0 20 40 60 80 100 20 68 65 18 86 Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults Aug. 15-25, 2014; AAAS survey Sept. 11-Oct 13, 2014.
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.
A decade of political divides over climate change Earth is getting warmer mostly due to human activity 80 60 53 61 Trend based on two questions, 2006-2015 2016 64 64 Democrat 69 51 58 40 36 20 28 18 Republican 23 23 23 18 0 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 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.
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 33 39 18 9 The causes of global climate change 28 40 22 9 The best ways to address global climate change 19 45 26 9
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 18 11 Liberal Democrat Mod/cons Democrat 68 54 The best ways to address climate change 8 36 0 20 40 60 80 100 Note: Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who lean toward the parties.
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.
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 39 50 Democrat 40 60 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.
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 75 81 Some 51 67 Not too much/ Not at all 17 35 Note: Beliefs about effects of GM foods include those who lean toward each response.
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.
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 10 21 69 Overall rating THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE RISK 91 Democrat 72 13 20 66 86 Note: Responses of low/very low and high/very high are combined. Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who lean toward the parties.
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 0-4 60 Children age 5-17 75 No children under 18 76 Risk of side effects HIGH MEDIUM 17 26 13 18 9 20 LOW 52 69 70 Overall rating THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE RISK 81 91 90 AGE 18-29 65 13 20 64 79 30-64 76 11 19 68 91 65+ 75 11 25 63 90 Note: Responses of low/very low and high/very high are combined.
TRUST AND MISTRUST OF SCIENTISTS AND THEIR RESEARCH
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 27 35 14 scientists agree GM foods are safe to eat 28 47 43 28 40 19 44
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 27 35 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 47 43 28 40 19 44
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
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 52 32 Concern for the public/ children s best interest 55 23 19 30 27 36 30 18 27 20 27 26 30
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 52 32 30 Concern for the public/ children s best interest 55 23 19 Scientists desire to advance their careers 27 36 30 Scientists own political leanings 18 27 20 Researchers desire to help their industries 27 26 30
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 11 16 Liberal Democrats Cons/Mod Democrats 54 55 U.S. adults 28 27 Trust climate scientists a lot for full and accurate information on the causes of climate change 15 70 Climate scientists research findings are influenced by the best available evidence 9 55 most of the time 0 20 40 60 80 100 39 32
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 93 71 49 19% 25 23 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.
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% 16 21 Low Medium High 27 42 Low Medium High Note: Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who lean toward the parties. Science knowledge based on 9-item index.
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% 50 47 Low Medium High 17 13 Low Medium High 8 Note: Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who lean toward the parties. Science knowledge based on 9-item index.
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 9 30 14 18 14 51 50 35 30 0 20 40 60 80 100
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 43 80 55 Trust medical scientists a lot to provide full and accurate information on the health effects of the MMR vaccine 40 73 55 Medical scientists' research findings are influenced by the best available evidence 34 72 52 most of the time 0 20 40 60 80 100
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 18-29 30-64 65+ 39 51 U.S. adults 47 Almost all medical scientists agree the MMR vaccine is safe 44 66 55 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 47 54 59 60 55 52 0 20 40 60 80 100
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
Cary Funk Associate director, research on science and society cfunk@pewresearch.org @surveyfunk