How much does the public trust science? An international research team led by Swiss researcher Viktoria Cologna has now answered this question with unique thoroughness. They examined how trust in science correlates with factors such as religiosity, socioeconomic status, education level, and gender. The study is based on a survey of 71,922 participants from 68 countries, making it one of the most comprehensive surveys to date on trust in science.
The majority of respondents believe that scientists generally possess a comparatively high degree of competence and integrity. Regional, country-specific, and sociocultural differences emerged. For example, the survey found that women, urbanites, people with higher incomes, and older individuals generally have more trust in science. In Western countries, people with conservative political views tend to trust science less than those with liberal views, whereas this tendency is not observed in other countries. There is only a slight correlation between tertiary education and trust in science. Interestingly, religiosity is also positively associated.
However, there are also challenges for the future: The majority of respondents would like to see science play a more active role in society and politics. For example, scientists should directly contribute their findings to political strategies. Additionally, most see potential for better communication between researchers and the general public. Furthermore, there is a call for research to focus more on issues such as healthcare or the energy crisis.
In the face of increasing societal polarization, it is becoming ever more important for research institutions to communicate scientific content transparently, understandably, and continuously. "This result challenges the thesis of a crisis of trust in science," says author Viktoria Cologna.
"It’s important that scientists communicate transparently and understandably – and also make it clear where there are uncertainties," says the main author of the study, Viktoria Cologna, according to a report in Forschung & Lehre.
(Image: Google DeepMind / Unsplash)
