In a new international study on public trust in science, conducted across 68 countries, investigators including NOMIS Awardee Manos Tsakiris and NOMIS researcher Ryan McKay found that most people trust scientists and believe scientists should play a greater role in policymaking. Their findings were published in Nature Human Behaviour.
The research was conducted by TISP, a Harvard University-based consortium led by Viktoria Cologna (Harvard University, RTH Zurich) and Niels G Mede (University of Zurich), which includes 241 researchers from 169 institutions worldwide, including the University of Bath. The study, which includes 71,922 respondents, provides the largest global dataset on trust in scientists since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Across 68 countries, the study finds that a majority of the public have relatively high trust in scientists. A majority also perceive scientists to be qualified (78%), honest (57%) and concerned about people’s well-being (56%). A large majority (83%) agree that scientists should communicate science with 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 policymaking process.
Abstract
Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists. We interrogated these concerns with a preregistered 68-country survey of 71,922 respondents and found that in most countries, most people trust scientists and agree that scientists should engage more in society and policymaking. We found variations between and within countries, which we explain with individual- and country-level variables, including political orientation. While there is no widespread lack of trust in scientists, we cannot discount the concern that lack of trust in scientists by even a small minority may affect considerations of scientific evidence in policymaking. These findings have implications for scientists and policymakers seeking to maintain and increase trust in scientists.
Read the Nature Human Behaviour publication: Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries
Read the University of Bath release: New global research reveals strong public trust in science
