Deference and decision-making in science and society: How deference to scientific authority goes beyond confidence in science and scientists to become authoritarianism

• Published in: Public understanding of science (Bristol, England) England), 2020-11, Vol.29 (8), p.800-818
• Main Authors: Howell, Emily L., Wirz, Christopher D., Scheufele, Dietram A., Brossard, Dominique, Xenos, Michael A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Authoritarianism; Authority; Decision making; Knowledge; Science; Scientists; Trust
• ISSN: 0963-6625; 1361-6609
• DOI: 10.1177/0963662520962741

Deference to scientific authority theoretically captures the belief that scientists and not publics should make decisions on science in society. Few studies examine deference, however, and none test this central theoretical claim. The result is deference is often conflated with concepts such as trust in scientists and belief in the authority of science. This study examines two claims key to conceptualizing deference: that deference (1) predicts anti-democratic views of decision-making and (2) relates to but is distinct from beliefs of science as authoritative knowledge. Analyzing US nationally representative data, we find deference to scientific authority does predict anti-democratic views, and this is its distinct conceptual value: trust in scientists and belief in science as authoritative knowledge strongly relate to deference, but both predict pro-democratic views, unlike deference. We discuss how these findings highlight deference as vital for understanding perceptions of science and societal decision-making and how we can better develop the concept.