Trust edges up-slightly

The Pew Research Center survey on trust in science and researchers is eagerly awaited every year by science policy experts and communicators. This year's results, released last week, give a small, but meaningful, reason to be optimistic: Trust in scientists, which took a substantial hit during...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2024-11, Vol.386 (6724), p.831-831
Main Author: Thorp, H Holden
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Communication
Communication skills
COVID-19 - epidemiology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pandemics
Public concern
Public Opinion
Research facilities
Research Personnel
Science
Science policy
Scientists
Surveys
Surveys and Questionnaires
Trust
United States
Young Adult
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The Pew Research Center survey on trust in science and researchers is eagerly awaited every year by science policy experts and communicators. This year's results, released last week, give a small, but meaningful, reason to be optimistic: Trust in scientists, which took a substantial hit during the pandemic, is starting to recover. The survey, conducted in October 2024 with 9593 adults across the United States, estimates that 76% of Americans now have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in scientists to act in the public's best interests. That's a modest uptick from 73% last year and a hopeful sign that the page may be turning on some of the pandemic-era skepticism. Although the increase is barely outside the margin of error, it may mark the end of a troubling 3-year decline. However, the data reveal a persistent problem-a considerable portion of the public continues to harbor negative views of scientists' personal qualities, particularly their communication skills. This reality should be worrisome to the scientific community and drive a collective conversation about rebuilding public confidence.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.adu7081