Survey Shows Lingering Skepticism Among Americans Toward Scientists Post-Pandemic
According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, the decline of trust has been paralleled by growing public skepticism regarding scientists’ involvement in policymaking.
The survey reveals that Americans are still cautious about scientists’ participation in public policymaking, showing a slight uptick in overall trust in scientists this year. However, this level of trust remains significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels.
The research indicates that 76 percent of Americans have a moderate to high level of confidence in scientists acting in the public’s best interests. Despite a small increase from the previous year, this figure is notably lower than the 87 percent recorded before the pandemic.
This decline in trust post-pandemic has coincided with increased public doubt about scientists’ involvement in policymaking.
Before the pandemic, there was greater support for scientists’ participation in public policymaking, with 60 percent of Americans in favor of their active role while 39 percent preferred they stay out of it and focus on science.
Researchers recommend that scientists prioritize transparency by disclosing funding sources and being open to updating conclusions based on new evidence to rebuild public trust.
While scientists still enjoy higher confidence levels compared to other institutions like journalists and elected officials, their role in public policy remains contested.
Public opinion on scientists’ policy decisions is also mixed, with less than half of Americans believing scientists make better policy decisions on scientific matters and only half trusting that scientists base their judgments solely on facts.
