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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.

Following the aftermath of COVID-19, the erosion of public trust in scientists has not fully recovered, as indicated by a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in October and published in November.

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.

The survey shows a nearly equal split on the issue: 51 percent of Americans believe scientists should actively engage in public policy debates, while 48 percent feel they should focus on establishing scientific facts and avoid 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.

Studies suggest that the ongoing decline in trust stems from various factors, including public frustration with inconsistent health messaging during the pandemic, concerns about scientists’ biases and funding sources, as well as the broader impact of political polarization and information overload in the media.

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.



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