TY - UNPB
T1 - Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries
AU - Many Labs Trust in Science
AU - Alabrese, Eleonora
AU - Cologna, Viktoria
AU - Mede, Niels G.
PY - 2024/1/25
Y1 - 2024/1/25
N2 - Science is crucial for evidence -based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision-makers act based on 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 pre-registered 68-country survey of 71,922 respondents and find that in most countries, most people trust scientists and agree that scientists should engage more in society and policymaking. We find 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.
AB - Science is crucial for evidence -based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision-makers act based on 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 pre-registered 68-country survey of 71,922 respondents and find that in most countries, most people trust scientists and agree that scientists should engage more in society and policymaking. We find 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.
UR - https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/manylabstrustinscience/home
U2 - 10.31219/osf.io/6ay7s
DO - 10.31219/osf.io/6ay7s
M3 - Preprint
BT - Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries
PB - Open Science Framework (OSF)
ER -