5 key findings about public trust in scientists in the U.S. | Pew Research Center 07.08.

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NEWS IN THE NUMBERS

AUGUST 5, 2019

5 key findings about public trust in

scientists in the U.S.
BY CARY FUNK, COURTNEY JOHNSON AND MEG HEFFERON

Despite ongoing debates over science-related issues, Americans have broadly positive
views of scientists and their work, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. But
Americans are more tepid when it comes to trusting scientists’ competence, credibility and
concern for the public interest – and they are largely skeptical of scientists’ transparency
and accountability.

Here are five key findings about public trust in scientists, drawn from the new survey:

Public confidence in scientists to act in the public interest has increased in

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5 key findings about public trust in scientists in the U.S. | Pew Research Center 07.08.19, 14*21

recent years. Overall, 35% of Americans say they have a great deal of confidence in
scientists, up 14 percentage points from 2016. Americans have about the same level of
confidence in scientists as they do in the military – and more than they do in some other
groups and institutions, including the news media, business leaders and elected officials.

2 Half or more of Americans have positive views about each of six professional
groups asked about in the survey. The public is warmest toward medical doctors:
About three-quarters (74%) say they have a mostly positive view of doctors, 18% are
neutral and just 8% have a negative view. Majorities also have positive opinions of medical
researchers (68%), dietitians (60%), environmental health specialists (60%) and
environmental researchers (57%). About half (51%) have positive overall views of nutrition
researchers.

3 Majorities trust medical doctors and dietitians to care about their patients’
best interests, but trust in other scientists is lower. Respondents were asked
whether scientists in each of the six specialties could be trusted to act with competence, to
present their recommendations or research findings accurately, and to care about people’s
best interests. Americans tend to trust practitioners in medicine and nutrition – who
directly interact with patients – more than researchers in these areas. For example, a
majority of Americans (57%) say medical doctors care about patients’ best interests all or
most of the time, while far fewer (35%) say medical researchers always or usually care
about the public’s interests. And 60% say dietitians care about their patients’ best interests
all of most of the time, compared with 29% who say nutrition research scientists care
about the public interest with the same frequency. But trust in environmental health
specialists – practitioners who offer recommendations to organizations and community
groups – is about the same as that for environmental researchers.

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5 key findings about public trust in scientists in the U.S. | Pew Research Center 07.08.19, 14*21

4 Most turn a skeptical eye to issues of scientific integrity. Minorities of

Americans believe scientists are transparent about potential conflicts of interest with
industry all or most of the time. Shares saying this range from 12% to 19%, depending on
the specific type of work being asked about. Similarly, few Americans (from 11% to 18%)
think scientists admit and take responsibility for their mistakes all or most of the time.
And small shares see repercussions for misconduct as commonplace: No more than two-
in-ten U.S. adults say scientists in each field of work face serious consequences for
misconduct all or most of the time.

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5 key findings about public trust in scientists in the U.S. | Pew Research Center 07.08.19, 14*21

Open access to data and independent review of research increase public

confidence in research findings. The survey asked respondents about four factors that
could affect their trust in research findings. More than half of Americans (57%) say they
trust research findings more if the data from the study is openly available to the public,
and 52% say they trust research findings more if they have been reviewed by an
independent committee. In contrast, a majority of Americans (58%) say industry funding
makes them trust scientific findings less. The influence of government funding on public
trust is less clear: About a quarter (23%) say it makes the findings more trustworthy, 28%
say it makes findings less trustworthy and about half (48%) say it makes no difference.

Topics: Trust, Facts and Democracy, Science and Innovation

Cary Funk is director of science and society research at Pew Research Center.
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Courtney Johnson is a research associate focusing on science and society at Pew

Research Center.
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5 key findings about public trust in scientists in the U.S. | Pew Research Center 07.08.19, 14*21

Meg Hefferon is a research analyst focusing on science and society research at

the Pew Research Center.
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