U.S.

Public’s Trust in Science and

Scientists
Cary Funk
Director, research on science and society

July 30, 2019

 Majority of Americans say science has had a mostly positive
effect on society
Science has had a ___ effect on society

Equal positive
and negative
27% Mostly positive
67%
Mostly 4%
negative

2%
No answer

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults March 2-28, 2016

July 30, 2019

 Most Americans think science has had a positive effect on
society, especially from medicine, health
Reasons given for science’s positive effect among those who say science has had a mostly positive effect on
society
Medicine/health 59%
Knowledge/reasoning skills 19
Technology/computerization 15

Environment and environmental awareness 14

Positive effect on life and society 14

Other responses ≤ 7 each

Don’t know/not sure 11

Note: Based on those who say science has had a mostly positive effect on society.
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults March 2-28, 2016.

July 30, 2019

 Nearly half or more expect these changes will come to pass
within 50 years
Each of the following ___ in the next 50 years

Will happen Won't happen

Routinely transplant artificially-made organs
81% 18
for humans
Cures for most forms of cancer 66 33

Computer chips routinely embedded in our bodies 54 45

Routinely use implanted sensors to monitor/adjust
48 51
all food/medications
Eliminate almost all birth defects by
47 52
manipulating genes of embryos

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults March 2-28, 2016

July 30, 2019

 Americans’ confidence in the leaders of the scientific community
has been stable since the 1970s
Have a great deal of confidence in the people running these institutions
100 %

80

60
44 Scientific
40 community
37 Medicine
20

0
'73 '78 '83 '88 '93 '98 '03 '08 '13 '18
General Social Surveys, NORC.

July 30, 2019

 Americans’ confidence in the leaders of the scientific community
has been stable since the 1970s
Have a great deal of confidence in the people running these institutions
100 %

80

60 Military
44 Scientific
40 community
Medicine
20 Education
Press
0
'73 '78 '83 '88 '93 '98 '03 '08 '13 '18
General Social Surveys, NORC.

July 30, 2019

 Americans’ trust in military, scientists relatively high; trust in
media, business leaders, elected officials low
Have ___ of confidence in each of the following groups to act in the best interests of the public

Great deal Fair amount Not too much None at all

The military 39 41 15 4

Scientists 27 52 17 5

Religious leaders 9 40 34 16

The news media 8 32 35 25

Business leaders 5 40 42 13

Elected officials 3 22 52 23

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults Jan 29-Feb 13, 2018.

July 30, 2019

 TRUST AND SKEPTICISM OF SCIENTISTS AND THEIR
RESEARCH

July 30, 2019

 Many Americans are skeptical of scientific understanding,
especially on climate, GM food safety

Not too well/

Very well Fairly well Not at all well
Medical scientists understand
47% 43% 10%
health effects of the MMR vaccine...
Climate scientists understand the
28 40 32
causes of climate change...
Scientists understand the health
19 44 35
effects of eating GM food...

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016

July 30, 2019

 Many Americans think scientists disagree, especially when it
comes to GM food safety

More About half

Almost all than half or fewer
Medical scientists agree the
55% 28% 15%
MMR vaccine is safe
Climate scientists agree climate
27 35 35
change is due to human activity
Scientists agree that GM foods
14 28 53
are safe to eat

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016

July 30, 2019

 Americans are more likely to trust scientists than other groups for
information about the MMR vaccine, climate change, GM foods
Trust each of these groups a lot to give full and accurate information on…

THE HEALTH RISKS AND BENEFITS THE CAUSES OF CLIMATE THE HEALTH RISKS AND BENEFITS
OF THE MMR VACCINE CHANGE OF EATING GM FOODS

Medical scientists 55% Climate scientists 39% Scientists 35%

Pharmaceutical Energy industry
7 Small farmers 29
industry leaders 13 leaders
Holistic/alternative The news media 7 Food industry
9 10
health groups leaders
The news media 8 Elected officials 4 The news media 9

Elected officials 6 Elected officials 4

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016

July 30, 2019

 About half of Americans think the best available scientific
evidence influences vaccine research most of the time
The best available scientific evidence influences research findings of each of these groups…

Not too
Most of Some of often/
the time the time Never
Medical scientists on health
effects of MMR vaccine 52% 36% 9%
Climate scientists on climate
32 48 18
change causes
Scientists on GM food 30 51 17

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016

July 30, 2019

 DIFFERENCES AMONG THE PUBLIC IN VIEWS ABOUT
SCIENCE ISSUES

July 30, 2019

 Wide mix of factors influencing public views on science-related
issues

Note: Chart shows relative strength and statistical significance of each factor or set of factors.
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults Aug. 15-25, 2014.
July 30, 2019
 Most rate MMR vaccine preventive health benefits high, risk of
side effects low

Note: Responses of low/very low and high/very high are combined.

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016.

July 30, 2019

 Parents of young children rate the risk of side effects from the
MMR vaccine higher than other Americans

The risk of side effects is…

Note: Responses of low/very low and high/very high are combined.

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016.

July 30, 2019

 Parents of young children rate the preventive health benefits of
the MMR vaccine lower than do those with no children under 18

The preventive health benefits are…

Note: Responses of low/very low and high/very high are combined.

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016.

July 30, 2019

Parents of young children are less likely to think that the benefits
of the MMR vaccine outweigh the risks

The benefits The risks outweigh

outweigh the risks the benefits
Parents of children ages 0-4 81% 18%

Parents of children ages 5-17 91 9

No children under 18 90 7

Note: Responses of low/very low and high/very high are combined.

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016.

July 30, 2019

 Americans with low science knowledge and blacks see lower
benefits and a higher risk of side effects from the MMR vaccine
Preventive health benefits Risk of side effects Overall rating
THE BENEFITS
AGE HIGH HIGH MEDIUM LOW OUTWEIGH THE RISK
18-29 65 13 20 64 79
30-64 76 11 19 68 91
65+ 75 11 25 63 90
RACE/ETHNICITY
White 79 10 20 69 92
Black 56 22 22 55 82
Hispanic 61 7 26 64 78
SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE
High 91 6 13 79 93
Medium 76 9 19 71 90
Low 55 19 28 50 81

Note: Responses of low/very low and high/very high are combined.

July 30, 2019
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016.
 Beliefs about MMR vaccines are not related to politics
The benefits of childhood MMR vaccines outweigh the risks

U.S. adults 88%

Conservative Republican 90
Mod/Lib Republican 93
Mod/Cons Democrat 81
Liberal Democrat 93

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016.

July 30, 2019

People’s alternative and conventional medicine practices link with
their beliefs about the benefits and risks of the MMR vaccine
Preventive health benefits Risk of side effects Overall rating
THE BENEFITS
HIGH HIGH MEDIUM LOW
OUTWEIGH THE RISK
Take over- Right away 73 9 24 65 91
the-counter
If symptoms worsen 77 11 18 70 88
medication
when sick Never 59 23 26 50 74

Never 71 11 19 57 90
Ever used In addition to
alternative traditional medicine 79 9 20 71 88
medicine Instead of traditional
72 16 26 68 85
Note: Responses of low/very low and high/very high are combined.
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016.

July 30, 2019

 Most Americans support a school-based vaccine requirement

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016.

July 30, 2019

 Most Americans support school-based requirement for vaccines
Parents should be able to decide not to vaccinate their children, even if that may
create health risks for others
Healthy children should be required to be vaccinated to attend school because of
potential health risk to others

U.S. adults 17 82

Children ages 0-4 22 77

Children ages 5-17 17 83
No children under 18 15 83

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016.

July 30, 2019

 Cary Funk, Ph.D.
Director, Science and Society Research

cfunk@pewresearch.org
@surveyfunk

Media inquiries:
Shawnee Cohn, Communications Manager
scohn@pewresearch.org
202.419.4372
July 30, 2019
 Parents of younger children hold similar views of medical
scientists and their research on childhood vaccines
Parents of children 0-4
43
Medical scientists understand the health 39 51
effects of the MMR vaccine very well
Almost all medical scientists agree the 49
MMR vaccine is safe 44 66

Trust medical scientists a lot to provide full 54

and accurate information on the health 52 59
effects of the MMR vaccine
Medical scientists' research findings are 47
influenced by the best available evidence 46 60
most of the time
0 20 40 60 80 100
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016.

July 30, 2019

 People high in science knowledge tend to see medical scientists
and their research more favorably
Among those with ___ science knowledge
U.S.
Low Medium High adults
Medical scientists understand the health 37 64 47
effects of the MMR vaccine very well

Almost all medical scientists agree the

43 80 55
MMR vaccine is safe
Trust medical scientists a lot to provide full
and accurate information on the health 40 73 55
effects of the MMR vaccine
Medical scientists' research findings are
influenced by the best available evidence 34 72 52
most of the time
0 20 40 60 80 100
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016

July 30, 2019

 About half of Americans think the best available evidence
influences vaccine research most of the time
Medical scientists’ research findings on the health risks and benefits of childhood
vaccines are influenced by…
Most of the time Some of the time Not too often/Never
Concern for the best interests of
children's health 55 35 9

The best available scientific evidence 52 36 9

Researchers' desire to help their

27 52 20
industries
Scientists' desire to advance their
27 45 25
careers
Scientists' own political leanings 18 45 34

Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults May 10-June 6, 2016.

July 30, 2019

 Gaps between AAAS members and the American public
on a range of science topics
U.S. adults AAAS members
Safe to eat genetically modified foods 37% 51 point gap 88%
Favor use of animals in research 47 42 89
Safe to eat foods grown with pesticides 28 40 68
Climate change is mostly due to
50 37 87
human activity
Humans have evolved over time 65 33 98
Favor building more nuclear power plants 45 20 65
Childhood vaccines such as MMR should 68 18 86
be required
0 20 40 60 80 100
Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults Aug. 15-25, 2014; AAAS survey Sept. 11-Oct 13, 2014.

July 30, 2019