Work

Rapidly diverging public trust in science in the United States

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Trust in science is crucial to resolving societal problems. Americans across political ideologies have high levels of trust in science-a stable pattern observed over the past 50 years. Yet, trust in science varies by individual and group characteristics and faces several threats, from political actors, increased political polarization, or global crises. We revisit historical trends of trust in science among Americans by political orientation. We find steadily diverging trends by political views since the 1990s, and a drastically and rapidly opening gap since 2018. Recent unprecedented changes are driven not only by decreases in trust among conservatives but also by increases among liberals. Existing theoretical accounts do not fully explain these patterns. Diverging attitudes toward the institution of science can diminish capacity for collective problem-solving, eroding the shared foundation for decision-making and political discourse.

Source: Public Understanding of Science

DOI: 10.1177/09636625241302970

Authors: Manjana Milkoreit, E. Keith Smith

Institutions: University of Oslo, ETH Zurich

Language: English

Topic: Science and Science Education

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,700

Funders: European Commission, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme