Even after the pandemic, trust in Scientists Remains Strong Globally

A comprehensive study covering 68 countries, published in Nature Human Behaviour, challenges the notion that scientists' trust has eroded following the COVID-19 pandemic.

During and immediately after the pandemic, the question arose of how much this event could have eroded citizens' trust in science. The question arose because of the strong opposition that some fringes of the population had expressed towards some public health measures, such as vaccines, and the political consequences they had on the level of political debate. 

A comprehensive new study challenges the notion of a widespread crisis of trust in scientists. The research, published in Nature Human Behaviour, surveyed over 71,000 people across 68 countries worldwide, providing a global perspective on public attitudes toward science and scientists.

No loss of trust, but with some differences

The results show an overall trust in scientists, with a general score of 3,62 points on a scale from 1 to 5. None of the surveyed countries generally show a low overall trust in scientists. In fact, 78% of respondents believe scientists are qualified to conduct high-impact research, and 75% agree that scientific research methods are the best way to determine truth. Notably, 83% of respondents want scientists to communicate more with the public, and a majority support scientists' involvement in policymaking.

However, the study reveals variations in trust levels between and within countries. Regarding geographic variations, for example, Russia and several former Soviet republics and satellite states (such as Kazakhstan) show relatively low trust in scientists compared to other countries. This could highlight how historical and political factors may influence trust in scientists across different regions.

The study found that trust levels vary across countries based on demographic factors, including gender, age, education, and place of residence. For instance, women, older people, and urban residents tend to have higher levels of trust in scientists compared to men, younger people, and rural residents, respectively. This demonstrates how trust can differ significantly even within the same country based on individual characteristics.

An unexpected result

Contrary to some previous assumptions, the research found that religiosity is positively associated with trust in scientists globally, though this relationship varies by country and religion. 

For example, in Muslim-majority countries such as Turkey, Bangladesh, and Malaysia, the study found a positive association between religiosity and trust in scientists. This aligns with qualitative interviews conducted by the Pew Research Center, which found that many Muslim participants did not perceive a conflict between science and religion. They often viewed their holy text, the Quran, as proclaiming many principles of science.

Political orientation

The study also highlights the role of political orientation in relation to trust in scientists. In the United States, the study found that trust in scientists is associated with a liberal political orientation, but not necessarily with one's self-placement on the left-right spectrum. This means that in the United States, those who identify as politically liberal tend to have higher trust in scientists, while conservatives tend to have lower trust.

However, this pattern doesn't hold globally. In some Eastern European, Southeast Asian, and African countries, the relationship is reversed - right-leaning individuals actually show higher trust in scientists. For instance, in Russia and several former Soviet republics, right-leaning political orientation is associated with higher trust in scientists. 

This example highlights the complexity of the relationship between political orientation and trust in scientists, demonstrating that it can vary significantly based on cultural and political contexts in different countries

While the findings largely contradict the narrative of a widespread trust crisis in science, the researchers caution that even a small minority distrusting scientists could potentially impact policy decisions.

Read the full article: Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries