---
title: "About This Report"
description: "This report examines the general public’s knowledge about 12 science-related topics. The data were collected on the Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel. This report also includes a series of tables with findings from the new Pew Research survey and from previous Pew Research studies on science knowledge to allow for comparisons across a wider […]"
date: "2015-09-10"
authors:
  - name: "Cary Funk"
    job_title: "Former Director, Science and Society Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/cary-funk/"
  - name: "Sara Kehaulani Goo"
    job_title: "Former Senior Digital Editor"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/sara-kehaulani-goo/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2015/09/10/about-this-report-10-2/"
categories:
  - "Public Knowledge"
  - "Science Knowledge"
  - "Science News & Information"
datasets:
  - name: "American Trends Panel Wave 6"
    url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/dataset/american-trends-panel-wave-6/"
---

# About This Report

This report examines the general public’s knowledge about 12 science-related topics. The data were collected on the Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel. This report also includes a series of tables with findings from the new Pew Research survey and from previous Pew Research studies on science knowledge to allow for comparisons across a wider array of questions and topics.

This report is a collaborative effort based on the input and analysis of the following individuals. Find related reports online at [pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/science2015](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/packages/science-and-society/).

Cary Funk, *Associate Director, Research *Sara Kehaulani Goo, *Senior Digital Editor *Brian Kennedy, *Research Associate *Lee Rainie, *Director Internet, Science, and Technology Research *Monica Anderson, *Research Analyst *Kenneth Olmstead, *Research Associate *Andrew Perrin, *Research Assistant *Dana Page, *Senior Communications Manager *David Kent, *Copy Editor *Margaret Porteus, *Information Graphics Designer *Shannon Greenwood, *Assistant Digital Producer *Scott Keeter, *Director, Survey Research *Kyley McGeeney, *Research Methodologist *Ruth Igielnik, *Research Associate *Andrew Mercer, *Research Methodologist*

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**Next:** [Appendix A: About the American Trends Panel Survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2015/09/10/appendix-a-about-the-american-trends-panel-survey-2.md)