Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

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Cary Funk

Former Director, Science and Society Research

Cary Funk is director of science and society research at Pew Research Center, where she leads the Center’s efforts to understand the implications of science for society. Center studies look at the social, ethical and policy implications of scientific developments in areas such as climate and energy, emerging issues in genetic engineering, and food and space science. She has authored or co-authored a number of reports focused on public trust in science, scientific experts and science news and information.

Funk has broad expertise in public opinion research and has specialized in public understanding of science topics for nearly two decades. Prior to joining Pew Research Center, she directed the Virginia Commonwealth University Life Sciences Surveys, national surveys on science and biotechnology. Funk began her career at CBS News in New York working on preelection polling and analysis of exit polls. She earned a doctorate and a master’s in social psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Publications

  • report

    Acknowledgments

    This report is made possible by The Pew Charitable Trusts. 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/science. Primary research team Cary Funk, Associate Director, Research Brian Kennedy, Research Associate Meg Hefferon, Research Assistant Lee Rainie, Director, Internet, Science, Technology Research […]

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    About this report

    This is the third in a series of reports that details public views on science and scientists in areas that connect with Americans’ daily lives. An earlier report focused on climate, energy and the environment, including the relationship between people’s beliefs about these issues and their behaviors related to the environment in everyday life. Another […]

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    5. Public views of media coverage on childhood vaccines

    Most Americans say the media are doing a good job reporting issues related to childhood vaccines. People who care deeply about childhood vaccine issues and those who follow such news reports more closely are especially positive in their views of news coverage on this topic. Young adults, ages 18 to 29, are more negative in […]

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    4. Public trust in medical scientists and their research on childhood vaccines

    Public trust in information from medical scientists about the health effects of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is more positive than negative. And more Americans trust information about this topic from medical scientists than from pharmaceutical industry leaders, people from holistic or alternative health groups, the news media or elected officials. Most Americans see […]

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    3. Public opinion about childhood vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella

    Public debate over the safety of childhood vaccines, particularly the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella, is typically linked with a 1998 research study – later discredited – that suggested that the MMR vaccine was associated with autism.[9. numoffset=”9″ See Public Trust in Vaccines: Defining a Research Agenda, 2014. American Academy of Arts & Sciences.] Seth […]

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    2. Americans’ health care behaviors and use of conventional and alternative medicine

    Americans who have seen a health care provider in the past year for treatment of an illness or medical condition hold largely positive views of their experience. Most of those receiving care felt that their description of their symptoms was carefully listened to, that their health care provider really cared about their health and well-being […]

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    1. Americans’ views about public health and health studies in the news

    Overall, asked whether public health is better, worse or stable over the past few decades, Americans tilt toward viewing health outcomes in the U.S. as declining compared with 20 years ago. A plurality of U.S. adults say that children’s and adults’ health are both worse today than they were two decades ago. This view is […]

  • short reads
    Americans see limited scientific understanding of climate change, GM foods

    Many Americans are skeptical about scientific research on climate and GM foods

    As public debates continue over a range of science-related topics, including climate change and the safety of eating genetically modified (GM) foods, Americans are largely skeptical about the degree to which scientists understand these two issues, whether there is scientific consensus on them, and the influences on scientists’ research. Recent Pew Research Center studies have […]