Science and Scientists Held in High Esteem Across Global Publics
Majorities across 20 publics say government investments in scientific research are worthwhile and express a lot or some confidence in scientists to do what is right for the public.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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U.S. Public Now Divided Over Whether To Get COVID-19 Vaccine
There are widely held concerns about the safety and effectiveness of a possible vaccine and the pace of the approval process.
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Black Americans have less confidence in scientists to act in the public interest
There’s a 14-point gap between the shares of White and Black adults in the U.S. who say they have a great deal of confidence in scientists.
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Public confidence in scientists has remained stable for decades
44% of Americans have a great deal of confidence in the scientific community, while 47% have only some confidence and 7% have hardly any.
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Black Americans face higher COVID-19 risks, are more hesitant to trust medical scientists, get vaccinated
Black Americans stand out from other racial and ethnic groups in their attitudes toward key health care questions associated with the pandemic.
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Partisan Differences Over the Pandemic Response Are Growing
Polling finds public trust in medical scientists has increased but only among Democrats – while optimism about a vaccine is broadly shared.
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Polling Shows Signs of Public Trust in Institutions amid the Pandemic
Americans see “social distancing” measures urged by public health officials to limit the spread of COVID-19 as generally appropriate.
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Amid coronavirus threat, Americans generally have a high level of trust in medical doctors
In 2019, 74% of Americans said they had a mostly positive view of doctors; 68% had a mostly favorable view of medical research scientists.
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Key findings about Americans’ confidence in science and their views on scientists’ role in society
Here is a roundup of key takeaways from our studies of U.S. public opinion about science issues and their effect on society.
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Most Americans are wary of industry-funded research
The public is somewhat more positive about the effects of government funding on research and practitioner recommendations.
