Science and technology

Abstract

Executive Summary
Key takeaways:

Public confidence in science and scientists remains high, with the majority of American adults reporting positive assessments of science and scientists.
A higher percentage of American adults had great confidence in both medical scientists (e.g., science practitioners such as physicians) and scientists generally in 2020 than they did in 2016; 24% reported a “great deal” of confidence in medical scientists in 2016, and 43% of respondents reported such confidence in 2020, with an increase from 21% to 39% for scientists generally.
The majority of American adults report a basic understanding of scientific research principles such as the usefulness of a study control group for comparison with a treatment group. At the same time, those who demonstrate greater understanding of scientific logic tend to express more trust in scientists to act in the best interest of society than those who express less understanding.
American adults report seeking information on science more than their counterparts in most other countries with similarly high levels of research and development spending. In 2018, the majority of American adults had recently sought information about medicine or disease.
Only a minority of American adults report any recent experience with various science activities, such as making observations for a research project (7%) or participating in an online crowdsourcing activity related to data collection for science (3%).
Households with greater parent educational attainment or income report more exposure to science through children’s activities, such as school projects, than do households with lower educational attainment or income.