A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour shows that who conducts research influences public trust in science across the United States. The project was led by James Druckman of the University of Rochester and included collaborators from nine universities and other research institutions.
The paper reviews long-standing gaps in confidence. It reports that white men make up about two-thirds of the scientific workforce and that 92% of scientists come from non-rural areas. The authors list groups that tend to show lower trust: women, Black Americans, people living in rural areas, people who identify as religious, those with lower education, and working-class people. By contrast, Asian Americans reported high trust regardless of representation.
Study results indicate many people use demographic cues to judge scientific claims. Women and people of color relied more on those cues, while men and white Americans showed greater variability in what drives their trust. When scientists seem demographically distant, respondents were more likely to doubt scientific objectivity and whether science benefits people like them. The authors argue that greater demographic inclusiveness in science could help bridge trust gaps at a time when misinformation, political polarization and vaccine skepticism challenge scientific credibility. "When people can see themselves in science," Druckman says, "they're more likely to believe in it."
Difficult words
- workforce — all people employed in a particular industry
- representation — presence of different groups in a field
- demographic — related to characteristics of a population
- objectivity — the state of being unbiased and neutral
- inclusiveness — policy of including many different groups
- misinformation — false or misleading information shared publicly
- polarization — division into opposing political groups or views
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might increasing demographic inclusiveness in science change public trust in your community?
- Why do you think people living in rural areas or those who identify as religious might report lower trust in science?
- What practical steps could universities or research institutions take to help more people see themselves represented in science?
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