Navigating Scientific Perceptions: How Economic Development Shapes Public Attitudes Across Developing Countries

• In Event: Governing Innovation: AI, Infrastructure, and Global Public Value

Abstract

Public perception of science and technology is often seen as essential for advancing evidence-based policy. But these perceptions are shaped by more than just individual knowledge or education. While earlier studies focus on scientific literacy and education as primary predictors of trust in science (Allum et al., 2008; Sturgis & Allum, 2004), recent research highlights the role of broader political, cultural, and institutional contexts (Gauchat, 2012; O’Brien & Noy, 2018). Building on this foundation, this study examines how the speed of national economic development influences public attitudes toward science and technology across developing countries.

Using data from Wave 7 of the World Values Survey, and five-year GDP growth differentials from the World Bank, we conduct a cross-national analysis using linear mixed-effects regression models (LMER) restricted to countries classified as developing. We use linear mixed-effects regression models (LMER) to account for both individual-level predictors (e.g., education, religiosity, gender) and national-level economic trends. Theoretically, the study draws from modernization theory, which links economic progress to rational-secular value shifts (Inglehart & Baker, 2000) and complements it with contextualist perspectives that underscore the importance of institutional legitimacy and cultural framing in shaping public trust in science (Gauchat, 2010; Noy & O’Brien, 2019).  

The preliminary findings show that while rapid economic growth in developing countries is often associated with more favorable views of science, this effect varies depending on national context. In countries with lower trust in institutions or more polarized political climates, growth alone does not improve attitudes toward science (Fuglsang, 2024; Mede, 2022). Religious identity, political ideology, and past injustices, especially among marginalized communities, continue to play a strong role in shaping perception (Evans, 2013; Chan, 2018).

This study offers a novel contribution by linking economic growth to science perception specifically within developing countries - a perspective that has received limited empirical attention. By moving beyond the conventional “deficit model”, we highlight the need for culturally responsive and economically informed science policy. This study underscores that fostering public trust in science requires more than educational outreach; it also requires understanding how people interpret science through their economic and social realities. 

Authors

• Mahzabin Fatema Kabir, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
  Presenting Author

• Yang Cao, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
  Non-Presenting Co-Author