Trust in Scientists on Climate Change and Vaccines

• In Event: 067 - Section on Science, Knowledge and Technology Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 09. Metaphors in Science and Society

Abstract

On climate change and other domains, conservatives have taken positions at odds with a strong scientific consensus. Claims of a broad conservative distrust of science have been countered by assertions that while conservatives might oppose the scientific consensus on climate change or evolution, liberals oppose scientists on some other domains such as vaccines. Evidence for liberal bias regarding vaccines has been largely anecdotal, however. Here we test this proposition of opposite biases using 2014 survey data from Oregon and New Hampshire. Across both climate change and vaccine questions on each of these two surveys we find that Democrats are most likely to say they trust scientists, and Tea Party supporters are least likely, contradicting the proposition of opposite bias. Theoretical explanations for conservative distrust of science in particular domains such as climate change do not fit well with these results on vaccines. The results appear more consistent with theories positing a broader conservative distrust.

Authors

• Lawrence C. Hamilton, University of New Hampshire

• Joel Hartter, University of Colorado

• Kei Saito, University of New Hampshire