A global survey conducted with over 70,000 participants worldwide has revealed that people have high levels of trust in scientists and are eager for them to play a greater role in policymaking. The study, described in a preprint posted online last month, also highlighted that trust levels can be influenced by political orientation and vary among nations.

The survey, one of the largest studies on trust in scientists since the beginning of the pandemic, was led by social scientist Viktoria Cologna and her colleagues at Leibniz University Hannover in Germany. Participants from 67 countries were surveyed, with recruitment done through marketing companies in most places, except for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where in-person surveys were conducted.

Using a scale of 1 to 5, respondents were asked to rate their agreement with statements about scientists' integrity, competency, benevolence, and openness. Overall, the average trust score was 3.62, indicating that trust levels in scientists were moderately high across the global sample. Participants perceived scientists as highly competent, moderately ethically sound, and benevolent. However, the openness to feedback was rated lower, with 23% of participants believing that scientists pay only somewhat or very little attention to other views.

Egypt emerged as the country with the highest trust in scientists, followed by India and Nigeria. Conversely, the survey revealed that people from Albania, Kazakhstan, and Bolivia expressed the least amount of trust. Notably, participants from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and China reported above-average levels of trust, while Germany, Hong Kong, and Japan had below-average trust levels.

The study also explored the relationship between political orientations and trust in scientists. At a global level, a "left-leaning" political orientation was associated with higher trust. This association was found in countries such as Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, and China. However, in 41 of the 67 countries surveyed, including New Zealand, Argentina, and Mexico, no significant association between political orientation and trust was observed. Notably, in some countries like Greece, Nigeria, and the Philippines, left-leaning views were actually linked to lower trust.

The researchers attributed these contrasting findings to the influence of political parties and their treatment of scientists. For example, in Greece, the right-wing ruling party has collaborated with researchers for public health initiatives, which may explain why a right-leaning political orientation in that country is associated with higher trust in scientists. The researchers emphasized the importance of considering the context and leadership of political parties when interpreting these results.

More than half of the respondents expressed the belief that researchers should be more involved in policymaking and work closely with policymakers to integrate scientific results. However, the study acknowledged that entering the policymaking arena can be challenging for scientists, as they may face skepticism and disregard from certain politicians. The researchers emphasized the need for better training for scientists seeking to engage in policymaking and stressed the importance of improving scientists' communication skills to navigate the complexities of public policy.

While the survey provides a general overview of trust in researchers, it should be noted that trust levels may vary depending on the specific fields of study. The researchers plan to make the global dataset accessible online, enabling further research on the topic.

Overall, the global survey highlights the public's trust in scientists and their desire for increased involvement in policymaking. By understanding the factors influencing trust and addressing the challenges faced by scientists in the policy arena, it is hoped that scientific expertise can be effectively utilized to address pressing global issues.