Trust in Scientists During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author Information
Author(s): Ben Seyd, Joseph A Hamm, Will Jennings, Lawrence McKay, Viktor Valgarðsson, Meridith Anness
Primary Institution: University of Kent
Hypothesis
People’s trust in scientists will be more closely associated with perceptions of scientists’ competence than with perceptions of scientists’ benevolence and integrity.
Conclusion
The study found that public trust in scientists is significantly shaped by their perceived competence, benevolence, and integrity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supporting Evidence
- Competence was identified as the strongest factor influencing trust in scientists.
- Trust in scientists was lower when their decisions were perceived as politicized.
- Public trust was significantly associated with scientists' adherence to COVID-19 rules.
Takeaway
People trust scientists more when they think they are good at their job and care about regular people, especially during health crises like the pandemic.
Methodology
The study used conjoint experiments and surveys of nationally representative samples in Britain and the United States.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the politicization of scientific advice during the pandemic.
Limitations
The findings are based on data from only two countries and during a specific time period.
Participant Demographics
Nationally representative samples from Britain and the United States, aged 18 and older.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CIs
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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