Researchers from the University of Warsaw in Nature Human Behaviour

Laboratory of technological Research, Center for Prejudice investigation and Faculty of Management of the University of Warsaw participated in an global task to survey trust in scientists and discipline Trust in Scientists and Science-related Populism. The results of the survey, involving almost 72,000 people, were published in the diary Nature Human Behaviour.

241 researchers from 169 institutions examined assurance in researchers within the task Trust in Scientists and Science-related Populism (TISP). The TISP task was directed by Dr. Viktoria Cologne (Harvard University, ETH Zürich) and Dr. Niels G. Mede (Universität Zürich). The results of the survey are presented in the article Trust in scientists and their function in community across 68 countries published in the diary Nature Human Behaviour.

The task active researchers from the University of Warsaw. Dr. Adam Płoszaj and Ewa Zegler-Polesska from the University of Warsaw investigation laboratory started working with researchers from the Lviv University of Technology Dr. Iryna Mudra and Dr. Mariana Kitsa, so it was possible to conduct a TIP survey in Ukraine in February 2023. Professors Michał Bilewicz and Michał Wypych from the Center for investigation on Prejudices of the University of Warsaw besides collaborated in the Ukrainian edition, and prof. Przemysław Hensel from the Faculty of Management of the University of Warsaw was active in the Polish edition. The Ukrainian edition of the survey included over a 1000 people, and Polish – over 3 1000 people.

To collect data in as many countries as possible, the task took the form of Many Labs, i.e. technological teams worldwide collected data utilizing the same questionnaire translated into 37 languages. technological cooperation has made it possible to survey 71,922 people in 68 countries, including many countries that have been poorly studied alleged global South. Data were collected from November 2022 to August 2023.

Key conclusions

In 68 countries, the survey showed that most societies have comparatively advanced assurance in researchers (average assurance level = 3.62, on a scale from 1 = very low assurance to 5 = very advanced confidence), and most see them as qualified (78%), honest (57%) and caring for the well-being of people (56%).

Most survey participants advocate that discipline play an active function in society and policy-making. Worldwide, 83% of respondents believe that scientists should communicate on discipline with the general public. 23% believe that scientists should not actively advocate circumstantial policies. 52% believe that researchers should be more active in policy-making.

– The results of the TISP task confirm erstwhile studies, which showed crucial differences between countries and demographic groups. In particular, people with right-wing political views in Western countries have little assurance in scientists than those with left-wing views. In most countries, however, political orientation and trust in scientists were not linked – said Dr. Adam Płoszaj and Ewa Zegler-Polesska from the University of Warsaw investigation Laboratory.

The results of the survey besides revealed, among others, that around the planet little than half of respondents (42%) believe that scientists pay attention to the views of others. In addition, many people believe that the priorities of discipline are not always in line with their own priorities.

Those active in the survey attributed advanced precedence to investigation on improving public health, addressing energy problems and reducing poverty. investigation on the improvement of defence and military technologies, on the another hand, had a lower priority. Participants in the survey believe that discipline considers the improvement of defence and military technologies more precedence than they themselves expect.

A Postpandemic Look

The survey is 1 of the most comprehensive post-pandemic views on assurance in researchers, social expectations of their engagement in society and policy-making and public views on investigation priorities.

The full data collected during the survey and their detailed description were published in the diary technological Data. The collection besides contains data on populationism linked to science, technological communication and public perception of climate change.

The authors besides developed so-called. dashboard allowing interactive data browsing and comparison of investigation results in different countries (available here: https://www.tisp-manylabs.com/explore-tisp-data).

The conduct of TIPP investigation in Ukraine was financed by the investigation laboratory operating under the IDUB Programme. The manager is Dr. Adam Płoszaj. The coordination unit is the Centre for European Regional and Local Studies (EUROREG) of the University of Warsaw.