Patterns of trust in scientists have shifted over time along partisan lines

What’s the issue? 

For decades, Americans have had high trust in scientists. But despite overall stability, something has changed: trust in scientists has become sharply divided along partisan lines. Today, Democrats express much higher levels of trust in scientists than Republicans. That wasn’t always the case. In the 1970s, Republicans were slightly more likely than Democrats to say they had “a great deal” of confidence in the scientific community. 

What does the research say? 

Researchers analyzed data spanning more than 50 years. They found differences in trust have remained surprisingly stable. Women, Black Americans, rural residents, religious individuals, people without college degrees, and lower-income Americans have consistently reported lower levels of trust in scientists. The partisan gap grew largely because the makeup of the political parties changed over time. Many of the groups that tend to have lower trust in scientists shifted toward the Republican Party. Republicans today include more people from groups that historically expressed less trust in science. 

Why it matters 

The authors suggest that rebuilding trust may require diversifying the scientific workforce and engaging more directly with communities. Despite polarization, overall trust remains relatively high—meaning there is still room to bridge divides. 

—

Photograph by Pascal Guyot/AFP/Getty Images