Press release 25 June 2013
Public confidence in scientists has increased in the past year. Whereas, at the same time, confidence in research conducted in Sweden has declined. These are the findings of a new survey carried out by VA (Public & Science) and the SOM Institute at the University of Gothenburg.
Compared with many other professions, researchers enjoy relatively high public confidence. In 2012, 61 percent had very or fairly high confidence in how scientists carry out their work their work, compared with 49 percent in 2011. Highly educated people have the most confidence, whereas just half of people with only a compulsory-level education have very or fairly high confidence in researchers.
Public confidence has fluctuated over the years since the annual surveys began in 2002. But contrary to expectation, a decline in confidence is not accompanied by an increase in those who express low confidence either. Instead, more people responded that they don’t have an opinion. When confidence increased between 2011 and 2012, it coincided with a decrease from 23 to 7 percent in the number of people who responded ’don’t know’.
”Relatively few Swedes have personal insight into research but rely on what is being said by scientists and the media” says Sören Holmberg, Professor of Political Science, who, together with Lennart Weibull, Professor of Mass Media Research, analysed the results.
There is a clear decline in confidence in research conducted in Sweden. Confidence in medical and technical research has dropped the most − by 12 and 15 percentage points respectively − since the surveys began in 2002. However, this is also the field of research that the public has the highest confidence in: 72 percent say they are very or fairly high confident in medical research. The corresponding figures for technology is 57, natural sciences 56, social sciences 40, education 32 and the humanities 31 percent.
A similar pattern can be seen in terms of the fields in which there is public support for investment in world-class research. Priority is given to subjects such as cancer (74 percent believe that investment in Sweden is ’very important’), energy (55) and the environment (52). There is less public support for investment in the humanities, for example only 7 percent support investment in history.
”Subjects that are easy to understand and that are perceived as beneficial to society and individuals are given the highest priority. The results show how important it is for researchers to work closely with society” says Cissi Askwall, Secretary General of VA (Public & Science).
The proportion of Swedes with confidence in research and willingness to invest in cutting-edge research has generally declined. This change is partly due to an increase in the number who do not express a particular opinion. The changes are relatively small but there is a definite trend, according to the professors at the SOM Institute:
”Nowadays research is not so uncritically celebrated and not as sacred. Perhaps this is positive in its own way because it indicates that the general public has a greater ability to think critically” says Sören Holmberg.
The survey Science in Society involves 3.000 Swedes and has a response rate of 57 percent. It is part of the 2012 SOM opinion survey (Society, Opinion, Mass Media) by the University of Gothenburg. The survey is conducted with support from the Bank of Sweden’s Tercentenary Foundation, the University of Gothenburg, Lund University and Uppsala University.
For more information, access the report Science in society − the results of the SOM survey 2012 (in Swedish only) at www.v-a.se or contact:
Cissi Askwall, Secretary General of VA (Public & Science) 0046 (0)70 626 44 74
Sören Holmberg, Professor of Political Science, University of Gothenburg, tel 0046 (0)31 786 12 27
Lennart Weibull, Professor of Mass Media Research, University of Gothenburg, tel 0046 (0)31 786 12 18
High resolution portrait images for publication:
Cissi Askwall: https://v-a.se/2015/01/cissi-askwall/
Sören Holmberg: http://www.pol.gu.se/digitalAssets/1358/1358784_s–ren-holmberg-h–g.jpg
Lennart Weibull: https://www.gu.se/omuniversitetet/personal/?userId=xweige#tabContentAnchor1
VA (Public & Science) promotes dialogue and openness between researchers and the public. The organisation works to create new forms of dialogue about research. VA is also developing new knowledge on the relationship between research and society through surveys and studies. Its members consist of 80 organisations, authorities, companies and associations. In addition, it has a number of individual members. For more information visit www.v-a.se/english-portal/
The SOM Institute is an independent survey organisation at the University of Gothenburg. The Institute has collaborated with researchers from a range of disciplines since 1986, aiming to explore Swedes’ attitudes in a range of areas and to understand the evolution of the Swedish society.
