We conduct annual attitude surveys to learn how the Swedish public views science, research and researchers.
Researchers’ Night, Stockholm 2018.
The attitude surveys are conducted in two different ways:
The VA Barometer is yearly conducted by Swedish non-profit organisation VA (Public & Science) since 2002 through telephone interviews with a sample of individuals representing the Swedish public aged 16-74, in cooperation with Exquiro market research.
As part of the The National SOM surveys postal questionnaires sent to a representative sample of 3,000 Swedish individuals aged 16-85 years living in Sweden. This Science in Society-survey has been conducted by VA in cooperation with the SOM Institute, (Society, Opinion, Mass Media) at Gothenburg University since 2002.
In the following articles and summaries you will find summarised results from the surveys:
A large majority of the Swedish public have high confidence in research and researchers. In addition, most Swedes believe that science has made life better for ordinary people. These are some of the findings from this year’s annual VA Barometer conducted by Swedish non-profit organisation VA (Public & Science).
Concepts like ”post truth” and ”alternative facts” are being increasingly used, mainly in American politics, but also in debate internationally. Does this indicate a crisis of confidence in research? Not in Sweden anyway. A new report shows that the Swedes’ confidence in universities is greater than ever before.
Almost half of young men in Sweden would consider a career as a researcher. Among young Swedish women, only a fifth can see themselves as researchers in the future. At the same time, Swedish women’s confidence in researchers has fallen sharply, while men’s confidence remains at the same level as last year. These are some of the findings from this year’s annual VA Barometer conducted by Swedish civil society organisation VA (Public & Science). The VA Barometer is now available in English.
What does trust in science actually mean and why is it key? This was the topic of an event held in Brussels on 22 November, which explored the results and implications from three European surveys of public perception of science, including the VA Barometer.
The scandal surrounding the surgeon Paolo Macchiarini has led to a fall in confidence in medical research among one third of the Swedish public, who are familiar with the incidents. However, public confidence in researchers in Sweden in general has increased, although it has also weakened. These are the results of the annual VA Barometer conducted by the Swedish non-profit organisation VA (Public & Science).
Swedes’ confidence in universities is higher than it has been for many years, according to a recent survey undertaken by VA (Public & Science) and the SOM Institute.
The Swedish public’s trust in researchers at universities is rising. 84 percent say that they have fairly or very high trust, compared with 74 percent in the previous year. Nine out of ten Swedes believe it is important for the public to be involved in research and more than half would like personally to get involved, particularly in health research. These are some of the findings from the annual VA Barometer conducted by Swedish non-profit organisation VA (Public & Science).
