{"id":104844,"date":"2019-08-02T13:42:19","date_gmt":"2019-08-02T19:17:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2019\/08\/02\/a-majority-of-americans-have-positive-views-of-environmental-scientists-but-trust-in-them-varies-by-politics\/"},"modified":"2024-07-23T17:27:25","modified_gmt":"2024-07-23T21:27:25","slug":"a-majority-of-americans-have-positive-views-of-environmental-scientists-but-trust-in-them-varies-by-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/science\/2019\/08\/02\/a-majority-of-americans-have-positive-views-of-environmental-scientists-but-trust-in-them-varies-by-politics\/","title":{"rendered":"6. A majority of Americans have positive views of environmental scientists, but trust in them varies by politics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Majorities of U.S. adults have positive overall views of environmental health specialists and environmental research scientists. But public views are less rosy when it comes to key facets of trust, including how often these environmental scientists \u2013 whether researchers or health specialists \u2013 are competent at their jobs, provide accurate information or show concern for the public interest. Perceptions of environmental researchers tend to be similar to those for environmental health specialists, a relatively small occupational group that offers advice to organizations about potential health hazards in the environment such as air or water pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Democrats are more trusting of environmental researchers and environmental health specialists than are Republicans. But both political groups tend to be skeptical of environmental scientists when it comes to transparency and accountability for mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some 60% of Americans say they have a mostly positive view of environmental health specialists. A similar share (57%) has a positive view of environmental researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Environmental health specialists and environmental research scientists<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a> estimates that 80,480 adults were employed in occupations listed as \u201cenvironmental scientists and specialists, including health\u201d as of May 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Center\u2019s survey asked respondents about either<\/em> environmental health specialists or<\/em> environmental research scientists. Respondents were given brief definitions prior to answering questions about each group. These were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEnvironmental health specialists often advise organizations in a local community about environmental risks to human health such as air and water pollution and how to clean up polluted areas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEnvironmental research scientists conduct research on the environment and how plants, animals and other organisms are affected by it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"News<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most Americans say they know at least a little about what environmental research scientists (81%) or environmental health specialists (74%) do. But only 16% say they know a lot<\/em> about the work of environmental research scientists and just 12% say they know a lot about environmental health specialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most common way for Americans to say they learn about these science-related occupations is through the news. About two-thirds of Americans (68%) say they know at least a little about environmental research scientists through news reports, and six-in-ten say they know about environmental health specialists through the news. Smaller percentages say they know about environmental research scientists or environmental health specialists through school, work or personal contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Roughly a third of Americans say environmental scientists can be relied on to provide fair, accurate information about their research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"About<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Public trust in environmental researchers and environmental health specialists appears to be generally lukewarm. The Center\u2019s survey finds 43% of Americans believe environmental health specialists care about the best interests of the public all or most of the time. About four-in-ten (39%) say environmental health specialists do a good job providing recommendations about how to address risks to human health all or most of the time. And a slightly smaller percentage (35%) says environmental health specialists provide fair and accurate information about their recommendations all or most of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Americans have similarly tepid views of environmental research scientists. For example, 35% say environmental research scientists provide fair and accurate information all or most of the time, equal to the share who say this about environmental health specialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People more familiar with environmental health specialists, research scientists have more confidence these groups routinely provide fair and accurate information<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"People<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Those who are more familiar with environmental health specialists and environmental researchers have more positive and trusting views about them. For example, a 71% majority of those who know a lot about environmental health specialists say they have a positive view of this group. In contrast, 43% of those who know nothing at all about environmental health specialists say they have a mostly positive view of this group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who are more familiar with these environmental science occupations also tend to trust people who hold them more than those who lack familiarity. For example, some 54% of those who know a lot about environmental health specialists say they do a good job all or most of the time. In comparison, one-quarter of those who know nothing at all about environmental health specialists (25%) say they do a good job. Those who are very familiar with environmental health specialists also are more likely than those who are not to say these specialists care about the community\u2019s best interests (60% vs. 29%, respectively) or to trust them to provide fair and accurate information all or most of the time (51% vs. 24%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"People<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There is a similar connection between familiarity with environmental research scientists and trust-related judgments about them. For example, Americans who report knowing a lot about environmental research scientists are about twice as likely (63% vs. 27%) as those not familiar with them to say environmental researchers do a good job all or most of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Democrats trust environmental research scientists more than Republicans do<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Democrats<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Democrats are more trusting than Republicans of environmental health specialists and environmental research scientists. For example, about half of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (47%) say environmental research scientists provide fair and accurate information all or most of the time. In comparison, 19% of Republicans and independents leaning to the GOP agree. Democrats are also far more likely than Republicans to say environmental researchers care about the best interests of the public (50% vs. 22%) or do a good job conducting research (51% vs. 26%) all or most of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a similar partisan difference in views of environmental health specialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Past Pew Research Center surveys have found wide political differences on attitudes related to the environment, climate change and energy. For instance, a 2016 survey<\/a> showed large divides between Democrats and Republicans on judgments related to climate sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n