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Pew Survey Documents Gaps Between Public and Scientists

PvtVoid writes: A new Pew Research Study documents an alarming gap between public perception of scientific issues and the opinions of the scientists themselves, as measured by a poll of AAAS scientists. Even worse, the gap is partisan, with clear differences between Republicans and Democrats, and between conservatives and liberals. For example, while 98% of AAAS members agree with the statement that "Human beings and other living things have evolved over time", only 21% of conservatives agree, compared with 54% of liberals. Global warming, similarly, shows an ideological gap: 98% of AAAS scientists agreed with the statement that "the Earth is getting warmer mostly due to human activity", compared with 21% of conservatives and 54% of liberals. Encouragingly, almost everybody thinks childhood vaccines should be required (86% of AAAS members, 65% of conservatives, and 74% of liberals.) Go here for an interactive view of the data.

4 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. Makes sense. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    In order to succeed as a scientist, one must be of above-average intelligence.

    The opinions of above-average people, on issues that require above-average intelligence to really understand, will naturally be at variance with the opinions of merely average and below-average people.

    I am sure there are plenty of average people who would disagree with me on this, however.

  2. Re:Acronym AAAS means what? by sexconker · · Score: 4, Funny

    Assholes as a Service

  3. Re:Research studies are for cows. by sycodon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Strange, but I'm finding I agree with this.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  4. Re:One of these is not like the others. by Translation+Error · · Score: 5, Funny

    Please don't call it anthropomorphic global warming. It doesn't like it when you do that. I believe the term you were looking for is anthropogenic.

    --
    When someone says, "Any fool can see ..." they're usually exactly right.