Does Higher Education Really Boost Confidence in Science? Discover the Surprising Truth!

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Does Higher Education Really Boost Confidence in Science? Discover the Surprising Truth!

A recent global study has revealed interesting insights about trust in science and how it’s influenced by education and politics. The research involved almost 72,000 people from 68 different countries. It found that while most individuals generally trust science, higher education only slightly boosts this trust, and religion plays a larger role in shaping people’s confidence in scientific methods.

Mathew Marques, a social psychologist at Macquarie University, pointed out that the link between higher education and trust in science is weak, especially in Australasia. He noted that just because someone receives more education doesn’t mean they will view science more positively. In fact, some people may use their education to reinforce their existing beliefs rather than change them.

The study focused on general views about science rather than specific fields like medicine or environmental studies. Marques highlighted that the modest influence of tertiary education is a good sign; it suggests that scientists can communicate effectively regardless of educational backgrounds.

Interestingly, political views in Australia and New Zealand had little impact on trust in science. The study showed that even those with right-wing views had a slightly higher confidence in scientists compared to other countries. In contrast, many Western European and North American countries linked right-wing beliefs with lower trust in scientists.

The research also revealed a noteworthy trend in various regions. For instance, right-wing political views in parts of Africa and Latin America often correlated with high trust in science. Egypt, India, Nigeria, and Kenya were among the countries where people expressed the highest confidence in scientists.

In the global ranking, Australia came in fifth, with New Zealand close behind in ninth. Both countries outperformed the US and UK, which ranked twelfth and fifteenth, respectively. However, some countries like Ethiopia, Russia, and Bolivia had the least trust in science, yet all nations surveyed rated scientists positively overall on a trust index.

Published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, this study was part of the Trust in Science and Science-Related Populism (Tisp) project. The researchers found that 84% of people considered scientists intelligent, while only about half felt they were honest or ethical. This gap in perception raises questions about public confidence in scientific integrity, with many respondents unsure about scientists’ honesty.

Overall, these findings shed light on how trust in science is formed and can guide efforts to engage the public better, regardless of their educational or political backgrounds.



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