Do Americans Think the Country Is Losing or Gaining Ground in Science?

About Pew Research Center 2

About this research 3

Overview 5

How important is it for the U.S. to be a world leader in science? 7

What do Americans think of the direction of American science? 8

What do Americans think of government funding of science? 9

Which institutions contribute to science in the U.S.? 10

Americans’ confidence in scientists 12

Americans’ confidence in scientists since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic 12

Views by race and ethnicity 14

Views by education 15

Americans’ confidence in scientists compared with other groups 16

Americans’ views on the impact of science on society 17

Views on the impact of science on society over time 17

Views by race, ethnicity, gender and party 19

Views by education 21

Acknowledgments 22

Methodology 23

The American Trends Panel survey methodology 23

Appendix 30