Political influences on science literacy
Now more than ever, science- related manners are increasing prevalence in politics and political discussion. Consider health topics like abortion, mask mandates, and vaccinations; while abortion and vaccinations may have been controversial in the past, the recent pandemic has brought health to the forefront, illuminating these discussions in everyday life. We hear about climate change, clean energy, sustainability, and billionaires making their ways to Mars. At this day and age, science- based conversations are no longer being had behind the scenes among professionals, but rather, are becoming issues of pubic inclusion and participation. Political polarization has reached its peak over the past 20 years, dividing political parties and ideologies to an all time high (Funk & Goo, 2020). Undoubtedly, science is a controversial topic, which has made its way into politics, thus, contributing to the already existing level of polarization. Let's examine some data from the Pew Research Center in an attempt to better understand how science influences politics, and how politics may be influencing science.
Studies preface trends on political affiliation and science views
Pew Research Center conducted surveys comparing knowledge of science- based facts among various demographic segments, political affiliation included. Results show that "people's level of science knowledge, or of education, has either no significant effect or only a modest effect compared with political party... in predicting their beliefs" on particular science- related manners (Funk & Goo, 2020).
For example, one area examined is the controversial subject of climate change. Pew researchers asked respondents if they felt that climate research findings are influenced by the best available science; the respondents were broken down into levels of low, medium, and high science knowledge within Democrat and Republic affiliations. When examining responses from Republicans, 17% of low science knowledge respondents agreed with the statement (climate research findings are based on the best available science), 16% of medium science knowledge respondents agreed, and 21% with a high science knowledge agreed (Funk & Goo,2020). These results insinuate that among Republicans examined in this survey, the level of science knowledge possessed by respondents did not influence, or did not significantly influence,
their opinion on the manner. Looking at responses from Democrats, 27% of
low science knowledge respondents agreed that climate research findings are
based on the best available science, whereas 42% of medium science
knowledge respondents shared this view with the 73% of high science
knowledge respondents. Figure 1(right) visualizes this information.
Comparing these results to those of the Republican respondents,
there is greater variation in the level of agreement with this
statement among differing levels of science knowledge for Democrats,
where Republicans level of science knowledge does not show major
differences on this issue.
​
​
Pew Research also analyzed the belief that human activity is responsible
for climate change among Republicans and Democrats. This survey used
the same parameters as the previous one: low, medium, and high science
knowledge. Of Republicans who agreed that human activity is responsible
for climate change, 29%, 25%, and 23% belonged to low, medium, and
high science knowledge levels, respectively (2018). For Democrats who
agreed, 49%, 71%, and 93% belonged to low, medium, and high science
knowledge levels, respectively. Figure 11 (right) visualizes this information.
​
​
The analysis of these two particular surveys show that Republican respondents generally shared the same viewpoint on climate change issues, regardless of their level of science knowledge. Contrastingly, as science knowledge level increased among Democrats, a greater percentage of respondents tended to agree with the statements explained above. Resultantly, Pew Research suggests:
​
"It could be the case that people's political orientations are an anchoring point for applying their knowledge- rather than the other way around"
(Funk & Goo, 2020).
Figure 10. Republic versus Democratic views on climate research (Funk & Goo,2020). ​
Figure 11.. Republican versus Democratic views on global warming (Funk & Goo,2020).
Differing trust in scientists' intentions
Another conclusion from the PEW Research survey pertains to the level of trust people have in climate scientists. Republicans and Democrats of low, medium, and high science knowledge levels were asked if they feel that climate research findings are influenced by scientists' own political leanings (Pew Research Center, 2016). The results are shown below in Figure 12. Most importantly, this data shows that Republicans with high or medium science knowledge levels are more likely to believe that findings are influenced by scientists' personal political affliations compared to those with low science knowledge levels. Contrastingly, there was no relationship found between science knowledge level and scientists' motives for Democrats (2016).
Figure 12. Republican versus Democratic views on scientists' political leanings influence on research (Pew Research Center, 2016).
This ignites a concerning question: why do different political parties view the intentions of scientists differently? Why do Democrats tend to believe that climate research findings are not influenced by the scientists' own political views, regardless of their level of science education? And why do higher- educated Republicans tend to believe that climate research findings are influenced by the scientists' own political views? These results cannot be assumed if a different issue were examined. Let's say we asked people if they felt that doctor's recommendations for receiving the COIVID- 19 vaccine were influenced by scientists' political affiliations. Would a similar trend appear? While conclusions cannot be made, this question poses a potential area for more research and connects back with our original question. Why do those of different political parties have differing levels of trust for scientists? We may be able to apply this statement back to the conclusions identified by PEW Research experts; the idea that political orientations become an anchor for knowledge, rather than knowledge being an anchor for political orientation.