The ideological divide in confidence in science and participation in medical research
Abstract In the United States, the wide ideological divergence in public confidence in science poses a potentially significant problem for the scientific enterprise. We examine the behavioral consequences of this ideological divide for Americans’ contributions to medical research. Based on a mass su...
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Nature Publishing Group
2021-02-01
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Series: | Scientific Reports |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82516-6 |
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doaj-ad3d3e8d0fc242d198575400c59cd11f2021-02-07T12:32:12ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222021-02-011111910.1038/s41598-021-82516-6The ideological divide in confidence in science and participation in medical researchMatthew Gabel0Jonathan Gooblar1Catherine M. Roe2John C. Morris3Washington University in St. LouisStanford University School of MedicineWashington University in St. LouisWashington University in St. LouisAbstract In the United States, the wide ideological divergence in public confidence in science poses a potentially significant problem for the scientific enterprise. We examine the behavioral consequences of this ideological divide for Americans’ contributions to medical research. Based on a mass survey of American adults, we find that engagement in a wide range of medical research activities is a function of a latent propensity to participate. The propensity is systematically higher among liberals than among conservatives. A substantial part of this ideological divide is due to conservative Americans’ lower confidence in science. These findings raise important issues for the recruitment of subjects for medical studies and the generalizability of results from such studies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82516-6 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Matthew Gabel Jonathan Gooblar Catherine M. Roe John C. Morris |
spellingShingle |
Matthew Gabel Jonathan Gooblar Catherine M. Roe John C. Morris The ideological divide in confidence in science and participation in medical research Scientific Reports |
author_facet |
Matthew Gabel Jonathan Gooblar Catherine M. Roe John C. Morris |
author_sort |
Matthew Gabel |
title |
The ideological divide in confidence in science and participation in medical research |
title_short |
The ideological divide in confidence in science and participation in medical research |
title_full |
The ideological divide in confidence in science and participation in medical research |
title_fullStr |
The ideological divide in confidence in science and participation in medical research |
title_full_unstemmed |
The ideological divide in confidence in science and participation in medical research |
title_sort |
ideological divide in confidence in science and participation in medical research |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
series |
Scientific Reports |
issn |
2045-2322 |
publishDate |
2021-02-01 |
description |
Abstract In the United States, the wide ideological divergence in public confidence in science poses a potentially significant problem for the scientific enterprise. We examine the behavioral consequences of this ideological divide for Americans’ contributions to medical research. Based on a mass survey of American adults, we find that engagement in a wide range of medical research activities is a function of a latent propensity to participate. The propensity is systematically higher among liberals than among conservatives. A substantial part of this ideological divide is due to conservative Americans’ lower confidence in science. These findings raise important issues for the recruitment of subjects for medical studies and the generalizability of results from such studies. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82516-6 |
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