Trust in Scientists from the Perspective of International and National Surveys
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15407/sofs2025.04.023Keywords:
social capital of science, public trust in science, trust in scientists, Wellcome Global Monitor study, index of trust in scientists, scientifi c populism, engagement of sci- entists in the political process, communication between scientists and the public.Abstract
The article presents the results of international and national surveys of the level of public trust in scientists. The novelty of the research lies in the comprehensive analysis of indicators of the trust in scientists in Ukraine in the context of regional differences and the impact of crisis phenomena (pandemic and full-scale war), as well as the identification of trust / mistrust factors unique to Ukrainian society. Various approaches to measuring the trust in science in international and national contexts are systematized. The analysis is carried out using a comparative approach that combines a quantitative analysis of sociological data with a qualitative understanding of the social context. The sources of the analysis are the results of international public opinion surveys, such as the Wellcome Global Monitor (2018), the Many Labs Trust in Science and Science-Related Populism (TISP), and the Pew Research Center survey (2024). The Wellcome Global Monitor analysis (2018) showed that the level of trust in scientists in Ukraine was similar to the world average. Using the results of the TISP analysis, it was revealed that Ukrainian respondents supported the communication of scientists with the public and the need to convey scientific conclusions to politicians; however, a significant part of them was against the active involvement of scientists in the political process. This indicates that in Ukrainian society, the communication of scientists with the public and politicians is perceived more positively than their active engagement in politics. Particular attention is paid to the survey “Social Dimensions of Society” of the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine for the period 2015—2019. A moderate but unstable level of trust in scientists in Ukraine before the start of a full-scale war was revealed, as well as a significant proportion of respondents with an undecided position on this issue. It was demonstrated that trust in scientists in Ukraine until 2019 was one of the highest among all institutions of society, ahead of the media, politicians, and law enforcement agencies. It is emphasized that high trust in scientists creates the basis for their key role in policy setting and overcoming public challenges. The importance of restoring monitoring surveys of trust in scientists in Ukraine for the development of effective strategies for scientific communication in the context of war and post-war reconstruction was revealed. The need for new comprehensive surveys is substantiated, taking into account regional characteristics, the impact of disinformation, and differentiation of trust in different branches of science.
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