Almost two-thirds of Granite State residents trust scientists as a source of information on environmental issues. According to new survey research from the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, tea party Republicans are much less likely and New Hampshire Public Radio listeners much more likely to trust scientists.
The new research, supported by the National Science Foundation and NH EPSCoR's "Ecosystems and Society" project, is presented in the Carsey Institute policy brief "Do You Trust Scientists about the Environment?" It was conducted by Lawrence Hamilton, professor of sociology and a senior fellow at the Carsey Institute.
The research found:
- Almost two-thirds of NH residents surveyed in January-early February 2014 say that they trust scientists to provide accurate information about environmental issues. Only 12 percent do not trust scientists to provide this information.
- Large majorities within most political groups trust scientists, but only a small minority of tea party Republicans trust them.
- Wide disparities occur along party lines regarding many questions about science. The 53 percentage point gap between Democrats and Republicans on climate change is one of the largest for any issue.
- Trust in scientists shows a somewhat narrower Democrat-Republican gap (37 percent), which is larger than those for historically divisive social issues such as abortion or the death penalty. People who often listen to New Hampshire Public Radio are more likely to trust scientists and respond differently from other NH residents on science-related questions.
- People who often watch local television news or read newspapers, on the other hand, respond differently only on gun- or crime-related questions.
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