Gordon Gauchat
Politicization of Science in the Public Sphere
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
study explores time trends public trust science united states 1974 2010 precisely test mooneys 2005 claim conservatives united states become increasingly distrustful science using data 1974 2010 general social survey examine group differences trust science groupspecific change attitudes time results show group differences trust science largely stable period except respondents identifying conservative conservatives began period highest trust science relative liberals moderates ended period lowest patterns science also unique compared public trust secular institutions results show enduring differences trust science social class ethnicity gender church attendance region explore implications findings specifically potential political divisions emerge cultural authority science social role experts formation public policy