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Home Research Topics Science Science News & Information
Pew Research CenterSeptember 18, 2017
Science News and Information Today

Americans hold mixed evaluations of how the news media cover science and see problems in coverage stemming from a range of players, including the public itself

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Americans hold mixed evaluations of how the news media cover science and see problems in coverage stemming from a range of players, including the public itself

Post Infographics

Science News and Information Today
One-in-six Americans both actively seek out and frequently consume science news
Most Americans rely on general news outlets for science news, but a minority says they get the facts right about science
Americans hold mixed evaluations of how the news media cover science and see problems in coverage stemming from a range of players, including the public itself
Only about a quarter of social media users trust these platforms as a source of science news
About one-in-six U.S. adults are active science news consumers
Active science news consumers rely on a wider range of sources and discuss science news more often
Active science news consumers participate more in science activities and citizen science research
Political differences over media’s handling of science
Most Americans think entertainment media help or do no harm to their understanding of science
Many Americans encounter science in other venues of everyday life
Most Americans have at least some interest in science news
Health, food and technology are science news topics with highest level of interest
Most Americans get science news infrequently and tend to happen upon it
17% of Americans are active science news consumers
Active science news consumers are more likely to be men, college grads
Curiosity is most common reason for following science news
A host of reasons, but none primary, for why people don’t follow science news more
Less than half of Americans talk about science at least a few times a month, and a minority of those who do discuss it are drivers of these conversations
Active news consumers far more likely to discuss science news with others
A majority of the public get science news through general news sources
Most rely on general sources for science news; active news consumers more likely to go to specialty outlets
Most Americans say they have seen news stories about scientific discoveries
Americans see medicine and health, food- and nutrition-focused articles as helpful in their everyday life decisions
Climate change, extraterrestrials are commonly cited topics of science news stories Americans have seen that seemed completely made up
Climate change is the most commonly cited topic of stories Americans have seen about disagreements among scientific experts
A majority thinks the news media are doing a good job covering science
Americans most likely to say science museums, documentaries and magazines get the facts right
Active science news consumers especially likely to say science museums, documentaries and magazines get the facts right
Liberal Democrats put more trust in information sources to get the facts right about science
Americans see problems in coverage of scientific research stemming from scientists, the news media and themselves
Most Americans say reporters, rather than scientists, are the bigger problem when it comes to science coverage
Most social media users see science posts; 26% follow science pages
One third of social media users see these platforms as an important way they get science news
About half of social media users say they click through to science news stories
Only about a quarter of social media users trust the science posts they see on social media
Weird science and new discoveries are the most common types of science posts seen on social media
About a quarter of social media users follow sciencefocused organizations, people or pages
Most Americans watch some science-related entertainment media
Most frequent viewers say crime shows and movies create a favorable image of working in science fields
Most Americans think these shows and movies focus more on entertainment than being realistic
Larger shares say crime and medical entertainment
About one-in-six Americans have contributed to a citizen science activity
Science-related hobbies include naturalist pursuits, astronomy and tech
Most Americans have visited a park or other informal science venue in the past year
Active science news consumers most likely to have attended science-related activities
Science news interest varies by education
Women express more interest in health and nutrition news; men have more interest in technology news
Conservative Republicans see more problems stemming from the media and from science researchers
Science entertainment audience includes active and uninterested science news consumers
More participation in these science and medicine activities among better educated, more affluent and active science news consumers

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