Pew Research finds the public at odds with science on a list of key issues. Desire for a decrease in immigration is lower than it was during the Bush years. And Afghans aren’t comfortable with the shrinking number of U.S. troops in their country. This is HuffPollster for Friday, January 30, 2015.
PEW RESEARCH EXPLORES THE PUBLIC’S VIEWS ON SCIENCE – Cary Funk and Lee Raine: “Science holds an esteemed place among citizens and professionals. Americans recognize the accomplishments of scientists in key fields and, despite considerable dispute about the role of government in other realms, there is broad public support for government investment in scientific research…[For example] 79% of adults say that science has made life easier for most people and a majority is positive about science’s impact on the quality of health care, food and the environment…[and] About seven-in-ten adults say that government investments in engineering and technology (72%) and in basic scientific research (71%) usually pay off in the long run. Some 61% say that government investment is essential for scientific progress, while 34% say private investment is enough to ensure scientific progress is made.” [Pew]
Finds huge gap between the views of the public and scientists on science issues – Seth Borenstein: “The American public and U.S. scientists are light-years apart on science issues. And 98 percent of surveyed scientists say it’s a problem that we don’t know what they’re talking about. Scientists are far less worried about genetically modified food, pesticide use and nuclear power than is the general public, according to matching polls of both the general public and the country’s largest general science organization. Scientists were more certain that global warming is caused by man, evolution is real, overpopulation is a danger and mandatory vaccination against childhood diseases is needed. In eight of 13 science-oriented issues, there was a 20-percentage-point or higher gap separating the opinions of the public and members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, according to survey work by the Pew Research Center. The gaps didn’t correlate to any liberal-conservative split; the scientists at times take more traditionally conservative views and at times more liberal.” [AP/HuffPost]
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-Chris Jackson explains how Ipsos models and selects likely voters. [Ipsos]
-Derek Willis explains why it’s challenging to target online political ads. [NYTimes]
-Here’s a poll pitting Punxsutawney Phil against Congress. [PPP]
