What Americans Know about Science: Science Knowledge Levels Remain Strongly Tied to Education; Republicans and Democrats Are about Equally Knowledgeable

Autor/inn/en	Kennedy, Brian; Hefferon, Meg
Institution	Pew Research Center
Titel	What Americans Know about Science: Science Knowledge Levels Remain Strongly Tied to Education; Republicans and Democrats Are about Equally Knowledgeable
Quelle	(2019), (28 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Scientific Concepts; Knowledge Level; Sciences; Educational Attainment; Racial Differences; Ethnicity; Political Affiliation; Scientific Methodology + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Wissensbasis; Science; Wissenschaft; Bildungsabschluss; Bildungsgut; Rassenunterschied; Ethnizität; Politisches Interesse
Abstract	A new Pew Research Center survey finds that many Americans can answer at least some questions about science concepts -- most can correctly answer a question about antibiotics overuse or the definition of an "incubation period," for example. But other concepts are more challenging; fewer Americans can recognize a hypothesis or identify that bases are the main components of antacids. The survey, conducted January 7 to 21, 2019, takes stock of the degree to which the public shares a common understanding of science facts and processes in an era of easy access to information and sometimes-intense debate over what information is true and false. Americans' knowledge of specific facts connected with life sciences and earth and other physical sciences varies, of course. About eight-in-ten (79%) correctly identify that antibiotic resistance is a major concern about the overuse of antibiotics. A similar share (76%) know an incubation period is the time during which someone has an infection but is not showing symptoms. The most challenging question in the set: What are the main components of antacids that help relieve an overly acidic stomach? About four-in-ten correctly answer bases (39%). Americans give more correct than incorrect answers to the 11 questions. Additional highlighted findings from the study include: (1) More-educated Americans score highest on science knowledge; whites generally score higher than blacks and Hispanics; (2) Republicans and Democrats hold similar levels of science knowledge; (3) Conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats score higher on science knowledge; (4) Half of American can recognize a hypothesis about a problem in everyday life; and (5) 67% of Americans see the scientific method as an iterative process. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	Pew Research Center. 1615 L Street NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-419-4500; Fax: 202-419-4505; Web site: http://pewresearch.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01