Science Barometer 2022

With the Science Barometer, Wissenschaft im Dialog has been collecting population-representative data on the attitudes of citizens in Germany toward science and research every year since 2014. Sponsors and supporters are the Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.

The study was conducted by Kantar as part of a multi-topic survey commissioned by Wissenschaft im Dialog. During the survey period from September 28 to September 29, 2022, the German-speaking resident population in private households aged 14 and older was surveyed in telephone interviews (CATI) on the following topics: interest and trust in science and research, social significance of science. Respondents were selected by a multi-stage random sample from an ADM selection frame including landline and mobile phone numbers (dual-frame sample).<br>1. Interest and trust in science and research: Interest in the topics of politics, science and research, local affairs, and economics and finance; associations with science and research (open naming); general trust in science and research; reasons for trust in scientists (are experts, work according to rules and standards, do research in the interest of the public); reasons for distrust of scientists (often make mistakes, adjust results to their own expectations, depend heavily on their funders); importance of different aspects in public science communication (on the results of their own research, on the results of other scientists doing research on the same topic, on the methods they use in their research, on the societal impact of their research, on the general role of science in society, on statements or decisions of politicians who refer to scientific findings).

2. Societal role of research: opinion on spending on research with reduced government spending (research should be one of the first areas for savings, spending on research should be cut in the same proportion as spending in other areas, should not be cut if possible); areas where research should be most intensive in the future (Split A: on climate, energy, health and nutrition, mobility and transport, security issues, communication and digitalization, Split B: Climate and energy, health and nutrition, mobility and transport, issues of security, communication and digitalization); agreement with statements on the relationship between science and politics (political decisions should be based on scientific findings, it is not the task of scientists to interfere in politics, it is right for scientists to speak out publicly when political decisions do not take research findings into account, scientists should decide for themselves what they research on, decisions about science and research should be made primarily against the background of whether they contribute to solving societal problems); trust in the statements of various actors on Corona (scientists, doctors and medical personnel, politicians, representatives of authorities and offices, journalists as well as relatives, acquaintances and friends); trust in the statements of various actors on current issues of energy supply in Germany (scientists, representatives of companies and industry, politicians, representatives of authorities and offices, journalists as well as relatives, friends and acquaintances).

3. Personal relation to science and research: job in science and research; personal acquaintance with a scientist.

Demography: sex; age; education; occupation; occupation in detail; household size; children under 14 in household; net household income; party preference.

Additionally coded were: Interview no.; interview duration (in seconds); weight; place size (BIK); federal state; western/eastern region; split.