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Testing the cultural-invariance hypothesis: A global analysis of the relationship between scientific knowledge and attitudes to science

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  • Patrick Sturgis
  • Ian Brunton-Smith
  • Nick Allum
  • Simon Fuglsang

Abstract

A substantial body of research has demonstrated that science knowledge is correlated with attitudes towards science, with most studies finding a positive relationship between the two constructs; people who are more knowledgeable about science tend to be more positive about it. However, this evidence base has been almost exclusively confined to high and middle-income democracies, with poorer and less developed nations excluded from consideration. In this study, we conduct the first global investigation of the science knowledge-attitude relationship, using the 2018 Wellcome Global Monitor survey. Our results show a positive knowledge-attitude correlation in all but one of the 144 countries investigated. This robust cross-national relationship is consistent across both science literacy and self-assessed measures of science knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Sturgis & Ian Brunton-Smith & Nick Allum & Simon Fuglsang, 2024. "Testing the cultural-invariance hypothesis: A global analysis of the relationship between scientific knowledge and attitudes to science," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(2), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0296860
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296860
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Cacciatore, Michael A. & Scheufele, Dietram A. & Shaw, Bret R., 2012. "Labeling renewable energies: How the language surrounding biofuels can influence its public acceptance," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 673-682.
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