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Science skepticism across 24 countries

Rutjens, Bastiaan T., Sengupta, Nikhil Kumar, van der Lee, Romy, van Koningsbruggen, Guido M., Martens, Jason P., Rabelo, André, Sutton, Robbie M. (2021) Science skepticism across 24 countries. Social Psychological and Personality Science, . ISSN 1948-5506. E-ISSN 1948-5514. (doi:10.1177/19485506211001329) (KAR id:87366)

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Abstract

Efforts to understand and remedy the rejection of science are impeded by lack of insight into how it varies in degree and in kind around the world. The current work investigates science skepticism in 24 countries (N = 5973). Results show that while some countries stand out as generally high or low in skepticism, predictors of science skepticism are relatively similar across countries. One notable effect was consistent across countries though stronger in WEIRD nations: General faith in science was predicted by spirituality, suggesting that it, more than religiosity, may be the ‘enemy’ of science acceptance. Climate change skepticism was mainly associated with political conservatism, especially in North America. Other findings were observed across WEIRD and non-WEIRD nations: Vaccine skepticism was associated with spirituality and scientific literacy, GM skepticism with scientific literacy, and evolution skepticism with religious orthodoxy. Levels of science skepticism are heterogeneous across countries, but predictors of science skepticism are heterogeneous across domains.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1177/19485506211001329
Uncontrolled keywords: science skepticism, spirituality, ideology, climate change, vaccination, WEIRD, genetic modification, evolution, religion
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Signature Themes: Food Systems, Natural Resources and Environment
Depositing User: Robbie Sutton
Date Deposited: 29 Mar 2021 09:56 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Jul 2023 12:57 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/87366 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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