The Pew Research Center folks recently released a study that examines perceptions of science and scientists in America. Section 5 addresses the hot topics of evolution and climate change. Nothing new here, of course.
Nearly all scientists (97%) say humans and other living things have evolved over time – 87% say evolution is due to natural processes, such as natural selection. The dominant position among scientists – that living things have evolved due to natural processes – is shared by only about third (32%) of the public.
…
Despite the overwhelming agreement among scientists about evolution and climate change, substantial minorities of Americans think there is no scientific consensus on these issues. While a 60% majority of the public says that scientists generally agree that humans have evolved over time, nearly three-in-ten (28%) say that scientists do not generally agree.
The 97% figure is shockingly low – what’s up with that?
I guess that’s “all scientists,” which may even include computer scientists. It’s probably not a sampling limited to the biological sciences.
+/-3% margin of error?
One really has to question the validity of this. From the link, it seems that “scientist” has been defined as a member of AAAS –
“The survey of the general public was conducted on landlines and cell phones among 2,001 adults April 28-May 12; the online survey of scientists was conducted among a sample of 2,533 members of the AAAS from May 1-June 14.”
To become a member of AAAS, it seems that a credit card number is more important than a doctorate. There’s even a “student membership” available.
https://pubs.aaas.org/org_membership/new_member_setup.asp
For some reason, Texas State BOE (acting) chair McLeroy’s comment on evolution being unquestioningly included in Texas education standards:
“Somebody has to stand up the experts!”
Kinda sums up the disparity between scientists (even if all that is required is AAAS membership, which is probably not a bad sampling of mainstream science) and the public.
Oops! Hit submit too early …
For some reason, this brings to my mind Texas State BOE (acting) chair McLeroy’s comment on evolution being unquestioningly included in Texas education standards:
“Somebody has to stand up the experts!”
Kinda sums up the disparity between scientists (even if all that is required is AAAS membership, which is probably not a bad sampling of mainstream science) and the public.
BobH,
Good work, I had a feeling something was amiss. If they actually polled practicing scientists, the number would round to 100%.
Exactly, James. If you narrowed the poll to practicing scientists working in some aspect of biology, I wonder if you’d even have to round.