Scientists trusted less than business leaders when discussing social issues, study finds

Scientists were perceived as more credible than government officials, but were not more credible than businesspeople or issue advocates. Scientists were viewed as more credible when discussing technological issues than when discussing non-technological social issues such as health, education and employment. Three forms of distrust – concerns about vested interests, political or ideological bias, and the relevance of scientific knowledge – were associated with lower credibility for scientists.