70% of Americans say the ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus are well understood % ofU.S adults who say that when it comes to research about the ways to prevent the spread of coronavirus
As the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise in the U.S., a majority of Americans say that the best ways to prevent the spread of the disease are pretty well understood. And even as some research studies have suggested conflicting advice about efforts to confront COVID-19, most Americans consider this to be an understandable part of the research process, rather than a sign that research studies can’t be trusted.
Seven-in-ten Americans say the core strategies for containing the coronavirus are well understood, even though research studies have yielded conflicting advice. A far smaller share (28%) says it’s difficult to know how best to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted April 29-May 5, 2020.
As scientific understanding of the coronavirus continues to evolve, most Americans (78%) say it makes sense that studies may have conflicting advice because research is constantly improving; just 21% say research studies cannot really be trusted because so many studies have conflicting advice.
70% of Americans say the ways to prevent the spread  | of the coronavirus are well understood  | % ofU.S adults who say that when it comes to research about the ways to  | prevent the spread of coronavirus  | It is difficult to know how to  | The core ideas of how to prevent the spread  | prevent the spread due to  | are well understood, even though  | conflicting research  | research studies conflict  | 28  | 70  | It makes sense that studies have conflicting  | Research studies cannot really  | be trusted conflicting because so many  | advice because research is constantly  | studies have conflicting advice  | improving  | 21  | 78  | Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.  | Source: Survey conducted April 29-May 5, 2020.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 