Democrats with high science knowledge have more confidence in the scientific method % ofU.S. adults in each group who say the scientific method conclusion the researcher wants Can be used to produce any
Factual knowledge alone does not explain public confidence in the scientific method to produce sound conclusions. Overall, a 63% majority of Americans say the scientific method generally produces sound conclusions, while 35% think it can be used to produce “any result a researcher wants.” People’s level of knowledge can influence beliefs about these matters, but it does so through the lens of partisanship, a tendency known as motivated reasoning.
Democrats with high science knowledge have more  | confidence in the scientific method  | % ofU.S. adults in each group who say the scientific method  | Can be used to produce any  | Generally produces  | conclusion the researcher wants  | accurate conclusions  | U. S. adults  | 35  | 63  | Among Republicans with  | science knowledge  | Can be used to produce any  | Generally produces  | conclusion the researcher wants  | accurate conclusions  | High  | 40  | 59  | Medium  | 47  | 52  | Low  | 48  | 51  | Among Democrats with  | science knowledge  | High  | 86  | 14  | Medium  | 31  | 67  | Low  | 46  | 52  | Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. See Methodology for details  | on index of science knowledge  | Source: Survey conducted Jan. 7-21, 2019  | "Trust and Mistrust in Americans Views of Scientific Experts"  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 