The influence of science knowledge on energy attitudes depends on politics % of U.S. adults who favor/oppose expanding each energy source Offshore oil and gas drilling Low Medium High
The same pattern was found for people’s beliefs about energy issues. The survey found that Republicans more than Democrats favored expanding fossil fuel energy sources, as has been the case in past Pew Research Center surveys. The 2016 survey found that the vast majority of Democrats with high science knowledge opposed expanding offshore oil drilling, fracking and coal mining. Democrats with low science knowledge were more closely divided over these issues. Republicans’ views about these energy issues were about the same regardless of their level of science knowledge.
The influence of science knowledge on  | energy attitudes depends on politics  | % of U.S. adults who favor/oppose expanding each  | energy source  | Offshore oil and gas drilling  | Republican  | Democrat  | Among those with  | Among those with  | science knowledge  | science knowledge  | 29  | Oppose  | 37  | 31  | 50  | 64  | 85  | 68  | 64  | 63  | Favor  | 45  | 33  | 14  | Low Medium High  | Low Medium High  | Fracking  | 36  | 38  | 39  | 45  | 63  | 94  | 60  | 58  | 55  | 47  | 34  | 5  | Low Medium High  | Low Medium High  | Coal mining  | 26  | 40  | 37  | 58  | 76  | 96  | 71  | 60  | 59  | 37  | 22  | 3  | Low Medium High  | Low Medium High  | Nuclear power  | 24  | 49  | 55  | 55  | 59  | 65  | 75  | 50  | 43  | 40  | 37  | 33  | Low Medium High  | Low Medium High  | Note Republicans and Democrats include independents and other  | nonpa rtisa ns who "lean toward the parties Science knowledge  | based on nine -item index  | Source Survey conducted May10-June 6, 2016  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 