Conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats score higher on science knowledge Mean number of correct answers out of11 Party
Republicans and Democrats have similar levels of understanding about science, in contrast to the wide differences by education and racial and ethnic group. Republicans and independents who lean to the Republican Party average seven correct answers, while Democrats and independents who lean to the Democratic Party average 6.6.
Those at the ends of the political spectrum – liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans – score higher than those in the middle, however. On average, liberal Democrats get 7.8 correct answers and conservative Republicans score 7.4. In comparison, moderate and liberal Republicans get an average of 6.5 correct answers, while moderate and conservative Democrats get an average of 5.6.
Conservative Republicans and liberal  | Democrats score higher on science  | knowledge  | Mean number of correct answers out of11  | Party  | Rep./lean Rep.  | 7.0  | Dem./lean Dem.  | 6.6  | Party by ideology  | Cons, Rep.  | 7.4  | Mod. /ib. Rep.  | 6.5  | Mod./ cons Dem.  | 5.6  | Lib. Dem.  | 7.8  | Notes: Republicans and Democrats include independents and  | others who "lean toward the parties All questions are multiple  | choice, for full question wording see topline.  | Source: Survey conducted Jan. 7-21 2019  | "What Americans Know About Science  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 