Sources of Science News and Scientific Articles
Scientists, inventors, and fans of science-fiction movies and television shows have a wide range of information sources to choose from when it comes to learning about their favorite science topics. A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that Americans generally have a relatively high level of interest in science news and scientific articles. In fact, a small but active group of scientists and science enthusiasts is embedded within the general public. This group is more likely to have had a science-related hobby, have attended informal science learning venues in the past year, and participate in citizen science research projects. They are also more likely to be college-educated and have a higher income.
The Pew survey measured the consumption of scientific news and scientific articles among 4,024 adult Americans. It asked a series of questions about the type of sources consumers used for information on scientific matters and how they felt about their experience with these sources. Among all types of sources, Americans perceive the most accurate and trustworthy sources to be specialty sources, such as science museums and documentaries. However, these specialty sources are becoming less frequent.
One of the most popular ways for Americans to receive scientific information is through social media. About a quarter of social media users follow science-related pages or accounts, and about a third place a high importance on such posts. Although many Americans use social media for a variety of reasons, only a fraction of these consumers consider it to be a crucial way to get science news. Looking more visit visir.
According to the Pew Research Center, one-in-six Americans get at least a few science-related stories each week. These consumers are more likely than other Americans to have attended informal science learning venues in the last year, have a science-related hobby, and are college-educated. Furthermore, they enjoy following science news more than other types of news. Moreover, these consumers are more likely to share science-related content with friends and family.
For this study, a nationwide sample of adults was surveyed. Survey participants were asked about their hobbies, how they learned about science, and the impact of science news and entertainment on their lives. There was a margin of error of plus or minus 1.6 percentage points. Overall, the survey found that 57% of Americans felt that their news media covers science well, and that specialty sources like science museums and documentaries provide the most accurate and trustworthy science news.
As part of the survey, respondents were also asked about their participation in citizen science research projects. Those who reported participating were much more likely than others to say that they had participated in citizen science activities such as collecting data samples or contributing to an online crowd-sourcing campaign. Also, younger adults were more likely to be involved in citizen science.
Overall, the study found that fewer American adults rely regularly on specialty sources, including science museums, documentaries, and other outlets. Rather, a growing segment of the population receives a lot of scientific news from general news outlets, such as newspapers and magazines.