This document discusses trust and trustworthiness in science and scientists in the USA. It presents data showing levels of confidence in various institutions like the military, scientific community, and Supreme Court over time. It differentiates between behavioral trust and trustworthiness beliefs, noting the importance for communication strategy. Building trust requires demonstrating trustworthiness through behaviors, what is said, and how it is communicated. While efforts to communicate trustworthiness are ethical, fostering these beliefs will take time and organizations cannot reach everyone. Scientific groups should work to genuinely be trustworthy and address any weaknesses in how they are perceived.

1. Trust and Trustworthiness of
Science and Scientists in the USA
Dr. John C. Besley, Ellis N. Brandt Professor
College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Michigan State University
This material is based upon work supported by the
National Science Foundation (NSF, Grant AISL
1421214-1421723. Any opinions, findings,
conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this
material are those of the authors and do not
necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.

2. A grounding conceptual premise for talking about trust …

3. Honest/Integrity Benevolent/Caring Willing to listen/Open Similar/Shared Values Able/Competent
Smile, eparles; Listen, Montse PB; Charlotte, Sisters 4; Lindsay Bremer, Lamu Kenya: Stonetown Academy Suggestion Box, State Farm, Graduation & Safe Driving, all via Flickr Creative Commons
… ‘trustworthiness-’ and ‘fairness’ as beliefs
Behavioral trust as a willingness to make oneself vulnerable is different from …
[The ‘bank run’ in It’s a Wonderful Life]

4. Some data from the USA …

5. Military
Scientific community
Medicine
U.S. Supreme Court
Education
Major companies
Press
The classic Question:
As far as the people
running these institutions
are concerned, would you
say that you have
a great deal of confidence,
only some confidence, or
hardly any confidence at all
in them?
[Figure shows only
responses for "a great deal
of confidence.“]
National Center for Science and
Engineering Statistics, National
Science Foundation, Survey of
Public Attitudes Toward and
Understanding of Science and
Technology (1983–2001); NORC
at the University of Chicago,
General Social Survey (2012–18).

6. Pew Research
Center is now
polling on
trust and
trustworthiness

7. National Center for Science and
Engineering Statistics, National
Science Foundation, Survey of
Public Attitudes Toward and
Understanding of Science and
Technology (1983–2001); NORC
at the University of Chicago,
General Social Survey (2012–18).
Pew Research
Center is now
polling on
trust and
trustworthiness

8. Why does differentiating behavioral trust and
trustworthiness beliefs matter to communication strategy?
Option 1:
You need to build trust
Option 2:
You need to foster beliefs
about your willingness
eagerness to listen …
Imagine someone suggests that …

9. Option 1:
You need to build trust
Option 2:
You need to foster beliefs
about your willingness
eagerness to listen …
How do
you behave?
What do
you say?
How do
you say it?
Where do you
communicate?
Why does differentiating behavioral trust and
trustworthiness beliefs matter to communication strategy?
Imagine someone suggests that …

10. One potential barrier:
Is it ethical to put effort (e.g., time) into communicating trustworthiness?
I think so? People seem to want the information …
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
Scientists'
openess
Respondent
self-efficacy
Risks and
benefits
Scientific
results
Scientists'
integrity
efforts
Scientific
methods
Scientists
abilities
Scientists'
motivations
COVID-19 (n = ~400)
GM Food (n = ~400)
American’s Perceived importance of providing various types of information
in the context of a local 60-minute talk (Quota Sample)

11. Where to …
1. Scientific organizations should make sure they are genuinely trustworthy …
and only then …
2. Scientific organizations should track how they are perceived
(perceived benevolence, integrity, ability, openness, shared values).
3. Science communicators should strategize to address key weaknesses
in how they are perceived (through behavior + communication).

12. Serenity Prayer
Reinhold Nieburh
God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
[Which I always find relevant to the idea that fostering trustworthiness beliefs is
something that’ll take time; and the reality that you’ll never reach everyone.]