Abstract

“Follow the science” became the mantra for responding to COVID-19 pandemic. However, for the public this also meant “follow the scientists,” and this led to uneasiness as some viewed scientists as not credible. We investigate how beliefs about the way scientists develop their findings affect pandemic-related views. Our analysis shows that beliefs about scientists’ objectivity predict views regrading coronavirus-related risks, behavioral changes, and policy priorities. While political party identity also predicts views about COVID-19-related concerns, these vary by political leaders whose approaches embraced versus dismissed science based strategies, highlighting the importance of perceptions of scientists in shaping pandemic related attitudes and beliefs.

Department

Sociology

Publication Date

2021

Journal Title

Journal of Science Communication

Publisher

Sissa Medialab

Document Type

Article

Comments

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Sissa Medialab in the Journal of Science Communication in 2021, available online:

https://doi.org/10.22323/2.20070203

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