Pew studies correlation of Age and education level with population views on science

Survey finds generational gap on science issues - http://ift.tt/1RePxhc

Quote:

(…)Pew analyzed 22 different science issues in a survey of 2,002 people nationwide last August and a few later polls to see what demographic factors divide the nation on science issues. (…)Political ideology remained a key reason for the nation’s divide on climate change and energy use, but when it came to other issues — especially medical ones — age and factors such as race and education played a bigger role. (…)More than 70 percent of Democrats and independents who lean toward that party say Earth is warming because of humans, compared to 27 percent of their Republican counterparts. Likewise, 60 percent of people under 30 say climate change is real, compared to just 31 percent of people 65 and older. (…)Among the young, 56 percent opposed nuclear power, but 57 percent of seniors favored it. (…)Forty-one percent of younger people said parents should decide on whether to vaccinate children, compared to just 20 percent of seniors. Democrats were less likely to favor parents decide on vaccines than Republicans. When asked if people should have access to experimental medications that haven’t been fully tested yet for safety, slightly more than half the young people said no, but nearly two-thirds of the people between age 50 and 64 said yes. In younger adults, 56 percent approved of using genetic modifications to reduce disease risk for babies; among seniors, 56 percent oppose it. On the issue of genetically modified food, the biggest factor was science education. The only groups of people who felt that genetically modified food were generally safe were those with a postgraduate degree and those with more science knowledge. Everyone else felt the food was unsafe. One science issue doesn’t divide the public: The support for space was broad and diverse, Rainie said, calling it one of those issues “where there’s a special public attachment.”

Link to actual poll: “Americans, Politics and Science Issues” - http://ift.tt/1IZxge7

While the political identification of respondents is increasingly typical and expected, I find the strong effect correlations to age and education to be the most telling, and indicative of generational changes rather than simple liberal youth and conservative elders tendencies. Altogether a very interesting study particularly with regard to those who are interested in science issues advocacies.

via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/1RePxhe