Study title

Since 2014, Wissenschaft im Dialog has been using the science barometer to collect population-representative data on the attitudes of German citizens towards science and research on an annual basis. The aim is to contribute to a fact-based discourse on the relationship between science and the public and targeted science communication by collecting, processing and communicating the results. The questionnaire of the science barometer contains corresponding questions on cognitive attitudes such as interest and information and the respondents´ information behaviour on topics from science and research. In addition, evaluative attitudes will be collected on issues such as trust, the assessment of the benefits and risks of science and the social role of research. The questions are aimed at general attitudes towards science and research. In individual cases, questions are also devoted to specific research areas or technologies or, alternately, to current developments in science and the public. The science barometers 2014 to 2016 were sponsored by the Philip Morris Foundation, the science barometers 2017 to 2019 by the Robert Bosch Foundation. Topics: 1. Interest in and knowledge of science and research: interest in politics, economics and finance, culture, sport and science and research; association with science or research (open); interest in scientific topics of specific fields (medicine, technology and new technologies, natural sciences, social sciences and humanities); knowledge of science and research. 2. Information behaviour on science and research: satisfaction with reporting on science and research in the media; perception of various topics from science and research in the media (open). 3. Participation and involvement of citizens in science and research: involvement in decisions on science and research is personally important; sufficient involvement of the public in science and research; insufficient efforts by scientists to inform the public about their...