Assessing the incremental value of intellectual humility and cognitive reflection in predicting trust in science

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious studies show that trust in science is an important predictor of health behavior. While it varies significantly in the population, the factors explaining this variability are not fully understood. In the present study, we first aimed to investigate the role of previously documented predictors of trust in science, specifically education, political conservatism, religiousness, conspiracy ideation, and openness to experience. Second, we aimed to investigate the incremental value of two novel predictors - intellectual humility and cognitive reflection. MethodAn adult sample from the United States (N = 705) completed an online questionnaire containing basic demographic questions and measures of trust in science and the proposed predictors. FindingsThe results showed that political conservatism, religiousness, conspiracy ideation, and openness to experience significantly contributed to trust in science, while education did not. Furthermore, after controlling for these factors, an aspect of intellectual humility, openness to revising one's viewpoint, emerged as one of the key predictors of trust in science. ConclusionOur study provides a better understanding of factors contributing to trust in science and highlights a novel malleable factor that could be addressed with future interventions.