Scientists' Opinions on COVID-19: A Quick Global Survey

Imagine a global network of scientists sharing their views on important topics. In June 2023, a team of philosophers and social scientists kicked off an innovative project. They created an international network with a novel survey method. Local coordinators in 30 institutions across 12 countries sent emails to scientists. The email linked to a super-quick '10 second survey'. Participants saw one statement and rated their agreement on a five-point scale.

The statement? "Science has proved that COVID-19 is caused by a virus. " Over 20, 000 scientists were asked, and 6, 807 responded. This shows that quick, global surveys of scientists are possible. They have high response rates and can be repeated many times. This new way of measuring scientific opinion could help guide policies and public understanding on various topics.

Actions