Studying Science Inequities: How to Use Surveys to Study Diverse Populations

AuthorJames N. Druckman,Robin Bayes,Alauna C. Safarpour
DOI10.1177/00027162221093970
Published date01 March 2022
Date01 March 2022
Subject MatterInequalities
220 ANNALS, AAPSS, 700, March 2022
DOI: 10.1177/00027162221093970
Studying
Science
Inequities: How
to Use Surveys
to Study
Diverse
Populations
By
ROBIN BAYES,
JAMES N. DRUCKMAN,
and
ALAUNA C. SAFARPOUR
1093970ANN THE ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMYSTUDYING SCIENCE INEQUITIES
research-article2022
Scholars have long documented unequal access to the
benefits of science among different groups in the
United States. Particular populations, such as low-
income, non–white people, and Indigenous people,
fare worse when it comes to health care, infectious
diseases, climate change, and access to technology.
These types of inequities can be partially addressed
with targeted interventions aimed at facilitating access
to scientific information. Doing so requires knowledge
about what different groups think when it comes to
relevant scientific topics. Yet data collection efforts for
the study of most science-based issues do not include
enough respondents from these populations. We dis-
cuss this gap and offer an overview of pertinent sam-
pling and administrative considerations in studying
underserved populations. A sustained effort to study
diverse populations, including through community
partnerships, can help to address extant inequities.
Keywords: inequality; survey research; sampling;
racial disparities; COVID-19; climate
change; science communication
Scientists in the United States have made
transformative discoveries that have
improved societal well-being. Yet the United
States also has a long, unsettling history of
unequal access to these advances. This une-
qual access exacerbates disparate impacts of
Robin Bayes is a PhD candidate in political science at
Northwestern University. Her research centers on sci-
ence communication and the science beliefs and atti-
tudes of the U.S. public.
James N. Druckman is the Payson S. Wild Professor of
Political Science and a faculty fellow at the Institute for
Policy Research at Northwestern University. He is also
an honorary professor of political science at Aarhus
University in Denmark.
Alauna C. Safarpour is a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard
Kennedy School. Her research focuses on prejudice
reduction, public opinion of racial and ethnic minori-
ties, and American racial attitudes.
Correspondence: druckman@northwestern.edu

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT