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Now for another type of question. People have frequently noted that scientific research has produced benefits and harmful results. Would you say that, on balance, the benefits of scientific research have outweighed the harmful results, or have the harmful results of scientific research been greater than its benefits?
Benefits versus harms of scientific research, with volunteered option · Asked in 1 wave, 2021 · 1,873 responses · weighted estimates computed from individual responses
| Group | Benefits greater | About equal (phone mode only: volunteered) | Harmful results greater | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents | 56% | 41% | 3% | 1873 | ±3 | |
| Protestant | 49% | 47% | 4% | 782 | ±4 | |
| Catholic | 55% |
General Social Survey 2021 · US adults 18+ living in households (English, and Spanish since 2006). Shares of people who gave an answer. n is unweighted; ± is the 95% margin of error at 50% from the weighted effective sample. Groups with an effective sample under 50 are grayed; under 20, hidden.
| Poll | Field dates | Mode | Respondents | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Social Survey 2021 | 2020-12-03 to 2021-05-02 | web | 4,032 | 1,873 |
| 43% |
| 2% |
| 409 |
| ±6 |
| Jewish † | 89% | 11% | – | 34 | ±20 |
| Other faith | 55% | 38% | 7% | 90 | ±13 |
| None | 64% | 33% | 3% | 540 | ±5 |