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Updated: Jan 12, 2026

The Collective Trust Game: An Online Group Adaptation of the Trust Game Based on the HoneyComb Paradigm
Published on: October 20, 2022
Mapping patterns of trust in science and scientists
1Cluster of Excellence Politics of Inequality, Konstanz, Germany; University of Konstanz, Germany.
Abstract:
Public trust in science and in scientists is often conflated, yet these are distinct concepts shaped by different factors. This review synthesizes recent scholarship to highlight three insights. First, separating trust in science (confidence in scientific claims) from trust in scientists (judgments of credibility and motives) can help resolve persistent inconsistencies across disciplines. Second, sociocultural and political environments exert stronger influences on trust than commonly acknowledged, explaining cross-national variation. Third, science is not monolithic: trust levels differ across domains and issues, partly due to politicization. The review identifies important gaps, including the need for multi-dimensional measures, globally comparative research, and strategies to convey uncertainty without eroding credibility. Addressing these challenges can help advance both theory and practice.
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