The moral authority of science: Evidence from parliamentary debates in seven countries

Figures & data

Table 1. Occurrence of mentions of science by policy sector.

	Science & technology (n = 259)	Education (n = 154)	Environment (n = 147)	Health (n = 72)	Fiscal (n = 61)	Social (n = 20)	Foreign & security (n = 16)	Others, incl. Civic, Consumer, and Crime (n = 117)
Science as a particular term	99	63	90	55	29	12	10	63
Science as an abstract term	192	48	71	17	36	15	7	63
Science as a school subject	24	103	4	5	13	0	4	21
Science contested (mildly)	17	4	28	12	2	3	0	3
Science contested (definitely)	7	0	1	1	1	0	0	3
Connected to progress (mildly)	50	17	21	19	24	2	3	9
Connected to Progress (definitely)	36	5	6	5	7	0	0	9

Table 2. Statistical relationship between referents of ‘science’ and the policy sector. Pearson Chi-Square values and Phi measures of association reported.

Policy sector	Referent of science
	Particular field	Abstract	School subject
Science & Technology	19.883** (−.153)	66.461** (.280)	29.180** (−.186)
Education	5.904* (−0.84)	6.213* (−0.86)	247.209** (.541)
Environment	9.348** (.105)	1.628 (−.044)	34.684** (−.202)
Health	22.316** (.162)	27.428** (−.180)	8.940** (−.103)
Fiscal	.130 (−.012)	.932 (.033)	.22 (.005)

*p < 0.05.

**p < 0.01.

Table 3. Relation of the idea of progress to ‘science’ mentions in four policy sectors and according to whether science is referred as a particular field, in the abstract, or as a school subject. Pearson Chi-Square values and Phi measures of association reported.

Referent of ‘science’	Science as a particular field	.209 (−.016)
	Science as an abstract term	11.584** (.117)
	Science as a school subject	10.573** (−.112)
Policy sector	Science & technology policy	12.768** (.123)
	Environmental policy	5.841* (−.083)
	Education policy	9.937** (−.108)
	Health policy	2.779 (.057)
	Fiscal policy	22.946** (.165)

Note: Progress is taken here as a binary variable (mild and definite categories are merged together).

*p < 0.05.

**p < 0.01.

Table 4. Relation of the contests to ‘science’ mentions in four policy sectors and according to whether science is referred as a particular field, in the abstract, or as a school subject. Pearson Chi-Square values and Phi measures of association reported.

Referent of ‘science’	Science as a particular field	1.056 (.035)
	Science as an abstract term	.021 (.005)
	Science as a school subject	20.916** (−.158)
Policy sector	Science & technology policy	.077 (−.010)
	Environmental policy	20.469** (.156)
	Education policy	10.828** (−.113)
	Health policy	6.288* (.086)
	Fiscal policy	1.712 (−.045)

Note: Contest is taken here as a binary variable (mild and definite categories are merged together).

*p < 0.05.

**p < 0.01.