The latest episode of the Data Foundation's Data for the People! podcast features David Dutwin, Executive Vice President of NORC's AmeriSpeak panel, discussing public trust in federal statistics.
Drawing from an American Statistical Association report released last December, Dutwin reports that:
- Only 23% of U.S. adults say they've ever used federal data.
- Only 37% believe federal agency statistics are generally accurate.
However, those who use federal data frequently are significantly more likely to trust it and to understand the strong privacy protections behind it.
Dutwin frames the trust gap as part of a broader societal trend of declining confidence in institutions, from Congress to public schools to science itself. He also makes the case for why more Americans should participate in surveys, calling it "an opportunity, not an inconvenience."
Worth a listen for anyone working at the intersection of federal data and public engagement. đź”— Full episode here
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Mark Mather
Associate VP
PRB
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