I think this topic should be covered in the next Bogosity Podcast: http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2014/02/public-opinion-astrology-dumb
"According to data from the National Science Foundation's just-released 2014 Science and Engineering Indicators study, Americans are moving in Perry's direction. In particular, the NSF reports that the percentage of Americans who think astrology is "not at all scientific" declined from 62 percent in 2010 to just 55 percent in 2012 (the last year for which data is available). As a result, NSF reports that Americans are apparently less skeptical of astrology than they have been at any time since 1983."
(http://www.motherjones.com/files/astrology2.png)
Not surprisingly enough, most of the people buying into astrology woo-woo are young people ages 18-26. I consider it ironic that many "New Atheists" assume that the next generation is becoming more "rational" and "logical" because they are losing faith in God, yet statistics show the opposite to be true: more and more young people are buying into pseudoscience such as astrology and alternative medicine. It's like people are only replacing one "superstition" with another.
To be fair, the overall long term trend according to the graph you embedded *is* getting more and more rational. However, the people who are getting into it--especially the 18-24 year old demographic who have the technology and skills to use it to look up and debunk this kind of pseudo-scientific crap should be ashamed of themselves.
True, though either way you slice it, whether it's 62% or 55%, that's well more than half the population that believes tastrology is real.
Quote from: BlameThe1st on February 11, 2014, 03:02:45 PM
True, though either way you slice it, whether it's 62% or 55%, that's well more than half the population that believes tastrology is real.
Uh, reread the graph: it's just the opposite! 55% believe it's "not at all scientific."
Am I reading this report correctly? Over time people are becoming LESS scientifically literate but MORE in favor of government funding of science?
Quote from: MrBogosity on February 11, 2014, 05:35:57 PMUh, reread the graph: it's just the opposite! 55% believe it's "not at all scientific."
Seconded.
Quote from: MrBogosity on February 11, 2014, 05:46:54 PMAm I reading this report correctly? Over time people are becoming LESS scientifically literate but MORE in favor of government funding of science?
Sounds right to me.
Quote from: MrBogosity on February 11, 2014, 05:46:54 PM
Am I reading this report correctly? Over time people are becoming LESS scientifically literate but MORE in favor of government funding of science?
Seems predictable. The less scientifically literate people are, the more vulnerable they are to all manner of woo.
Quote from: MrBogosity on February 11, 2014, 05:46:54 PM
Am I reading this report correctly? Over time people are becoming LESS scientifically literate but MORE in favor of government funding of science?
Only as long as it agrees with them, like creationism or homeopathy...