Gordon Gauchat|Kenneth T. Andrews
The Cultural-Cognitive Mapping of Scientific Professions
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee|University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
even widespread interest public perceptions science remain understudied poorly theorized social scientists central issue persistent assumption publics require base scientific knowledge science broad cultural meaning yet recent advances cultural cognitive sociology point alternative research programs seeking identify publics come understand complex uncertain issues information incomplete asymmetric use approach analyze data public perceptions scientific different fields 2006 2012 national science foundations science technology survey multivariate analyses allow us approximate mass publics map social space scientific professions accounting individuals social location cultural identity eg race class gender age scientific sophistication political ideology focus attention public perceptions sociology economics overall find public perceptions rather disorganized map onto recognizable dimensions indicating publics distinguish scientific professions