Patrick Sturgis|Helen Cooper|Chris Fife?Schaw
Attitudes to biotechnology: Estimating the opinions of a better-informed public
University of Surrey|University of Surrey|University of Surrey
public familiarity basic scientific concepts principles proposed essential effective democratic decisionmaking miller 1998 empirical research however finds public scientific literacy generally low falling well short normative criteria would consider acceptable prompted calls better engage educate inform public scientific matters additional usually implicit assumption knowledgeable citizenry express supportive favourable attitudes toward science research investigating notion know science love provided weak empirical support criticised representing science technology unified homogenous entity practice argued knowledge impacts favourability attitudes depend multiplicity actors least particular area science question technologies gives rise evans durant 1992 article uses new method examining knowledgeattitude nexus prominent area 21st century sciencebiotechnology idea greater scientific knowledge engender change favourability attitudes toward specific areas science investigated using data 2000 british social attitudes survey 1999 wellcome consultative panel gene therapy together surveys measure public opinion particular applications genetic technologies including gene therapy use genetic data well general attitudes towards genetic research focus analysis two different measures knowledge impact attitudes one general measure scientific knowledge relating specifically knowledge modern genetic science investigate impact knowledge domains attitudes toward biotechnology using regressionbased modelling technique bartels 1996 althaus 1998 sturgis 2003 controlling range sociodemographic characteristics provide estimates collective individual opinion would look like everyone knowledgeable currently bestinformed members general public knowledge domains question findings demonstrate scientific knowledge appear important role determining individual group attitudes genetic science however find support simple deficit model public understanding nature relationship depends application biotechnology question social location individual