Dietram A. Scheufele|Elizabeth A. Corley|Tsung-Jen Shih|Kajsa E. Dalrymple|Shirley S. Ho
Religious beliefs and public attitudes toward nanotechnology in Europe and the United States
University of Wisconsin–Madison|Arizona State University|University of Wisconsin–Madison|University of Wisconsin–Madison|Nanyang Technological University
citizens make sense nanotechnology applications reach market mainstream media start debate potential risks benefits technology1 many political scientific issues citizens rely cognitive shortcuts heuristics make sense issues low levels knowledge2 heuristics include predispositional factors ideological beliefs value systems3 also shortterm frames reference provided media sources information4 recent research suggests religious filters important heuristic scientific issues general5 nanotechnology particular6 religious filter simple correlation religiosity attitudes toward science refers link benefit perceptions attitudes varies depending respondents levels religiosity surveys seeing benefits nanotechnology consistently linked positive attitudes nanotechnology among less religious respondents effect significantly weaker religious respondents6 study combined public opinion surveys united states eurobarometer surveys public attitudes toward nanotechnology europe compare influence religious beliefs attitudes towards nanotechnology united states europe results show respondents united states significantly less likely agree nanotechnology morally acceptable respondents many european countries moral views correlated directly aggregate levels religiosity country even controlling national research productivity measures science performance highschool students research suggests citizens use religious filters important cognitive shortcut many scientific issues including nanotechnology combining results surveys united states europe found us respondents significantly less likely agree nanotechnology morally acceptable respondents many european countries moral views correlated directly aggregate levels religiosity country