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How does background affect attitudes to socioscientific issues in Taiwan?
1Swedish National Graduate School in Science and Technology Education Research, Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Linköping University, Sweden. shunuchang@gmail.com
Public Understanding of Science (Bristol, England)
|March 9, 2012
Summary
Public awareness of genetically modified (GM) food and DDT increased with education. However, buying intentions and attitudes toward these socioscientific issues (SSIs) were not linked to education but rather the specific issue itself.
Area of Science:
- Socioscientific Issues (SSIs)
- Science Education
- Public Understanding of Science
Background:
- Scientific literacy is crucial for informed decision-making, especially concerning complex socioscientific issues (SSIs).
- Understanding public perception of SSIs like genetically modified (GM) food, organic food, and DDT is vital for policy and education.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the Taiwanese public's awareness, purchase/use inclinations, and attitudes towards GM food, organic food, and DDT and malaria (DDT).
- To explore the relationship between demographic factors (education, vocation, gender) and public perception of these SSIs.
Main Methods:
- Survey data collected from 865 participants across diverse educational levels and vocations in Taiwan.
- Statistical analysis to validate and interpret awareness, inclinations, and attitudes concerning the selected SSIs.
Main Results:
- Awareness of GM food and DDT significantly increased with higher levels of education.
- Inclinations to buy/use and attitudes towards GM food, organic food, and DDT were not significantly associated with education, vocation, or gender.
- Perceptions were primarily influenced by the specific attributes of each SSI.
Conclusions:
- Educational attainment correlates with awareness of certain SSIs, particularly GM food and DDT.
- Public attitudes and purchasing intentions are complex, influenced more by issue-specific characteristics than demographics.
- Findings offer insights for developing targeted educational strategies and public policy related to SSIs.
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