October 3rd, 2018 | RESEARCH
Genetic Modification (GM) has been a topic of public debates during the 1990s and 2000s. In this paper we explore the relative importance of two hypothesized explanations for these controversies: (i) people's general attitude toward science and technology and (ii) their trust in governance, in GM actors, and in GM regulations, in explaining the Dutch public's Attitude toward GM applications, and in addition to that, the public's GM Information seeking behaviour. This will be conducted through the application of representative survey methodology. The results indicate that Attitudes toward GM applications are best predicted by both the attitude toward science and technology and three trust measures. GM information seeking is predicted by gender and educational level, as well as attitude toward science and technology, trust in organisations and trust in regulations (negative). Overall, psychological variables seem better predictors than demographics. Implications for future research on information seeking behaviour are discussed.
Document
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Team Members
Lucien Hanssen, Author, Deining Societal CommunicationAnne Dijkstra, Author, University of Twente
Susanne Sleenhoff, Author, Delft University of Technology
Lynn Frewer, Author, Newcastle University
Jan Gutterling, Author, University of Twente
Citation
Identifier Type: issn
Identifier: 1824-2049
Identifier Type: doi
Identifier: 10.22323/2.17040201
Publication: Journal of Science Communication
Volume: 17
Number: 4
Funders
Funding Source: International Public
Funding Program: Netherlands Commission on Genetic Modification
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Tags
Audience: Administration | Leadership | Policymakers | General Public | Scientists
Discipline: Ecology | forestry | agriculture | Technology
Resource Type: Peer-reviewed article | Research Products
Environment Type: Broadcast Media | Comics | Books | Newspapers | Media and Technology | Websites | Mobile Apps | Online Media