TY - JOUR
T1 - Measuring risk/benefit perceptions of emerging technologies and their potential impact on communication of public opinion toward science
AU - Binder, Andrew R.
AU - Cacciatore, Michael A.
AU - Scheufele, Dietram A.
AU - Shaw, Bret R.
AU - Corley, Elizabeth
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (grant number SES-0531194); and the United States Department of Agriculture (grant number MSN-120801). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the United States Department of Agriculture.
PY - 2012/10
Y1 - 2012/10
N2 - This study presents a systematic comparison of two alternative measures of citizens' perceptions of risks and benefits of emerging technologies. By focusing on two specific issues (nanotechnology and biofuels), we derive several insights for the measurement of public views of science. Most importantly, our analyses reveal that relying on global, single-item measures may lead to invalid inferences regarding external influences on public perceptions, particularly those related to cognitive schema and media use. Beyond these methodological implications, this analysis suggests several reasons why researchers in the area of public attitudes toward science must revisit notions of measurement in order to accurately inform the general public, policymakers, scientists, and journalists about trends in public opinion toward emerging technologies.
AB - This study presents a systematic comparison of two alternative measures of citizens' perceptions of risks and benefits of emerging technologies. By focusing on two specific issues (nanotechnology and biofuels), we derive several insights for the measurement of public views of science. Most importantly, our analyses reveal that relying on global, single-item measures may lead to invalid inferences regarding external influences on public perceptions, particularly those related to cognitive schema and media use. Beyond these methodological implications, this analysis suggests several reasons why researchers in the area of public attitudes toward science must revisit notions of measurement in order to accurately inform the general public, policymakers, scientists, and journalists about trends in public opinion toward emerging technologies.
KW - public consultations
KW - public understanding of science
KW - risk perception
KW - science communication
KW - science policy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80051590774&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80051590774&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0963662510390159
DO - 10.1177/0963662510390159
M3 - Article
C2 - 23832561
AN - SCOPUS:80051590774
SN - 0963-6625
VL - 21
SP - 830
EP - 847
JO - Public Understanding of Science
JF - Public Understanding of Science
IS - 7
ER -