Gene Technology, 1989

This survey deals with people's knowledge of and attitude to new technology and science in general and to genetic engineering in particular. # Some of the questions dealing with new technology and science in general (which are to map out general interest in and attitude to the subject) were translated from interview surveys carried out in the United States. # Another group of questions deal specifically with genetic engineering, i.e. artificial coupling of genes from different individuals. The purpose of these questions is to map out: # #- The respondent's attitude to genetic engineering in specific # contexts. #- The respondent's general attitude. #- The respondent's attitude to the debate on genetic engineering. #- The respondent's interest in the debate. #- The respondent's confidence in various groups of persons taking # part in the debate. #- The respondent's actual knowledge of various aspects of # genetic engineering. # #Finally, a number of questions are asked about the respondent's attitudes to and interest in politics. This is done because previous research has shown that grouping according to these political criteria is essential in connection with analyses of attitudes to technology and science. # The survey, which was carried out in connection with the Danish Omnibus Survey, April 1989 (DDA-1479), is the second part of a major project entitled 'Genteknologi: innovation og social bevægelse' (Gene Technology: Innovation and Social Movement). The first phase, which examines the development of attitudes to gene technology in the period 1987-88, is based on three surveys carried out by the AIM Institute in September 1987, February 1988, and May 1988. (The first and the last of these surveys form part of a more comprehensive electorate panel study carried out in connection with two general elections, DDA-1480: Danish Electorate Studies, September 1987 and May 1988)