Eurobarometer 55.2 (May-Jun 2001)

The major topics are:1. Science and technology,2. Agriculture,3. The Euro,4. Internet access.Topics:1. Science and technology:interest in selected topics andextent to which informed about topics, such as e.g.sport, politics, business and finances, science and technology, culture;interest in new scientific and technical developments in the areasmedicine, Internet, environmental protection, astronomy, genetics,nanotechnology, economics and social sciences;most important media for information aboutscientific and technical developments (rank order);frequency of visits to scientific and technical museums, art museums,zoos, aquariums and libraries and reasons for not visiting;assessment of the scientific quality of selected sciences;natural science knowledge test;knowledge test about the manner of action with scientific research andthe understanding of probabilities;self-classification of understanding of selected topics such asair pollution, global warming, the greenhouse effect, fuel cell engine,ozone hole, nanotechnology, medication produced with gene-technology,genetically modified food, Internet and BSE;attitude to environmental questions, BSE and health topics (scale);belief in technology and antipathy to technology (scale);attitude to animal experiments, technical progress, the power of the scientist,to basic research, automation, industrial development through research,the Internet as economic motor and the belief in lucky numbers (scale);responsibility of scientists for abuse of their research (scale);scientists, politicians, farmers or food industry asthose responsible for the spreading of BSE andpreferred measures to prevent such problems in the future;attitude to genetically modified foods (scale);occupational prestige of selected occupations;presentation of science and research in the media (scale);trust in institutions in case of an environmental catastrophe;reason for the disinterest of young people in a science career andpreferred measures to increase interest;knowledge about the activities of the EU in scientific and technical areas andassessment of the necessity of these activities;comparison of research on national and European level regardingsavings possibilities, efficiency, significance, economic growth,compatibility with national and industrial interests;preferred measures (research support, promotion of women,Europe-wide cooperation, reducion of ethical misgivings)to increase scientific research within the EU (scale);effects of the EU enlargement on science and technology of the old and new member countries.2. Agriculture:judgement on EU agricultural policy regardingconsumer protection, defense of the interests of farmers andenvironmental protection;preferred goals of EU agricultural policy andjudgement on the implementation of these goals by the EU Commission;attitude to subsidies for agricultural business.3. The Euro:assessment of personal extent to which informed about the Euro;personal interest in the Euro;knowledge test about the fixing of the Euro exchange rate,about the exchange rate of the Euro with one´s national currency,about the time of introduction of the Euro for electronic funds transfers andabout the time of replacing the national currency by the Euro;use of the Euro up to now for electronic funds transfersdomestically and abroad;reasons for non-use and planned start of use;attitude to the Euro;financial investments and purchases of shares in Euro;bank accounts in Euro and intent to convert;convenience of the Euro with dual pricing;rough estimate of the prices of selected goods of daily need in Euro(knowledge test of exchange rate);Except in Germany, Austria and Netherlandsthe following questions were posed:knowledge about the Euro logo in businesses and increased trust in businesses using this logo;expected difficulties converting to the Euro in general and for the respondent personally (scale).4. Internet access:personal use of a computer, Internet, cell phone, cable television, digital television;place of Internet access;reasons for non-use of the Internet and possible motives for possible use;advantages of the Internet;preferred measures to improve Internet access of disadvantaged persons andin public institutions;motives for participating in computer training.Demography:nationality;self-assessment on a left-right continuum;marital status;age at end of education;sex;age;occupation;position in household;occupation of head of household;degree of urbanization;monthly household income.Also encoded was:date of interview and interview time;length of interview;number of persons present during the interview;willingness of respondent to cooperate;city size;region;interviewer number;possession of a telephone.In Luxembourg, Belgium and Finland:interview language.