Eurobarometer 55.2 (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 and extent 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 areas medicine, Internet, environmental protection, astronomy, genetics, nanotechnology, economics and social sciences; most important media for information about scientific 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 and the understanding of probabilities; self-classification of understanding of selected topics such as air 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 as those responsible for the spreading of BSE and preferred 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 and preferred measures to increase interest; knowledge about the activities of the EU in scientific and technical areas and assessment of the necessity of these activities; comparison of research on national and European level regarding savings 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: judgment on EU agricultural policy regarding consumer protection, defense of the interests of farmers and environmental protection; preferred goals of EU agricultural policy and judgment 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 and about the time of replacing the national currency by the Euro; use of the Euro up to now for electronic funds transfers domestically 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 Netherlands the 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 and in 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; ZIP (postal) code; interviewer number; possession of a telephone. In Luxembourg, Belgium and Finland: interview language.