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Religiosity as a perceptual filter: examining processes of opinion formation about nanotechnology

¹ Assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
² Professor in the Department of Life Sciences Communication, University of Wisconsin
³ Ph.D. student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin.
⁴ Professor of Science Communication at Cornell University.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

	Abstract

Using national survey data, we examine how people use science media, factual knowledge related to nanotechnology, and predispositions such as strength of religious beliefs, to form attitudes about nanotechnology. We show that strength of religious beliefs is negatively related to support for funding of the technology. Our findings also confirm that science media use plays an important role in shaping positive attitudes toward the technology. Overall public support for funding nanotechnology is not directly related to levels of knowledge among the electorate, but on risk and benefits perceptions and the use of media frames. However, knowledge about the technology does tend to be interpreted through the lens of religious beliefs and therefore indirectly affect levels of support.

First published on September 16, 2008, doi:10.1177/0963662507087304
This version was published on October 1, 2008


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