This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Hagedorn, C. Articles by Allender-Hagedorn, S. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Issues in agricultural and environmental biotechnology: identifying and comparing biotechnology issues from public opinion surveys, the popular press and technical/regulatory sources

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA

Susan Allender-Hagedorn

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA

The formation of public perceptions of science is a very complex and problematic process, but a major factor is the information that is available and presented most frequently to the public. Issues of public concern over agricultural and environmental biotechnology were identified from opinion surveys, the popular press and technical/regulatory sources. A frequency index based on content analysis was used to rank issues within categories of genetically engineered foods, plants, animals and microorganisms; and the social/legal, risk assessment/regulation, science education and international aspects. These issues were compared to those similarly identified from scientific/regulatory sources. Results revealed that the scientific/regulatory communities have dealt primarily with one subset of issues (research oriented), while the public is largely concerned with a different subset (issues of ethics, safety and value). This paper describes each issue in detail, and the implications of the two subsets of issues are briefly discussed.

Public Understanding of Science, Vol. 6, No. 3, 233-245 (1997)
DOI: 10.1088/0963-6625/6/3/003


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. A. Marks, N. Kalaitzandonakes, L. Wilkins, and L. Zakharova Mass media framing of biotechnology news Public Understanding of Science, April 1, 2007; 16(2): 183 - 203. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. F. Stephens News Narratives about Nano S&T in Major U.S. and Non-U.S. Newspapers Science Communication, December 1, 2005; 27(2): 175 - 199. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. A. Logan, J. Park, and J.-H. Shin Elite Sources, Context, and News Topics: How Two Korean Newspapers Covered a Public Health Crisis Science Communication, June 1, 2004; 25(4): 364 - 398. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Hagelin, H.-E. Carlsson, and J. Hau An overview of surveys on how people view animal experimentation: some factors that may influence the outcome Public Understanding of Science, January 1, 2003; 12(1): 67 - 81. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. A. LOGAN, P. ZENGJUN, and N. F. WILSON Science and Medical Coverage in the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post: A Six-Year Perspective Science Communication, September 1, 2000; 22(1): 5 - 26. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. A. T. EYCK Shaping a Food Safety Debate: Control Efforts of Newspaper Reporters and Sources in the Food Irradiation Controversy Science Communication, June 1, 1999; 20(4): 426 - 447. [Abstract] [PDF]