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

School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, dbrossard{at}wisc.edu

Dietram A. Scheufele

Department of Life Sciences Communication and a member of the steering committee of the Robert F. and Jean E. Holtz Center for Science and Technology Studies at the University of Wisconsin

Eunkyung Kim

School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin

Bruce V. Lewenstein

Cornell University

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.

This version was published on September 1, 2009

Public Understanding of Science, Vol. 18, No. 5, 546-558 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0963662507087304


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