This is the technical appendix for the report, "Science and Technology: Public Attitudes, Knowledge, and Interest." It provides more information on the General Society Survey (GSS) and the other data sources used in this report. Categories in the technical appendix include: (1) Methodology Notes for General Social Survey Data; (2) Other…

This thematic report presents indicators about people's attitudes toward issues related to science and technology (S&T), awareness of basic S&T facts, and how people interact with science. It shows that most Americans hold positive beliefs about the benefits of S&T, have relatively high confidence in the scientific community compared…

Until recently, the social-technical process of invention has fallen between sociological investigation of the genesis of a new idea (an ideational phenomenon) and the production of a new technology (a material phenomenon). The advent of post-modernism and post-structuralism offered new avenues for theorising invention, accounting for, on the one…

Argues that research on the public understanding of science has measured knowledge as acquaintance with scientific facts and methods, and attitudes as evaluations of societal consequences of science and technology. (Author/CCM)

Investigates high school students' beliefs about mathematics and science, including beliefs about mathematical and scientific truths, the value and importance of inquiry, gender equity and ability with respect to the pursuit of mathematics and science careers, the relationship between mathematics and technology, and the role of science in society.…

The principles that seem to govern the way people receive and use scientific knowledge are considered. The results of three surveys, conducted in England and the United States, are compared in terms of adult and student scientific literacy, gender differences, social context, and attitudes of people to scientific change. (KR)

Discussed are the changing attitudes of the public about "technology in general" and how those attitudes can be affected by how the subject is introduced. Eight areas of technology were compared and three technology clusters were generated: automation, nuclear, and reproductive. Included are the method, results, summary, and conclusion. (KR)

Presents about 200 abstracts of papers presented at the joint conference of the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) and the European Association for the Study of Science and Technology (EASST) Amsterdam, 16-19 November 1988. (YP)

Reviews the divergent viewpoints of scientists and non-scientists with regard to science and technology. Shows that while scientists implicitly accept the difference between science and technology, to non-scientists that difference is irrelevant. Highlights the most important differences between science and technology and discusses the complexity…

Describes the nature of technology. Summarizes the claims of the anti-technologists, such as Marcuse and Ellul, and the moderate pro-technologists, such as Ferkiss, Mesthene, Brooks and Bowers, National Academy of Engineering, Norman, and Weizenbaum. Provides 79 references. (YP)

Examines problems that arise when society comes to rely on the technology of its time and provides support for this contention through data about unintended effects of polychlorinated biphenyl. Argues that reliance on technology results in a loss of previously accumulated knowledge, and the general public becomes convinced it can have anything…

Based on the premise that science and technology directly affect a wide range of personal activities and impact policy issues of national and international importance, this report aims to show why it matters that all sections of the public should have some understanding of science and to stimulate action by scientists and others to improve this…

The purpose of this document is to provide a framework for school districts to use in the development of K-12 science curricula. The framework focuses on those ideas, skills, and attitudes that have the greatest educational significance for enabling the achievement of scientific literacy by all students. The scope of the Arizona Science Essential…