Public attitudes to genomic science: an experiment in information provision.
We use an experimental panel study design to investigate the effect of providing "value-neutral" information about genomic science in the form of a short film to a random sample of the British public. We find little evidence of attitude change as a function of information provision. However, our results show that information provision significantly increased dropout from the study amongst less educated respondents. Our findings have implications both for our understanding of the knowledge-attitude relationship in public opinion toward genomic science and for science communication more generally.
Sturgis
Patrick
P
Division of Social Statistics, School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, UK. p.sturgis@soton.ac.uk
Brunton-Smith
Ian
I
Fife-Schaw
Chris
C
D001292:Attitude to Computers; D001709:Biotechnology; D003142:Communication; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D023281:Genomics; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011639:Public Opinion; D012586:Science; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom