ERIC Number: EJ1136296
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2154-8455
EISSN: N/A
An Investigation of Taiwan's Public Attitudes toward Science and Technology
Wu, Kun-Chang; Shein, Paichi Pat; Tsai, Chun-Yen; Chou, Ching-Yang; Wu, Yuh-Yih; Liu, Chia-Ju; Chiu, Houn-Lin; Hung, Jeng-Fung; Chao, David; Huang, Tai-Chu
International Journal of Science Education, Part B: Communication and Public Engagement, v2 n1 p1-21 2012
The purpose of this quantitative study is to understand the attitudes of Taiwanese adult citizens over 18 years of age toward science and technology. A theoretical model is constructed and evaluated to identify factors that affect public attitudes. Differences in citizens' gender, age, and educational level are also examined to determine whether they parallel differences found in their attitudes. Citizens were selected using probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling. A total of 2,024 valid questionnaires were collected and analyzed by structural equation modeling. The results showed that citizens' scientific knowledge promotes positive attitudes toward techno-scientific issues, which are reflected in their high level of support for scientific development, research and application, as well as recognition of global warming and impression of scientists. Additionally, citizens of different genders, ages, and educational levels have significant differences in their attitudes toward science and technology. Implications for formal and informal science education are discussed.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Public Opinion, Scientific Attitudes, Technology, Technological Literacy, Scientific Literacy, Adults, Gender Differences, Age Differences, Educational Attainment, Questionnaires, Structural Equation Models, Science Education, Knowledge Level, Multivariate Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Interviews, Maximum Likelihood Statistics, Factor Analysis
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Taiwan
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A