This paper reports on the development of an instrument which was used to gather information on the views of science students on the social responsibility of scientists. The methodology is based on a "Views on Science-Technology-Society (VOSTS)" instrument which was developed in Canada. It involves three phases, employing interviews and free response and fixed response questionnaires, respectively. Qualitative data analysis at each stage of the development of the instrument provided the input for the following stage. Participants were drawn over a two year period mainly from chemistry students at various levels of academic study at the University of South Africa. Procedures are described separately for each of the three phases in the development of the instrument and are elucidated by actual findings abstracted during the development process. The final questionnaire statements cover topics in the fields of education, science, technology and society, the scientist as individual and the scientific enterprise. They include statements on scientific freedom, the technological imperative, science in Africa, women in science, whistleblowing, education of the public and the role of science students in society.