ERIC Number: EJ1249473
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1562-0506
EISSN: N/A
University Students' Views about Genetically Modified Organisms: A Case Study
Özel, Çigdem Alev; Gökmen, Ahmet
International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction, v12 n1 p351-369 2020
Today, Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is a popular socio-scientific issue and views on this issue directly shape people's behaviors. This study aims to investigate university students' views about GMOs. A total of 200 university students from different faculties of a state university participated in the study. For data collection purposes face-to-face interviews developed by the researchers were conducted with the participant students. The convenience sampling technique and the maximum variation sampling technique were systematically used together to determine the participants of the study. The study was designed as a holistic single-case study. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and the content analysis. NVivo12 software, a qualitative analysis software, was used to organize the data and the results of the analyses were presented via frequencies and percentages. Quotes from the themes were also included. The results revealed that the university students' sources of information regarding the issue were mainly news, social media, and the school courses. It was nonetheless found out that they did not rely on news and social media. They indicated many food products with GMOs were plants in particular. However, they are confused about situations like growing the aforementioned products in periods different than seasonal periods and using hormones and additives with modifying genetics. In accordance with the content analysis the views of the participants were collected under five different themes: Genetically Modified Products, Purposes of GMO Use, GMO's differences from other products, advantages of GMOs, and damages of GMOs.
Descriptors: College Students, Student Attitudes, Genetics, Science and Society, Public Colleges, Information Sources, Food, Biotechnology, Credibility, Foreign Countries, Negative Attitudes, Misconceptions, Public Health, Agricultural Production
World Council for Curriculum and Instruction. California School of Education, Alliant International University, 10455 Pomerado Road, San Diego, CA 92131. Web site: http://ijci.wcci-international.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Turkey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A