Revisiting public debate on Genetic Modification and Genetically Modified Organisms. Explanations for contemporary Dutch public attitudes

Journal article (2018)

Authors

Lucien Hanssen Deining Societal Communication
Anne M. Dijkstra University of Twente
S. Sleenhoff Beheer Grootschalige (EU) Projecten
Lynn J. Frewer Newcastle University
Jan M. Gutteling University of Twente
Research Group
Beheer Grootschalige (EU) Projecten
Copyright: © 2018 Lucien Hanssen, Anne M. Dijkstra, S. Sleenhoff, Lynn J. Frewer, Jan M. Gutteling
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.22323/2.17040201
Risk communication Science communication Public perception of science and technology Theory and models
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Published Date

01-10-2018

Language

English

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Research Group

Beheer Grootschalige (EU) Projecten

Abstract

Genetic Modification (GM) has been a topic of public debates during the 1990s and 2000s. In this paper we explore the relative importance of two hypothesized explanations for these controversies: (i) people's general attitude toward science and technology and (ii) their trust in governance, in GM actors, and in GM regulations, in explaining the Dutch public's Attitude toward GM applications, and in addition to that, the public's GM Information seeking behaviour. This will be conducted through the application of representative survey methodology. The results indicate that Attitudes toward GM applications are best predicted by both the attitude toward science and technology and three trust measures. GM information seeking is predicted by gender and educational level, as well as attitude toward science and technology, trust in organisations and trust in regulations (negative). Overall, psychological variables seem better predictors than demographics. Implications for future research on information seeking behaviour are discussed.