Leading source for current news: 2001
Respondent characteristic
Newspaper
Magazine
Internet
Books/
other print
Television
Radio
Family
Friend/
colleague
Other
Do not
know
Percent
All adults ...................................................................
Male .....................................................................
Female..................................................................
Formal education
Less than high school.......................................
High school graduate........................................
Baccalaureate ..................................................
Graduate/professional degree...........................
Science/mathematics educationa
Low..................................................................
Middle..............................................................
High .................................................................
Attentiveness to science and technologyb
Attentive public ................................................
Interested public...............................................
Residual public.................................................
—
Sample
size
Number
29
29
29
3
4
3
7
10
5
—
—
1
53
48
57
5
7
4
—
—
—
1
1
1
1
1
1
—
—
—
1,574
751
823
22
29
30
43
2
3
7
6
3
7
12
10
0
—
1
1
69
54
42
30
1
6
8
9
0
—
0
—
4
1
1
1
0
1
—
1
1
—
—
—
116
834
393
221
25
33
33
2
4
6
3
9
16
—
—
—
62
46
35
4
5
9
—
—
—
2
1
1
—
1
1
—
1
—
674
469
431
37
27
29
7
4
2
8
9
6
—
1
—
44
53
55
3
6
6
0
—
0
—
1
2
1
1
1
—
—
—
195
755
624
Science & Engineering Indicators – 2004
Appendix table 7-1
less than 0.5 percent responded.
a
Low = five or fewer high school and college science/math courses, middle = six to eight courses, high = nine or more courses.
b
Attentive = very interested in the issue, very well informed about it, and a regular reader of a daily newspaper or relevant national magazine. Interested = very interested but not well informed. Residual = all others. Classifications encompass new scientific
discoveries, inventions, and technologies.
NOTES: Percents may not sum to 100 because of rounding. A few respondents did not provide information about highest level of education. Responses are to the following question: We are interested in how people get information about events in the news. Thinking
about the kind of issues we have been talking about, where do you get most of your information about current news events?
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Statistics, Survey of Public Attitudes Toward and Understanding of Science and Technology, 2001.
Science & Engineering Indicators – 2004
A7-1
A7-2 Appendix table 7-2
Leading source of information about science and technology: 2001
Respondent characteristic
Newspaper
Magazine
Internet
Books/
other print
Television
Radio
Government
agency
Family
Friend/
colleague
Other
Do not
know
Percent
All adults ...................................................
Male .....................................................
Female..................................................
Formal education
Less than high school.......................
High school graduate........................
Baccalaureate ..................................
Graduate/professional degree...........
Science/mathematics educationa
Low..................................................
Middle..............................................
High .................................................
Attentiveness to science and technologyb
Attentive public ................................
Interested public...............................
Residual public.................................
—
Sample
size
Number
16
17
16
16
18
14
9
13
6
2
2
2
44
41
48
3
4
2
—
—
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
5
3
6
2
1
2
1,574
751
823
13
16
17
25
9
15
23
30
2
10
16
11
4
2
3
2
53
48
31
23
4
2
3
2
1
—
0
—
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
9
3
4
4
4
1
1
0
116
834
393
221
16
19
15
12
18
27
5
12
19
2
1
4
53
39
28
3
2
3
—
—
—
2
2
1
1
1
1
5
4
4
2
1
—
674
469
431
20
14
18
35
18
10
14
11
7
3
2
2
21
46
48
1
3
3
—
—
—
1
2
1
0
1
1
5
4
5
0
—
3
195
755
624
less than 0.5 percent responded.
a
Low = five or fewer high school and college science/math courses, middle = six to eight courses, high = nine or more courses.
b
Attentive = very interested in the issue, very well informed about it, and a regular reader of a daily newspaper or relevant national magazine. Interested = very interested but not well informed. Residual = all others. Classifications encompass new scientific
discoveries, inventions, and technologies.
NOTES: Percents may not sum to 100 because of rounding. A few respondents did not provide information about highest level of education. Responses are to the following question: We are also interested in how people get information about science and
technology. Thinking about the kind of issues we have been talking about, where do you get most of your information about science and technology?
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Statistics, Survey of Public Attitudes Toward and Understanding of Science and Technology, 2001.
Science & Engineering Indicators – 2004
Appendix Tables
Leading source of information about specific scientific issue: 2001
Respondent characteristic
Newspaper
Magazine
Internet
Books/
other print
Television
Radio
Government
agency
Family
Friend/
colleague
Other
Do not
know
Percent
All adults ......................................................
Male ........................................................
Female.....................................................
Formal education
Less than high school..........................
High school graduate...........................
Baccalaureate .....................................
Graduate/professional degree..............
Science/mathematics educationa
Low.....................................................
Middle.................................................
High ....................................................
Attentiveness to science and technologyb
Attentive public ...................................
Interested public..................................
Residual public....................................
—
Sample
size
Number
4
4
2
8
9
8
44
45
43
24
22
26
6
6
6
—
—
0
—
—
1
—
—
1
1
1
—
8
8
8
5
5
5
1,574
751
823
3
3
3
2
5
7
13
13
26
45
55
55
29
25
18
21
13
6
3
1
0
0
—
0
0
—
1
—
1
—
—
0
1
—
0
1
9
8
7
6
12
4
1
1
116
834
393
221
4
2
2
8
7
12
33
53
60
28
23
15
9
4
2
0
0
—
—
—
1
1
—
—
1
—
1
8
8
8
7
2
0
674
469
431
3
2
4
11
10
6
47
49
38
25
23
25
5
7
6
0
0
—
0
—
—
0
—
1
—
—
1
5
6
11
2
2
8
195
755
624
Science & Engineering Indicators – 2004
Appendix table 7-3
less than 0.5 percent responded.
a
Low = five or fewer high school and college science/math courses, middle = six to eight courses, high = nine or more courses.
b
Attentive = very interested in the issue, very well informed about it, and a regular reader of a daily newspaper or relevant national magazine. Interested = very interested but not well informed. Residual = all others. Classifications encompass new scientific
discoveries, inventions, and technologies.
NOTES: Percents may not sum to 100 because of rounding. A few respondents did not provide information about highest level of education. Responses are to the following question: If you wanted to learn more about a scientific issue such as global warming or
biotechnology, how would you get more information?
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Statistics, Survey of Public Attitudes Toward and Understanding of Science and Technology, 2001.
Science & Engineering Indicators – 2004
A7-3
A7-4 Appendix table 7-4
Feeling informed about selected policy issues: 1979–2001
Issue
1979
1981
1983
1985
1988
44
42
—
—
36
—
35
33
35
—
55
55
—
—
38
—
35
35
44
37
54
54
—
—
40
46
42
—
40
39
54
48
53
—
43
45
39
41
42
42
55
50
52
—
42
43
38
46
42
39
1990
1992
1995
1997
1999
2001
55
56
51
57
39
49
38
—
46
33
59
52
52
52
42
40
40
35
36
33
61
51
56
51
48
39
44
38
36
41
58
50
53
48
44
44
43
33
40
37
59
51
51
47
42
39
38
35
35
32
2,001
2,006
2,000
1,882
1,574
Mean index score
Local schools......................................................
Economy and business conditions ......................
New medical discoveries ....................................
Environmental pollution ......................................
New scientific discoveries...................................
Military and defense policy .................................
Use of new inventions and technologies..............
Agricultural and farming .....................................
International and foreign policy ...........................
Space exploration ...............................................
55
53
53
60
42
51
38
36
51
37
Number
Sample size ........................................................
—
1,635
3,195
1,631
2,005
2,041
2,033
not asked
NOTES: Responses are to the following statement: Now, I’d like to go through this list with you again, and for each issue I’d like you to tell me if you are very well informed, moderately well informed, or poorly informed. Responses are converted to a 0–100
scale, with 100 for “very well informed,” 50 for “moderately well informed,” and 0 for “poorly informed.” Indices were obtained by adding all the values for each policy issue and computing the average.
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Statistics, Survey of Public Attitudes Toward and Understanding of Science and Technology, various years.
Science & Engineering Indicators – 2004
Appendix Tables
Public assessment of astrology, by respondent characteristic: 1979–2001
Characteristic
1979
1981
1985
1988
1990
1992
1995
1997
1999
2001
Percent
All adults
Very scientific ...................................
Sort of scientific................................
Not at all scientific ............................
Do not know .....................................
7
34
50
9
10
35
51
4
8
31
57
4
6
31
60
3
6
29
60
5
6
29
62
3
7
28
60
5
7
29
59
5
7
29
59
5
9
31
56
4
7
30
54
9
9
29
58
4
7
29
60
4
5
25
67
3
5
23
67
5
6
25
67
2
7
24
65
4
7
27
63
3
7
25
63
5
9
27
60
3
8
37
46
9
10
41
44
5
9
32
55
4
7
37
53
3
6
35
55
4
7
32
58
3
7
32
55
6
7
31
55
7
7
32
56
5
8
36
52
4
11
34
39
16
13
37
40
10
14
38
43
5
11
35
50
4
7
31
50
12
12
33
49
6
11
28
48
13
11
37
42
10
13
34
41
12
14
35
45
6
7
37
50
6
10
38
50
2
8
29
60
3
6
32
59
3
6
32
60
2
6
31
61
2
8
30
59
3
7
30
59
4
7
30
60
3
9
35
52
4
2
20
71
7
3
25
69
3
3
25
70
2
2
23
74
1
3
18
77
2
3
17
78
2
2
22
74
2
3
19
76
2
2
19
76
3
4
21
74
2
8
28
60
4
9
34
54
3
7
27
62
4
3
29
66
2
6
21
72
1
15
23
58
4
8
24
65
3
7
29
62
2
12
23
64
1
4
25
68
2
All adults ............................................... 1,635
Male .................................................
773
Female..............................................
862
Less than high school graduate.........
465
High school graduate ........................
932
Baccalaureate or higher ....................
238
Attentive to science and technology ..
154
1,631
775
856
404
941
282
208
2,005
950
1,054
507
1,147
349
235
2,041
958
1,084
530
1,158
353
233
2,033
964
1,070
495
1,202
336
229
1,004
486
533
215
623
203
105
2,006
953
1,053
418
1,196
392
195
1,882
900
982
403
1,111
368
216
1,574
751
823
116
834
614
195
Male
Very scientific...............................
Sort of scientific ...........................
Not at all scientific........................
Do not know.................................
Female
Very scientific...............................
Sort of scientific ...........................
Not at all scientific........................
Do not know.................................
Less than high school graduate
Very scientific...............................
Sort of scientific ...........................
Not at all scientific........................
Do not know.................................
High school graduate
Very scientific...............................
Sort of scientific ...........................
Not at all scientific........................
Do not know.................................
Baccalaureate or higher
Very scientific...............................
Sort of scientific ...........................
Not at all scientific........................
Do not know.................................
Attentive to science and technologya
Very scientific...............................
Sort of scientific ...........................
Not at all scientific........................
Do not know.................................
Number
Sample size
2,000
930
1,070
420
1,188
392
288
Very interested in science and technology issues, very well informed about science and technology, and a regular reader of a daily newspaper or relevant national magazine.
NOTES: A few respondents did not provide information about highest level of education. Responses are to the following question: Would you say that astrology is very scientific, sort of scientific, or not at all scientific?
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Statistics, Survey of Public Attitudes Toward and Understanding of Science and Technology, various years.
Science & Engineering Indicators – 2004
A7-5
a
Science & Engineering Indicators – 2004
Appendix table 7-5
Appendix table 7-6
Public opinion on whether Federal Government should fund basic research, by respondent characteristic: 1985–2001
Characteristic
All adults
Strongly agree ....................................................
Agree..................................................................
Do not know .......................................................
Disagree .............................................................
Strongly disagree ................................................
a
1988
1990
1992
1995
1997
1999
2001
9
70
5
16
0
16
65
4
14
1
17
62
4
15
2
14
63
3
18
2
19
61
3
17
2
22
57
3
15
3
21
61
3
13
2
19
62
3
15
1
11
71
2
15
1
20
63
2
13
2
23
60
2
13
2
17
62
2
17
2
19
60
2
18
1
24
54
3
16
3
24
60
2
12
2
23
63
2
11
2
8
68
8
16
0
11
68
6
14
1
13
65
5
16
1
11
64
4
19
2
15
62
5
16
2
20
59
4
15
2
18
62
4
14
2
16
61
5
18
1
5
65
9
21
0
6
66
7
18
3
10
59
8
20
3
10
61
5
21
3
8
59
7
24
2
20
50
5
22
3
17
55
7
18
3
13
66
5
16
0
8
72
4
15
1
17
66
3
13
1
18
65
2
14
1
12
64
3
19
2
16
63
3
17
1
19
60
3
15
3
18
66
2
12
2
18
60
3
17
1
19
68
2
10
1
26
62
3
8
1
27
60
2
10
1
22
64
2
12
0
24
62
2
11
1
31
56
2
10
1
34
53
1
10
2
23
68
1
8
1
20
70
2
8
0
29
61
2
7
1
31
58
4
6
1
26
53
5
14
2
43
46
2
8
1
40
51
2
5
2
40
51
1
8
0
32
56
3
8
1
17
76
0
6
1
27
62
2
8
1
35
50
4
10
1
28
61
1
9
1
35
48
1
14
2
46
42
1
7
4
35
52
0
9
4
35
49
3
12
3
Very interested in science and technology issues, very well informed about science and technology, and a regular reader of a daily newspaper or relevant national magazine.
NOTES: Responses are to the following question: Even if it brings no immediate benefits, scientific research that advances the frontiers of knowledge is necessary and should be supported by the Federal Government—do you strongly agree, agree, disagree,
or strongly disagree?
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Statistics, Survey of Public Attitudes Toward and Understanding of Science and Technology, various years.
Science & Engineering Indicators – 2004
Appendix Tables
Male
Strongly agree................................................
Agree .............................................................
Do not know...................................................
Disagree.........................................................
Strongly disagree ...........................................
Female
Strongly agree................................................
Agree .............................................................
Do not know...................................................
Disagree.........................................................
Strongly disagree ...........................................
Less than high school graduate
Strongly agree................................................
Agree .............................................................
Do not know...................................................
Disagree.........................................................
Strongly disagree ...........................................
High school graduate
Strongly agree................................................
Agree .............................................................
Do not know...................................................
Disagree.........................................................
Strongly disagree ...........................................
Baccalaureate
Strongly agree................................................
Agree .............................................................
Do not know...................................................
Disagree.........................................................
Strongly disagree ...........................................
Graduate degree
Strongly agree................................................
Agree .............................................................
Do not know...................................................
Disagree.........................................................
Strongly disagree ...........................................
Attentive to science and technologya
Strongly agree................................................
Agree .............................................................
Do not know...................................................
Disagree.........................................................
Strongly disagree ...........................................
1985
A7-6 (Percent)
Public assessment of Federal Government spending in selected policy areas: 1981–2002
Policy area
1981
1983
1985
1988
1990
1992
1997
1999
2001
2002
Percent
Exploring space
Too little .......................................
Too much.....................................
Reducing pollution
Too little .......................................
Too much.....................................
Improving health care
Too little .......................................
Too much.....................................
Supporting scientific research
Too little .......................................
Too much.....................................
Improving education
Too little .......................................
Too much.....................................
Helping older people
Too little .......................................
Too much.....................................
Improving national defensea
Too little .......................................
Too much.....................................
Helping low-income people
Too little .......................................
Too much.....................................
18
43
17
39
9
45
17
42
9
52
12
50
14
45
15
46
11
48
12
38
52
14
54
11
69
6
76
4
76
5
72
7
65
8
65
7
63
6
60
7
61
6
—
—
68
3
68
2
75
3
79
5
68
7
71
5
70
4
75
4
31
18
—
—
29
18
34
15
30
16
34
19
34
14
37
14
36
14
36
14
62
6
71
5
73
3
76
4
77
4
81
4
76
6
75
6
76
5
74
5
73
3
—
—
72
3
76
2
75
2
73
4
66
5
71
4
73
3
—
—
33
26
19
47
11
50
11
53
15
40
15
40
23
32
31
25
29
25
31
22
45
24
—
—
54
13
55
12
57
15
56
17
44
23
49
19
53
15
—
—
2,001
2,000
1,882
1,574
912
Science & Engineering Indicators – 2004
Appendix table 7-7
Number
Sample size ......................................
—
a
1,659
1,631
2,005
2,041
2,033
not asked
Only 1,013 responses in 1988 because question was asked on a split ballot.
NOTES: Responses are to the following statement: We are faced with many problems in this country. I’m going to name some of these problems, and for each one, I’d like you to tell me if you think that the Government is spending too little money on it, about
the right amount, or too much. Percents do not sum to 100 because “about the right amount” and “do not know” responses are not shown.
SOURCES: National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Statistics, Survey of Public Attitudes Toward and Understanding of Science and Technology, various years, 1981–2001; and University of Chicago, National Opinion Research Center, General
Social Survey, 2002.
Science & Engineering Indicators – 2004
A7-7
A7-8 Appendix table 7-8
Public confidence in leadership of various institutions: 1973–2002
Institution
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1980
1982
1983
1984
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1993
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
Percent
Medicine...............................
Scientific community ............
Military .................................
U.S. Supreme Court ..............
Banks and financial
institutions..........................
Major companies ..................
Organized religion.................
Education .............................
Executive Branch of Federal
Government........................
Organized labor ....................
Congress ..............................
Press ....................................
Television .............................
Averagea ...............................
54
37
32
31
60
45
40
33
50
39
35
31
54
43
39
35
51
41
36
35
46
36
29
28
52
41
28
25
45
38
31
30
51
41
29
27
50
44
36
33
46
39
31
30
52
45
34
36
51
39
34
35
46
40
32
34
46
37
33
35
48
41
60
37
39
37
42
31
41
38
37
30
45
39
37
28
44
40
36
37
44
41
39
32
37
39
55
37
—
29
35
37
—
31
44
49
32
19
24
31
39
22
30
37
42
27
40
41
33
22
31
28
32
27
35
30
27
23
32
33
24
24
28
29
31
30
31
28
21
24
25
28
27
30
29
35
27
25
20
29
19
24
22
30
18
25
23
27
12
20
25
30
15
21
23
22
18
25
24
25
25
23
25
23
26
26
27
27
29
28
28
27
22
18
19
25
29
15
23
23
18
30
14
18
17
26
23
33
13
10
13
24
18
26
13
12
14
28
19
29
28
15
19
25
17
31
12
11
13
20
14
24
12
15
9
22
16
26
19
12
13
18
14
26
13
8
10
13
12
24
18
8
12
17
13
27
21
8
16
18
15
25
18
10
16
18
12
28
16
10
15
18
14
26
20
9
17
17
14
25
23
11
15
15
14
25
26
11
18
16
14
29
12
8
7
11
12
22
11
10
8
8
9
22
10
11
8
11
10
23
14
11
11
9
10
24
13
13
12
10
10
25
27
12
13
10
10
25
1,504
1,484
1,530 1,532
1,468
1,506
1,599
989
1,470
1,466
997
1,035
899
1,017
1,057
2,011
1,925 1,911 1,887
912
Number
Sample size ..........................
—
a
1,490 1,499
not asked
Does not include banks and financial institutions.
NOTES: Percents represent respondents expressing a “great deal of confidence” when asked the following question: As far as the people running these institutions are concerned, would you say that you have a great deal of confidence, only some confidence,
or hardly any confidence at all in them? The survey was not conducted in 1979 and 1981 and was conducted every other year from 1994 through 2002; the question was not asked in 1985.
SOURCE: J. A. Davis, T. W. Smith, and P. V. Marsden, General Social Survey 1972–2002 Cumulative Codebook (Chicago: University of Chicago, National Opinion Research Center, 2003).
Science & Engineering Indicators – 2004
Appendix Tables