A–552
Appendix Tables
Appendix table 8-12. Responses to items included in the Index of Scientific Promise and the Index of Scientific Reservation: 1999 (Percentages)
Strongly agree Do not know Strongly disagree
Item Promise of science Science and technology are making our lives healthier, easier, and more comfortable ......................................................................... Most scientists want to work on things that will make life better for the average person .................................................................. With the application of science and new technology, work will become more interesting .............................................................. Because of science and technology, there will be more opportunities for the next generation .................................................................. Reservations about science We depend too much on science and not enough on faith .............. It is not important for me to know about science in my daily life ..... Science makes our way of life change too fast ................................ Have the benefits of scientific research outweighed the harmful results or have the harmful results outweighed the benefits ........
Agree
Disagree
30 8 7 12 12 3 3 B>>H 47
60 75 66 72 38 13 38 B>H 27
1 2 4 2 5 1 2 B=4 11
1 1 1 1 7 21 4 H>B 10
8 14 22 13 38 62 53 H>>B 5
B>>H = benefits strongly outweigh the harmful results; B>H = benefits outweigh the harmful results; B=H = benefits equal the harmful results; H>B = harmful results outweigh the benefits; H>>B = harmful results strongly outweigh the benefits. SOURCES: National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Studies (NSF/SRS), NSF Survey of Public Attitudes Toward and Understanding of Science and Technology, 1999 (and earlier years). For a complete set of data from the survey, see J.D. Miller and L. Kimmel, Public Attitudes Toward Science and Technology, 1979–1999, Integrated Codebook (Chicago: International Center for the Advancement of Scientific Literacy, Chicago Academy of Sciences, 1999) and unpublished tabulations prepared for the Division of Science Resources Studies of the National Science Foundation. See page 8-13 in Volume 1. Science & Engineering Indicators – 2000