New Zealanders and biotechnology : attitudes, perceptions and affective reactions

Abstract

Public perceptions of biotechnology in contemporary society are important. The current research programme has allowed us to resurvey the public to assess current responses to biotechnology and to examine possible changes in public attitude over time. This report details what the public think about biotechnology. The research aims were to: investigate change over time in public acceptance of various examples of biotechnology; investigate attitudes towards biotechnology generally and specifically towards, the treatment of diabetes using cells from a pig, the GM potato and use of GM bacteria to ameliorate the detrimental effects of DDT; identify and determine the role and relative importance of affective responses or feelings towards biotechnology in attitudes towards biotechnology; and investigate the relationship between worldviews and attitudes towards biotechnology.