The Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy (ISTPP) team of Dr. Ki Eun Kang, Dr. Arnold Vedlitz, Carol Goldsmith, and Ian Seavey have published their research article, “Optimism and pessimism toward science: A new way to look at the public’s evaluations of science and technology discoveries and recommendations” in Politics and the Life Sciences.
The research team examines what citizens today believe about science and technology and why, focusing on core theories of trust, concern, and political values and on the important role of science optimism and pessimism orientations. Using national public survey data, they analyzed the correlates of science optimism and pessimism and tested the efficacy of this construct as drivers of biotechnology policy. They point out that science optimism and pessimism are empirically useful constructs and that they are important predictors of biotechnology policy choices.
