Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions Regarding Biotechnology among College Students

ABSTRACT Students of today need to be aware of the risks and benefits of biotechnology to make intelligent decisions regarding this science for themselves and future generations. The objectives of this research were to determine students' knowledge of biotechnology and their general attitudes and perceptions regarding different aspects of biotechnology, and to examine relationships between knowledge and attitudes regarding biotechnology. More than 3000 undergraduate students were surveyed from a variety of undergraduate courses at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX, during the 1997–1998 academic year on their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward biotechnology. Information sought included students' knowledge regarding recent applications of biotechnology, agreement or disagreement with statements concerning different aspects and applications of biotechnology, and demographic information. Findings indicated that despite a low awareness or knowledge of biotechnology, students were accepting of specific applications or products of biotechnology. Those products viewed as beneficial without involving animals had the highest acceptance levels. Findings also indicated that a greater knowledge of biotechnology correlated with a more favorable attitude toward biotechnology. Demographic variables were studied to determine their impact on variables of interest. Females were found to be less accepting of biotechnology, while individuals identifying themselves as scientists were found to be more accepting than those self‐perceived as nonscientists. Females majoring in education were found to be the least accepting of biotechnology than all other groups involved in the study. Overall, students had a low knowledge of biotechnology and more respondents tended to reject biotechnology than embrace it.