Popularization of Science

Popularization of Science

Measuring public understanding of science and technology in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Akram Ghadimi 1
Ghasem Azadi 2
1 Associate Professor, National Research Institute for Science Policy
2 Assistant Professor of Information and Knowledge Science, National Research Institute for Science Policy, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/popsci.2024.454301.1325
Abstract
Subjec: Science and technology’s progress have opened new horizons for human being in a way that its effects have transformed the human lifestyle and given changed the globe. Undoubtedly, the spread of science in any society is related to the level of public understanding of science. For more than half a century, this index has been designed to measure public understanding of science in most developed countries and it is used in various surveys. The results of surveys show the positive effects of this index in improving the general public's understanding of science.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is assessing and making localize the indicators of public understanding about science and technology in Iran. Considering the cultural and social differences of the societies, the indicators of public understanding of science were localized based on the cultural and social requirements of the country.
Method: The research method in this study is descriptive and it is a survey. The people who study in this paper includes all men and women over 18 years who lived in Iran in 1400 and multi-stage cluster sampling method was used for selecting the samples. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. With using the opinion of experts and their agreement coefficient, the content and face validity of the questionnaire were confirmed. Also measuring the construct validity second order confirmatory factor analysis was used. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used for measuring the reliability of the prepared questionnaire and its items. This questionnaire examined the public understanding of society in five areas: 1. Public understanding of science; 2. Science and society; 3. Scientific literacy; 4. Trust in science 5. Media. Also, at the end, two open-ended questions were presented.
Findings: The findings show that most people emphasize the positive impact of science and technology. Also, most people participated in scientific programs, but in some activities, such as visiting scientific centers, going to the library, the participation rate is lower. Statements related to scientific literacy were approved by the majority. According to the dimensions of trust in science, the positive and negative opinions are significant. The variety of views about scientific media and other media is worthy of consideration. Trust in jobs can also be checked from very high to minimal. The results of examining two open-ended questions about the introduction of contemporary scientific figures and scientific centers emphasize the necessity of redefining related terms.
Results: Indicators of public understanding of science and technology such as balance monitor the state of science and technology in society. But in Iran, this issue has been neglected, it is necessary for policy makers and planners to pay attention to this issue in order to achieve scientific development and to prioritize the implementation of periodic surveys to measure public understanding of science as a priority in their future plans.
 



 
Keywords
Public understanding of science
Index
Measurement
localization
Survey
Subjects

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Ren, F., & Zhai, J. (2013). Communication and popularization of science and technology in China. Springer Science & Business Media.

Rowe, G., & Frewer, L. J. (2004). Evaluating public-participation exercises: a research agenda. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 29(4), 512-556.

Sclove, R. (1995). Democracy and technology. Guilford Press

اجاق، زهرا (1400). تأملی بر ارتباطات علم و تجربه ایران. تهران: پژوهشگاه علوم انسانی و مطالعات فرهنگی.
دانایی فرد، ح. الوانی، س.م.، آذر، ع. (1400). روش‌شناسی پژوهش کیفی در مدیریت: رویکردی جامع، تهران: اشراقی، صفار.
دواس، دی. ای. (1401). پیمایش در تحقیقات اجتماعی، مترجم: هوشنگ نایبی. تهران: نشر نی.
رجبی فروتن، ح. (1391). عمومی‌سازی علم: تاریخچه، الگوها و رویکردها. مجموعه مقالات علم، جامعه، اخلاق: جستارهایی در ابعاد اجتماعی و اخلاقی علم. تهران: مینوی خرد.
سرمد، زهره؛ بازرگان، عباس؛ حجازی، الهه (1402)‌. روش‌های تحقیق در علوم رفتاری، چاپ 48، تهران: نشر آگه.
قانعی‌راد، سید محمدامین و مرشدی، ابوالفضل (1390). پیمایش فهم عمومی از علم و فناوری: مطالعه موردی شهروندان تهرانی. سیاست علم و فناوری، 3(3)، 93-103.
قانعی‌راد، سید محمدامین و طباطبایی، سیده مرجان. (1394). نگرش‌های عامه به علم ‌و فناوری در بین شهروندان تهرانی. سیاست علم و فناوری، 8(1)، 83-94.
قانعی‌راد، سید محمدامین و مرشدی، ابوالفضل (1396). پیمایش علم و جامعه؛ تجربه جهانی و اجرای نسخه ایرانی. تهران: پژوهشکده مطالعات فرهنگی و اجتماعی.
قدیمی، اکرم (1403). درک عمومی ایرانیان از علم و فناوری. تهران: جهاد دانشگاهی.
ماهر، زهرا؛ قاسمی، وحید. (1393). تدوین، پایایی سنجی، اعتباریابی و هنجاریابی مقیاس سنجش «درک عمومی از علم» در اصفهان. جامعه شناسی کاربردی، 25(1)، 27-50.
وحیدی، م. (1388). علم در جامعه: از تک‌گویی تا گفت‌وگو. فصلنامه مطالعات میان‌رشته‌ای در حوزه علوم انسانی، 1(4)، 195-169.
هاشمیان فر، علی؛ ربانی خوراسگانی، علی و ماهر، زهرا. (1393). بررسی و شناخت تأثیر طبقۀ اجتماعی بر درک عمومی از علم (مطالعۀ موردی شهروندان اصفهانی). علوم اجتماعی دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد، 11(1)، 125-154.
Cetto, A. M., Gustafsson, B., & Smith, C. (2007). Science and Society: Rights and Responsibilities. The ICSU Programme.
Donghong, C., Wei, C., Lou & Huimei, Wang. (April 2007). Science and Technology, China Association for Science and Technology.
European Commission for inventories of such initiatives, (2012).
Gauhar, R. (2009). Introduction: Mapping Public Understanding of Science. Science, Technology and Society,Volume: 14 issue: 2, page(s): 211-219.
House of Lords Science and Technology Committee. (2010). Science and Technology Committee 2nd Report of Session 2008–09.
Kline, R. B. (2023). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. Guilford publications.
Lewenstein, B. V. (2003). Models of public communication of science and technology.
Maeseele, P. (2007). Science and technology in a mediatized and democratized society. JCOM. journal of science communication, 6(1), 1-10.
Malaysian Science and Technology Information Center, (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004).
Miller, J. (2002). Civic Scientific Literacy: A Necessity in the 21st Century. The FAS Public Interest Report, V.55(1): 3-6.
Ministry of Science and Technology of Brazil, (2004) Science, Technology & Innovation Indicators in The State of São Paulo/ Brazil- 2004, Published by FAPEST.
National Science Board. (2008). Science & engineering indicators. Arlington, VA: National Science Foundation.
NISTEP Publications. (2003). A Survey of the Effect of Participation in Activities for the Public Understanding of Science and Technology Activities of the Science Museum and Others The Case of the Science Club of the Science Museum and the Young Astronauts Club of Japan. available from: http://www.nistep.go.ip/logo-e.html.
Nowotny, H. (1993). Socially distributed knowledge: Five spaces for science to meet the public. Public Understanding of Science, Vol. 2, P. 307, Rertieved from http://www.sagepublications.com.
Rajesh, S. (2005). India Science Report. Science Education, Human Resources and Public Attitude Towards Science and Technology.
Raza, G. (2009). Introduction: Mapping public understanding of science. Science Technology Society, 14: 211, Retrieved from: http://sts.sagepub.com/content/14/2/211.
Ren, F., & Zhai, J. (2013). Communication and popularization of science and technology in China. Springer Science & Business Media.
Rowe, G., & Frewer, L. J. (2004). Evaluating public-participation exercises: a research agenda. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 29(4), 512-556.
Sclove, R. (1995). Democracy and technology. Guilford Press