Selected College Students' Knowledge and Perceptions of Biotechnology Issues Reported in the Mass Media

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine college students' awareness of and attitudes toward biotechnology issues reported in the mass media. Future agricultural communicators (N = 330) representing 11 land-grant universities in 10 states recorded their knowledge and perceptions of biotechnology issues as reported in the mass media. Respondents were mostly seniors (46%), female (55%), and considered themselves "8" average students (60%). Students achieved only 30% correct responses (M = 3.05) in a knowledge assessment of biotechnology practices, illustrating a lack of knowledge. However, nearly 84% of the respondents perceived their level of knowledge as average to high (24% perceived they possessed above-average scientific knowledge). Future agricultural communicators were somewhat accepting of biotechnology practices for genetically modified organisms involving plant life (M = 3.28), but viewed these same practices as somewhat unacceptable for use on humans (M = 1.84). Significant, low positive relationships existed between respondents' perceived and assessed levels ofbiotechnology knowledge (r = .17) and between their assessed knowledge and acceptance of biotechnology practices (r = .16). Selected college students in the agricultural sciences have much less knowledge about biotechnology practices than what they believed to possess. Although correctable through increased study of biotechnology, this finding may pose serious problems for students choosing to "communicate" the science of biotechnology issues in the mass media. Agricultural communications faculty nationwide should analyze their curricula to determine if students are being given the opportunity to study biotechnology issues while learning how to communicate it to a larger audience.

“You Call that Meat?” Investigating Social Media Conversations and Influencers Surrounding Cultured Meat

“…Cultured meat joins a litany of agriculture-and biotechnology-related topics that agricultural communications scholars have studied (Wingenbach, Rutherford, & Dunsford, 2002;Miller, Annou, & Wailes, 2003). Subjects include genetically modified (GM) food (Randolph, Rumble, & Carter, 2018;Meyers & Miller, 2007), organic and conventional production practices (Abrams, Meyers, & Irani, 2010), and the use of biotechnology to prevent and eradicate crop and livestock diseases (D'Angelo, Ellis, Burke, & Ruth, 2018;Ruth, Lamm, Rumble, & Ellis, 2017).…”

Current and Future Leaders’ Perceptions of Agricultural Biotechnology

“…Reliability analyses for the scale measuring importance of biotechnology research (1 = not at all important…4 = very important) revealed Cronbach's alpha coefficient (Cronbach, 1951) of 0.86 (0.85 in Wingenbach and Rutherford, 2005). The scale (4-point, Likert-type) measuring effect (1 = very negative…4 = very positive) of biotechnology (0.74 in current study; 0.70 in Wingenbach et al, 2002Wingenbach et al, , 2003 was deemed reliable. A Cronbach's alpha of 0.62 was produced for the scale (1 = never…4 = always) measuring six factors used to establish/maintain perceptions about agricultural biotechnology; an alpha coefficient of 0.79 was revealed for the scale (4-point, Likert-type) measuring four issues that impact (1 = very low…4 = very high) biotechnology perceptions.…”

Farm Broadcaster Knowledge and Beliefs of Biotechnology and Genetically Modified Organisms

“…Section Four determined farm broadcasters' knowledge of specific biotechnology issues. This section included eight multiple choice questions from a study conducted by Wingenbach, Rutherford, and Dunsford (2003) to measure the biotechnology knowledge level of agricultural college students. The final section, Section Five, collected additional demographic information from the respondents.…”

“…To construct the questionnaire, the researcher drew upon information gathered through a review of literature as well as GMO knowledge questions developed and used by Wingenbach, Rutherford, and Dunsford (2003).…”