The Analysis of High School Students’ Perception and Knowledge of Renewable and Nuclear Energy

Abstract

While the public's perception and knowledge of renewable and nuclear energy sources have been studied extensively, not as much emphasis has been placed on high school students. This study’s goal was to explore this topic amongst high schoolers specifically in the San Francisco Bay Area and investigate pre-existing findings while addressing gaps in previous research. From the study, positive support for renewable energy and critical opinions on nuclear energy were reciprocated. A notable gender difference regarding perception of nuclear energy was also supported: female students tended to respond more negatively toward nuclear energy compared to male students. Public school students were found to have a more positive perception toward renewable energy compared to private school students. This study also revealed school and the internet as crucial sources of renewable and nuclear energy knowledge among high school students, pointing to their significance in the spread of information about these energy types. Finally, a weak positive correlation between the perception of nuclear and renewable energies was discovered.