Public attitudes to science in South Africa

Authors

  • Vijay Reddy Education & Skills Development, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa
  • Michael Gastrow Education & Skills Development, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa
  • Andrea Juan Education & Skills Development, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa
  • Benjamin Roberts Democracy, Governance and Service Delivery, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/sajs.2013/1200

Keywords:

public relationship with science, South Africa, science governance, attitudes towards science, social attitudes survey

Abstract

In a global environment characterised by the growing role of science and technology in our economic, social, and political lives, an international research agenda has arisen to measure and understand how science and technology are perceived and evaluated by the public. In 2010, the South African Social Attitudes Survey included 20 items to measure public attitudes towards science, knowledge about science, and sources of information about science. This household survey was administered to a representative, stratified, random sample of 3183 participants. The findings were analysed through a bivariate analysis, and here we report on South African attitudes towards science and technology, how these have changed between 1999 and 2010, and where South African science attitudes fit on the canvas of global science attitudes. The data reveal a complex and shifting relationship between attitudes of promise and reservation towards science in South Africa. In the international context, South Africa has a unique ‘fingerprint’ of public attitudes towards science. The strongest demographic variable impacting on attitude towards science was educational attainment, followed by age. Gender had no impact on science attitude. This broad overview also highlights some directions for further research to meet the growing academic and policy interest in the interface between the institutions of science and the public.

Published

2013-01-28

Issue

Section

Research Article

How to Cite

Reddy, V., Gastrow, M., Juan, A., & Roberts, B. (2013). Public attitudes to science in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 109(1/2), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1590/sajs.2013/1200
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