Distinguishing scientific knowledge: the impact of different measures of knowledge on genetically modified food attitudes

    Collection:
    Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
    Contributers:
    Rose, Kathleen M. (author), Howell, Emily L. (author), Su, Leona Yi-Fan (author), Xenos, Michael A. (author), Brossard, Dominique (author), and Scheufele, Dietram A. (author)
    Format:
    Online journal article
    Publication Date:
    2019
    URL:
    https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662518824837
    Published:
    SAGE Journals
    Location:
    Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 32 Document Number: D10600
    Journal Title:
    Public Understanding of Science
    Journal Title Details:
    28(4), 449–467
    Subject Term:
    attitudes, biotechnology, ethical issues, information needs, information sources, knowledge, media influence, opinions, scientific communication, values, genetic modification, and food issues
    Notes:
    19 pages., via online journal., The impact of knowledge on public attitudes toward scientific issues remains unclear, due in part to ill-defined differences in how research designs conceptualize knowledge. Using genetically modified foods as a framework, we explore the impacts of perceived familiarity and factual knowledge, and the moderating roles of media attention and a food-specific attitudinal variable (food consciousness), in shaping these relationships. Based on the differential effects on “negative attitudes” toward genetically modified foods, we provide further evidence that the measures of knowledge are separate concepts and argue against a one-dimensional view of scientific knowledge. We discuss implications for understanding the relationship between knowledge and science attitudes.

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