Do Citizens Want to Have Their Say? Media, Agricultural Biotechnology, and Authoritarian Views of Democratic Processes in Science

Abstract

Public participation in policy decision making related to agricultural biotechnology is encouraged in various countries. However, participation is not likely to be widespread in the United States if citizens feel that their input does not need to be taken into account. This article examines citizens' authoritarian views of decision processes related to agricultural biotechnology and media's role in the development of such attitudes. Our model tests links between citizens' media use and their views of democratic processes in science by using measures of institutional trust, scientific knowledge, and fears and concerns related to science and biotechnology. A majority of respondents received moderate to high scores on authoritarian attitudes toward science. Level of education directly increased authoritarian attitudes toward science. Media use was related to more authoritarian attitudes, although exposure did not have significant effects. Heterogeneity of information sources directly decreased authoritarianism in science, and attention to biotechnology on television and in the newspaper had indirect effects. Results and implications are discussed.