GSS 1972-2024 Cumulative Datafile - Release 3

Has there ever been a turning point in your life when you became less 
commited to religion?

We are interested in how people get information about events in the 
news. Where do you get most  of your information about current news 
events “ newspapers, magazines, the Internet, books or other 
printed materials, TV, radio, government agencies, family, friends, 
colleagues, or some other source?

We are interested in how people get information about events in the 
news. Where do you get most of your information about current news 
events “ printed newspapers,  online newspapers, printed magazines, 
online magazines, other places on the Internet, books or other 
printed materials, TV, radio, family, friends, colleagues, or some 
other source?

We are interested in how people get information about science and 
technology. Where do you get most of your information about science 
and technology (“ newspapers, magazines, the Internet, books or 
other printed materials, TV, radio, government agencies, family, 
friends, colleagues,  or some other source)?

If you wanted to learn about scientific issues such as global warming 
or biotechnology, where would you get information (“ newspapers, 
magazines, the Internet, books or other printed materials, TV, radio, 
government agencies, family, friends, colleagues, or some other 
source)?

We are also interested in how people get information about science 
and technology. Where do you get most of your information about 
science and technology printed newspapers, online newspapers, printed 
magazines, online magazines, other places on the Internet, books or 
other printed materials, TV, radio, family, friends, colleagues, or 
some other source?

If you wanted to learn about scientific issues such as global warming 
or biotechnology, where would you get information “ printed 
newspapers, online newspapers, printed magazines, online magazines, 
other places on the Internet, books or other printed materials, TV, 
radio, family, friends, colleagues, or some other source)? 
PROBE: What would be your main source of information?

You said you get most of your information about science and 
technology from a place on the internet other 
than online newspapers or magazines. Wed like to ask you the place 
you are most likely to go on the internet for this information. What 
is the place you are most likely to go on the internet for science 
and 
technology information? 
FI INSTRUCTION:  IF R GIVES MORE THAN ONE PLACE OR SAYS œIT 
DEPENDS, PROBE ONCE: Which site are you most likely to go on the 
Internet for science and technology information?

You said you get most of your information about science and 
technology from newspapers. would that be printed newspapers or 
online newspapers?

You said you get most of your information about science and 
technology from magazines. would that be printed magazines or online 
magazines?

You said you get most of your information about science and 
technology from the Internet. What is the place you are most likely 
to go on the Internet for science and technology information”online 
newspapers, online magazines, or some other place on the Internet?
you most likely to go on the Internet for science and technology 
information?

Im going to read to you some statements like those you might find in 
a newspaper or magazine article. For each statement, please tell me 
if you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree.
A. Because of science and technology, there will be more 
opportunities for the next generation.

Im going to read to you some statements like those you might find in 
a newspaper or magazine article. For each statement, please tell me 
if you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree.
B. Science makes our way of life change too fast.

Im going to read to you some statements like those you might find in 
a newspaper or magazine article. For each statement, please tell me 
if you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree.
D. Even if it brings no immediate benefits, scientific research that 
advances the frontiers of knowledge is necessary and should be 
supported by the federal government.

Im going to read to you some statements like those you might find in 
a newspaper or magazine article. For each statement, please tell me 
if you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree.
E. Science is too concerned with theory and speculation to be of much 
use in making concrete government policy decisions that will affect 
the way we live.

Im going to read to you some statements like those you might find in 
a newspaper or magazine article. For each statement, please tell me 
if you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree.
F. Government decision makers should pay attention only to those 
scientific theories that have been accepted by most leading 
scientists.

Im going to read to you some statements like those you might find in 
a newspaper or magazine article. For each statement, please tell me 
if you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree.
G. Research results from industry scientists are less reliable than 
those from university scientists.

Now, for a new subject. Do you ever read a horoscope or your personal 
astrology report?

Would you say that astrology is very scientific, sort of scientific, 
or not at all scientific?

Now for another type of question. People have frequently noted that 
scientific research has produced benefits and harmful results. Would 
you say that, on balance, the benefits of scientific research have 
outweighed the harmful results, or have the harmful results of 
scientific research been greater than its benefits?

Now for another type of question. People have frequently noted that 
scientific research has produced benefits and harmful results. Would 
you say that, on balance, the benefits of scientific research have 
outweighed the harmful results, or have the harmful results of 
scientific research been greater than its benefits? 
A. Would you say that the balance has been strongly in favor of the 
benefits, or only slightly?

Now for another type of question. People have frequently noted that 
scientific research has produced benefits and harmful results. Would 
you say that, on balance, the benefits of scientific research have 
outweighed the harmful results, or have the harmful results of 
scientific research been greater than its benefits? 
B. Would you say that the balance has been strongly in favor of the 
harmful results, or only slightly?

Now, for a slightly different type of question. When you read news 
stories, you see certain sets of words and terms. We are interested 
in how many people recognize certain kinds of terms. First, some 
articles refer to the results of a scientific study. When you read or 
hear the term scientific study, do you have a clear understanding of 
what it means, a general sense of what it means, or little 
understanding of what it means?

In your own words, could you tell me what it means to study something 
scientifically?

Now, please think about this situation. Two scientists want to know 
if a certain drug is effective against high blood pressure. The first 
scientist wants to give the drug to one thousand people with high 
blood pressure and see how many of them experience lower blood 
pressure levels. The second scientist wants to give the drug to five 
hundred people with high blood pressure, and not give the drug to 
another five hundred people with high blood pressure, and see how 
many in both groups experience lower blood pressure levels. Which is 
the better way to test this drug?