Selected College Students' Knowledge and Perceptions of Biotechnology Issues
Reported in the Mass Media
Gary J. Wingenbach
Tracy A. Rutherford
Deborah W. Dunsford
The purpose of this study was to determine college students' awareness of and
attitudes toward biotechnology issues reported in the mass media. Future agricultural
communicators (N = 330) representing 11 land-grant universities in 10 states recorded
their knowledge and perceptions of biotechnology issues as reported in the mass
media. Respondents were mostly seniors (46%), female (55%), and considered themselves
"B" average students (60%). Students achieved only 30% correct responses
(M = 3.05) in a knowledge assessment of biotechnology practices, illustrating
a lack of knowledge. However, nearly 84% of the respondents perceived their level
of knowledge as average to high (24% perceived they possessed above-average scientific
knowledge). Future agricultural communicators were somewhat accepting of biotechnology
practices for genetically modified organisms involving plant life (M = 3.28),
but viewed these same practices as somewhat unacceptable for use on humans (M
= 1.84). Significant, low positive relationships existed between respondents'
perceived and assessed levels of biotechnology knowledge (r = .17) and between
their assessed knowledge and acceptance of biotechnology practices (r = .16).
Selected college students in the agricultural sciences have much less knowledge
about biotechnology practices than what they believed to possess. Although correctable
through increased study of biotechnology, this finding may pose serious problems
for students choosing to "communicate" the science of biotechnology
issues in the mass media. Agricultural communications faculty nationwide should
analyze their curricula to determine if students are being given the opportunity
to study biotechnology issues while learning how to communicate it to a larger
audience.
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Gary J. Wingenbach is an ACE member and assistant professor of agricultural communications
in the Department of Agricultural Education at Texas A&M University.
Tracy A. Rutherford is an ACE member and assistant professor of agricultural communications
in the Department of Agricultural Education at Texas A&M University.
Deborah W. Dunsford is an ACE member and senior lecturer of agricultural communications
in the Department of Agricultural Education at Texas A&M University.
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