ABSTRACT

This book offers the first comparative account of the changes and stabilities of public perceptions of science within the US, France, China, Japan, and across Europe over the past few decades. The contributors address the influence of cultural factors; the question of science and religion and its influence on particular developments (e.g. stem cell research); and the demarcation of science from non-science as well as issues including the ‘incommensurability’ versus ‘cognitive polyphasia’ and the cognitive (in)tolerance of different systems of knowledge.

part I|99 pages

Longitudinal Analysis

chapter 3|16 pages

Attitudes toward Science in France

1972–2005

chapter 4|21 pages

American Public Understanding of Science

1979–2006

chapter 5|16 pages

The Image of Science in Bulgaria and UK, 1992–2005

Does Generation Matter?

chapter 6|18 pages

The Changing Culture of Science across Old Europe

1989 to 2005

chapter 7|16 pages

Knowledge of Science and Technology in Japan

IRT Scores for 1991 and 2001

part IV|74 pages

Cultural Aspects of Sensitive Topics

part V|90 pages

Complementary Data Streams