DEVELOPMENT OF A REFLEXIVE MODERNIZATION THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE TO PREDICT INDIANA RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF EMERGENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY by Kami J. Knies A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Purdue University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication West Lafayette, Indiana August 2019 2 THE PURDUE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL STATEMENT OF COMMITTEE APPROVAL Dr. Mark A. Tucker, Chair Department of Agricultural Sciences Education & Communication Dr. Linda J. Pfeiffer Department of Agricultural Sciences Education & Communication Dr. Neil A. Knobloch Department of Agricultural Sciences Education & Communication Approved by: Dr. Mark A. Russell Head of the Graduate Program 3 To my family in all its entirety 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................................... 7 LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................ 8 ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... 9 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 11 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 11 Emergent Science and Technology through the Centuries ............................................... 13 Social Response to Emergent Science and Technology ................................................... 17 Statement of the Problem .................................................................................................. 18 Significance of the Study .................................................................................................. 19 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................... 20 Research Objectives .......................................................................................................... 20 Study Site .......................................................................................................................... 21 Limitations of the Study.................................................................................................... 21 Basic Assumptions ......................................................................................................... 22 Definition of Terms ........................................................................................................ 22 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................... 23 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 23 Research Objectives .......................................................................................................... 23 Strategy of Literature Review ........................................................................................... 23 Variables Affecting Public Perception of Science and Technology ................................. 24 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................... 34 2.5.1 Reflexive Modernization ........................................................................................... 34 Application of Reflexive Modernization Theoretical Perspective .................................... 36 Hypotheses ........................................................................................................................ 39 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................... 40 METHODS ......................................................................................................... 42 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 42 Research Objectives .......................................................................................................... 42 5 Research Design ................................................................................................................ 42 Sampling ........................................................................................................................... 43 Research Approval ............................................................................................................ 44 Design of Instrument......................................................................................................... 45 Measurement ..................................................................................................................... 46 3.7.1 Dependent Variable ................................................................................................... 46 3.7.2 Independent Variables ............................................................................................... 48 3.7.3 Control Variables ....................................................................................................... 52 Field Test .......................................................................................................................... 53 Data Collection ................................................................................................................. 54 3.9.1 Recruitment Timeline ................................................................................................ 55 3.9.2 Response Rate ............................................................................................................ 57 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................. 57 Threats to Internal and External Validity ....................................................................... 59 Limitations ...................................................................................................................... 60 RESULTS ........................................................................................................... 63 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 63 Research Objectives .......................................................................................................... 63 Hypotheses ........................................................................................................................ 63 Subjects’ Sociodemographic Characteristics .................................................................... 65 Results for Research Objective 1 ...................................................................................... 74 Results for Research Objective 2 ...................................................................................... 78 Results for Research Objective 3 ...................................................................................... 84 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................. 90 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 90 Research Objectives .......................................................................................................... 90 Hypotheses ........................................................................................................................ 90 Summary of Major Findings ............................................................................................. 91 5.4.1 Research Objective 1: To measure subjects’ level of interest in emergent science and technology .............................................................................................................................. 92 6 5.4.2 Research Objective 2: To identify subjects’ trusted sources of information and communication channel preferences for learning about emergent science and technology. 93 5.4.3 Research Objective 3: To measure subjects’ perceived levels of optimism that emergent science and technology will improve quality of life. ............................................. 95 5.4.4 Research Objective 4: To develop and test a theoretical model that predicts subjects’ perceived level of optimism toward emergent science and technology. ............................... 96 Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 98 Implications and Recommendations ............................................................................... 102 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................... 105 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... 107 7 LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1: Mail Survey Strata in Current Research ...................................................................... 44 Table 4.1: Subject Characteristics ................................................................................................. 65 Table 4.2: Subjects’ Gross Household Income ............................................................................