Harmful Effects of Science and Technology 

 (Cited by group responding "About the same") 



Percent 

 ciling 

 Response 1972 1974 



Lack, of concern for 



the environment 27 25 



Development of military 



weapons 9 11 



Space research 16 9 



Dangerous drugs and 



medicines 3 9 



Depletion of natural 



resources 2 2 



Other 16 19 



Don't know 27 32 



Multiple responses were accepted 



As shown in the following three tables, the 

 public's views remained stable over the 1972-74 

 period on questions regarding the relationship of 

 science and technology with society. 



Science and technology are thought to cause 

 some of today's problems by about half the 

 public, and as the source of few or none of the 

 problems by some 40 percent. 



Do You Feel that Science and Technology Have Caused 



Most of our Problems, Some of our Problems, 



Few of our Problems, or None of our Problems? 



technology should "remain as it is," and nearly 

 30 percent felt that greater control was needed. 



Do You Feel That the Degree of Control that Society 



Has Over Science and Technology Should be bicreased. 



Decreased, or Remain As It is Now? 



Response 



Should be increased . . 



Remain as it is 



Should be decreased . . , 

 No opinion 



Expectations and directions 

 for science and technology 



About three-fourths of the public remained 

 confident that science and technology will 

 eventually solve at least some of the major 

 problems, examples of which were named in the 

 question. But the expectation that most 

 problems would yield to such solution declined, 

 falling from 30 percent in 1972 to 23 percent in 

 1974. The trend toward a lower level of 

 confidence is evident in the larger percentage of 

 those who expect science and technology to 

 solve only "some" and "few" such problems. 



Response 



Most 



Some 



Few 



None 



No opinion 



A slight majority of the public continued to 

 feel that science and technology produce change 

 at a pace "about right". Remaining opinion is 

 almost evenly divided between "too fast" and 

 "too slowly". 



Do You Feel That Science and Technology Change 

 Things Too Fast, Too Slowly, or Just About Right? 



Response 



Too fast 



About right 



Too slowly 



No opinion 



Almost half of those polled felt that the extent 

 of control society should have over science and 



Do You Feel That Science and Technology Will 



Eventually Solve Most Problems Such as Pollution, 



Disease, Drug Abuse, and Crime, Some of These 



Problems, or Few, if Any of These Problems? 



Response 



Most problems 



Some problems 



Few problems 



No opinion 



Areas in which the public would "most like" to 

 see their tax money for science and technology 

 sjjent are "health care," "reducing crime," 

 "reducing and controlling pollution," "prevent- 

 ing and treating drug addiction," and "im- 

 proving education."^ Two major shifts in public 

 preferences occurred in these areas between 

 1972 and 1974: "reducing and controlling 

 pollution" declined considerably in the frequen- 

 cy of selection, whereas "improving education" 

 increased. Among the less highly ranked areas. 



- Selection was made from a list of 12 areas snown in the 

 next tabulation. 



147 



