Study title

The survey studied Finnish public opinion on science and scientific-technical development. The study was commissioned by Tieteen tiedotus ry. First, the respondents were asked how interested they were in several topics (e.g. culture and art, sports, environment, politics, technology). The importance of various sources of information on science and scientific development was also surveyed (e.g. newspapers, TV, radio, scientific publications, the internet, social media, seminars and lectures). Next, trust in various institutions (e.g. the Parliament, the church, trade unions, the media, armed forces, universities, the European) and science and research in general was examined. The respondents were also asked to name a Finnish researcher who they felt was trustworthy. The respondents' views on how they expected scientific and technological developments to change people's daily lives in the next 10-20 years were investigated. The respondents were also asked whether they thought that science can solve certain problems or considerably help mankind (e.g. find a cure for cancer, raise the standard of living, stop or delay climate change, eradicate hunger from the world, decrease unemployment, promote peace and democracy). Additionally, opinions on how well certain aspects of science (e.g. quality of research, level of technology and medicine, ethical issues, science funding, usefulness of science to society and everyday life) have been taken care of in Finland were charted. The survey also carried various attitudinal statements on science and research. The statements covered, for instance, relationships between religion and science, science funding, alternative medicine, researchers' involvement in politics, use of scientific information in political decision-making, impact of scientific and technological development, climate change, and nutrition. Finally, the respondents' opinions on immunization were charted with questions relating to, for example, the effectiveness...