Students’ knowledge and attitudes towards GMOs and nanotechnology
Students’ knowledge and attitudes towards GMOs and nanotechnology
复制标题
学生对转基因生物和纳米技术的知识和态度
DOI：
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发表时间：
2019
影响因子：
1.2
通讯作者：
Lindsay Nicole Dawson
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
S. Hekmat;Lindsay Nicole Dawson
目的
本文的目的是调查知识和态度转基因生物（GMOs）和纳米技术之间的加拿大青年人口。本试验研究的主要目的是调查大一学生对转基因生物和纳米技术的知识和态度。第二个目标是比较知识和态度转基因生物和纳米技术的学生学习营养学的学生谁不学习营养。
设计/方法/方式
调查问卷是由研究人员和学生志愿者编制的。这份调查问卷分发给西方大学一年级的学生。多项选择题采用SAS软件进行分析，开放题采用主题分析。
结果
两个人群的转基因知识都很强，但与加拿大种植的转基因食品百分比相关的问题表明，营养学学生的转基因知识更强（p = 0.031）。开放式问题显示，两个人群对转基因生物的总体态度要么不确定，要么消极。营养学专业的学生对纳米技术的态度更积极，对纳米技术的应用有更强的了解（p = 0.006）。主题分析表明，参加营养研究的参与者对转基因生物的担忧较少。两组之间在与纳米技术相关的开放式问题上没有差异，这可能是由于缺乏对该技术新奇的认识。
研究限制/影响
如果没有经过验证的调查表，这会降低调查表结果的可靠性。本研究结合以往研究的问卷设计，并从相关文献中产生问题，提高了问卷的信度和准确性。此外，调查表经过了几轮预试点，并与当前的卫生保健专业人员进行了多次修订，以提高调查表的可靠性和准确性。
实际影响
这项研究将有助于了解目前的知识转基因生物和纳米技术之间的第一年的大学生。这将使我们能够了解知识是否会改变学生对这些技术的态度。如果学生对这些技术没有很强的了解，那么这可能会导致有关转基因生物和纳米技术的教育的潜在实施。随着这些技术的出现和在日常食品中的使用，人们应该意识到这些技术的影响和好处。
独创性/价值
这是加拿大关于这一主题的第一项研究。本研究的结果提供了可用于进行未来研究的基线数据。
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate knowledge and attitudes toward genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and nanotechnology among the Canadian youth demographic. The primary objective of this pilot study was to investigate the knowledge and attitudes toward GMOs and nanotechnology among first year university students. The secondary objective was to compare knowledge and attitudes toward GMOs and nanotechnology among students studying nutrition as to students who do not study nutrition.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire was developed by researchers and student volunteers. This questionnaire was distributed to first year university classes at Western University. The multiple-choice questions were analyzed using SAS, and open-ended questions were analyzed using theme analysis.
Findings
GMO knowledge was strong for both populations, however questions related to the percentage of GM foods grown in Canada indicated nutrition students had a stronger GMO knowledge (p = 0.031). Open-ended questions revealed overall attitudes toward GMOs were either unsure or negative between both populations. Nutrition students had a more positive attitude toward nanotechnology, and a slightly stronger knowledge regarding applications of nanotechnology (p = 0.006). Theme analysis indicated that participants enrolled in nutritional studies were less apprehensive toward GMOs. No differences were indicated in open-ended questions related to nanotechnology between both groups, which may be due to the lack of awareness related to the novelty of the technology.
Research limitations/implications
Without a validated questionnaire, this reduces the reliability of the results from the questionnaire. The questionnaire was carefully designed by combining previous studies questionnaires, as well as producing questions from related literature, which increases the reliability and accuracy of the questionnaire. In addition, the questionnaires underwent several rounds of pre-piloting as well as multiple revisions with current health-care professions to increase the reliability and accuracy of the questionnaire.
Practical implications
This study will assist in understanding the current knowledge of GMOs and nanotechnology among first year university students. This will then allow us to understand if knowledge has a factor in altering students’ attitudes toward these technologies. If students do not have a strong knowledge toward these technologies, then this may lead to the potential implementation of education regarding GMOs and nanotechnology. As these technologies are emerging and being used in everyday food items, individuals should be aware of the implications, as well as the benefits of these technologies.
Originality/value
This is the first study regarding this topic in Canada. Results from this study provide baseline data that may be used to conduct future research.