새로운 측정 모델을 이용한 과학기술 국민이해 조사연구 - 문제 및 이슈와 연관짓기를 중심으로

The purpose of this study is to conceptualize PUST (Public understanding or science and technology) with a new theoretical perspective and to measure the Korean PUST through a national survey. Then, it suggests policy implications of improving the Korean public understanding of science and technology. Our new theoretical perspective is focused on an information receiver's one rather than an information provider's one. Thus, we concepualized PUST as a process of engagement: how a citizen becomes to be engaged to science or technology. It does not stress how hard s/he is pushed to learn science or technology. A national survey was done by a face-to-face interview method. About 1,200 adults were sampled from 18 or more years old population by a stratified area sampling method which had been used as a common and reliable one in South Korea. Each half of the total sample were for science or technology. The survey was conducted in September, 2001. We found that many Korean adults had positive but disproportionate impressions of science or technology that were related mostly to utilities for life such as computer, internet, car, refrigerator, television, etc. Most of them failed to continue to be engaged to sciences and technologies after first exposure to them through compulsory education. They were not able to relate sciences or technologies to solving individual or social salient problems. This study shows that PUST would be improved by our engagement to sciences or technologies through their relationship with social problems or issues.