한국인의 과학기술자에 대한 인식분석: 세대, 성, 전공계열의 영향을 중심으로

Public Perceptions of Scientists and Engineers in Korea: Focusing on the Effects of Generation, Gender, and Class Fields

By analyzing a national survey of public understanding of science and technology, this paper attempts to examine public perceptions of scientists and engineers in Korea. A special attention is given to the gap in the view of scientists and engineers across generation, gender, and class fields (or major fields). This paper shows that generation has the strongest effect on public perceptions of scientists and engineers among all the socio-demographic factors examined in this study. Those over 50 are more likely to have the conventional idealized images of scientists and the stereotypical negative images of scientists simultaneously, while the 20s are less likely to accept the idealized image of scientists. The survey result thus may suggest that the younger generation began to depart from a patriotic and moral description of scientists and engineers-for the younger generation, science and engineering is losing moral respect but becomes perceived as an ordinary occupation. Contrary to the popular belief, however, gender has little effect on public perceptions of scientists and engineers. This finding questions the assertion that female students possess more negative attitudes toward scientists and engineers than male students, and thus are reluctant to develop careers related to science and engineering. By uncovering that class fields (or major areas) have no effect on the image of scientists, this study also call into question the assertion in the science wars that the inadequate appreciation of science particularly among those who do not major in science and engineering is responsible for inadequate support for science and technology.