Do we need science?
Public opinion on the development of science and technology
The results of scientific and technological development play an important role in people's daily lives. Statistical measurements are more often focused on the economic return on investments in research and development, however, assessments of the social effects of the development of science and technology and the perception of their role by the population are no less relevant. Similar studies are conducted in many countries, including Russia. Data from the Monitoring of Innovative Behavior of the population, which is conducted by the Institute for Statistical Research and the Economics of Knowledge of the Higher School of Economics, allow us to assess the generalized level of trust in science on the part of Russians. For more than 10 years of research, there has been a fairly noticeable and steady share of Russians (from 59 to 68% of respondents) who note the benefits of scientific and technical achievements (Fig. 1).
P is. 1. The opinion of the Russian population about the benefits of scientific and technical achievements (% of the number of respondents) Question: "Do you think there is more benefit or harm from science and technology in general?". In 2015, the option "About the same benefits and harms" was excluded from the list of alternatives. It should be noted that the benefits of science and technology are most often felt by young people under the age of 34 (73 vs. 67% on average in the sample), as well as people with higher education (71 vs. 67% on average in the sample), who actively follow the news in the field of science and technology and more are aware of their latest achievements.
It is noteworthy that the adjustment of the survey methodology carried out in 2015 – the exclusion of a neutral alternative in the question – led to a significant increase in the proportion of rather negative responses. A year before that, in 2014, the highest percentage of neutral assessments was recorded, which indicates an ambiguous perception of modern science by society. International studies also show that the general population tends to positively assess the contribution of science to the development of society (Fig. 2). Nevertheless, they find a significant proportion of skeptical or even negative-minded citizens.
Fig. 2. Relative balance of positive and negative assessments of the role of science and technology in society by country: 2015*(%) Question: "Do you think there is more benefit or harm from science and technology in general?"** * Data for Russia for 2015, for other countries in the coming years, for which data is available. ** The difference between the number of positive and negative responses as a percentage of the total number of respondents who answered the question (with the exception of those who chose the alternative "equally good and harm" and "I find it difficult to answer").
In terms of the share of the population approving scientific and technological progress, Russia is in the penultimate place among the countries for which comparable data are available. If we take into account that the population is not only a consumer of results, but also an active conductor of scientific and technological development due to the formation of a public demand for new knowledge and solutions, then a decrease in the number of supporters of science and technology in the future may become an alarming signal.
Source: Materials for Monitoring Innovative Behavior of the population (2003-2015); OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard (2015).
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02.09.2016