A survey of public scientific literacy in China

Abstract

There is growing recognition in developed countries that public scientific literacy is a basic component of long-term social and economic growth. In recent years, surveys of public scientific literacy have been conducted in the USA, the UK and elsewhere, and various efforts are being made to improve the level of public scientific literacy. The first survey of Chinese public scientific literacy was conducted in September 1990. This paper reports a portion of the statistical results of that survey. It reveals the Chinese public's level of understanding of scientific terms and methods, scientific conclusions, and attitudes towards the impact of science and technology on society. Comparisons are also made with survey data from the USA and the UK.