Science awareness, attitudes and astronomy: continuity and changes: South African Social Attitudes Survey 2013

Abstract

A 2009 study for the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) reviewed research in this area undertaken in South Africa. On this basis a specialised module of 20 items (to measure the attitudes, knowledge and sources of information for science and technology) was developed for the 2010 South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS), which was conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council. This module was extended to 40 items for SASAS 2013. This is the most recent nationally representative and internationally comparable survey to address these questions in South Africa. The key questions addressed in this report are based on a framework that views the public's relationship with science as based on behaviour, interest, knowledge and attitudes.