High-School Students’ Knowledge of and Attitudes toward Biotechnology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18662/rrem/17.1/966Keywords:
biotechnologies, knowledge, attitudes, high school studentsAbstract
Perceptions regarding biotechnologies among high-school students have been too little researched compared to those of adults. In this paper, we present the results of an empirical research on high school students' knowledge and attitudes towards biotechnology. The objectives of the paper are: (1) Exploring the knowledge of Romanian high school students about biotechnologies; (2) Exploration of differences regarding perceptions related to biotechnologies based on gender, age, and profile variables; (3) Identifying the correlation between knowledge and attitudes regarding biotechnologies. The study participants were 111 high school students from the last two grades. The method used in our research was the questionnaire. The built tool was based on BKQ (Biotechnology Knowledge Questionnaire) (Prokop et al., 2007) and BAQ (Biotechnology Attitudes Questionnaire) (Erdogan et al., 2009). From the analysis of the results, the following conclusions emerged: (1). More than 50% of students have misconceptions about genetically modified organisms, and approximately 60% of students do not agree with the commercialization of products that use genetically modified materials. (2) There are differences regarding knowledge and attitudes related to biotechnologies, depending on gender, age, profile, specialization; (3). There is a positive correlation between high school students' knowledge and attitudes towards biotechnology.
References
Arber, W. & Brachbar, M. (1998). Biotechnology for the 21st century. In W., Arber, M., Brauchbar, B., Locher, & A. G., Partner, 21st Century Technologies: Promises and Perils of a Dynamic Future (pp. 77-123), OECD.
Chen, S. Y., & Raffan, J. (1999). Biotechnology: student’s knowledge and attitudes in the LJK and Taiwan. Journal of Biological Education, 34(1), 17–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/00219266.1999.9655678
Conner, L. N. (2000). The significance of an approach to the teaching of societal issues related to biotechnology. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA, April 24-28. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED440876.pdf
Dawson, V. (2001) Addressing controversial issues in secondary school science. Australian Science Teachers' Journal, 47(4), 38 - 44.
Dawson, V. M. (2007). An exploration of high school (12–17 year old) students’ understandings of, and attitudes towards biotechnology processes. Research in Science Education, 37(1), 59–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-006-9016-7
Dawson, V. M., & Schibeci, R. A. (2003a). West Australian school students’ understanding of biotechnology. International Journal of Science Education, 25(1), 57–69. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690210126720
Dawson, V., & Schibeci, R. A. (2003b). West Australian high school students’ attitudes towards biotechnology processes. Journal of Biological Education, 38(1), 7–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/00219266.2003.9655889
DiEnno, C. M., & Hilton, S. C. (2005). High school students’ knowledge, attitudes, and levels of enjoyment of an environmental education unit on nonnative plants. Journal of Environmental Education, 37(1), 13–25. https://doi.org/10.3200/JOEE.37.1.13-26
Environics International Environmental Monitor, (2000). Toronto, Ontario. https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/IAVDO4
Erdogan, M., Ozel, M. Ushak, M., & Prokop, P. (2009) Development and validation of an instrument to measure university students’ biotechnology attitude. Journal of Science Education and Technology. 18, 255–264. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-009-9146-6
Lock, R., Miles, C., & Hughes, S. (1995). The influence of teaching on knowledge and attitudes in biotechnology and genetic engineering contexts: Implications for teaching controversial issues and the public understanding of science. School Science Review, 76(276), 47–59.
Martínez-Gracia, M. V., Gil-Quílez, J., & Osada, M. J. (2003). Genetic engineering: A matter that requires further refinement in Spanish secondary school textbooks. International Journal of Science Education, 25(9), 1147–1168. https://doi.org/10.1080/0950069022000038222
Miller, J. D. (1998). The measurement of civic scientific literacy. Public understanding of science, 7(3), 203. https://doi.org/10.1088/0963-6625/7/3/001
OECD Policy Report (2006). Evolution of student interest in science and technology studies, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Global Science Forum
Prokop, P., Lešková, A., Kubiatko, M., & Diran, C. (2007). Slovakian students’ knowledge of and attitudes toward biotechnology. International Journal of Science Education, 29(7), 895-907. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690600969830
Solomon, J. (2002). Science stories and science texts: What can they do for our students?. Studies in Science Education, 37, 85-105. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057260208560178
Verdurme, A., & Viaene, J. (2003). Consumer beliefs and attitude towards genetically modified food: basis for segmentation and implications for communication. Agribusiness: An International Journal, 19(1), 91-113. https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.10045
Weaver, A. A. (2002). Determinants of environmental attitudes. International Journal of Sociology, 32(1), 77–108. https://doi.org/10.1080/15579336.2002.11770245
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 The Authors & InManifest Network

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant this journalright of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work, with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g. post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g. in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as an earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Revista Romaneasca pentru Educatie Multidimensionala Journal has an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs
CC BY-NC-ND