Allum, Nick; Sibley, Elissa; Sturgis, Patrick and Stoneman, Paul. 2014. Religious beliefs, knowledge about science and attitudes towards medical genetics. Public Understanding of Science, 23(7), pp. 833-849. ISSN 0963-6625 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

The use of genetics in medical research is one of the most important avenues currently being explored to enhance human health. For some, the idea that we can intervene in the mechanisms of human existence at such a fundamental level can be at minimum worrying and at most repugnant. In particular, religious doctrines are likely to collide with the rapidly advancing capability for science to make such interventions. The key ingredient for acceptance of genetics, on the other hand, is prototypically assumed to be scientific literacy – familiarity and understanding of the critical facts and methods of science. However, this binary opposition between science and religion runs counter to what is often found in practice. In this paper, we examine the association between religiosity, science knowledge and attitudes to medical genetics amongst the British public. In particular, we test the hypothesis that religion acts as a ‘perceptual filter’ through which citizens acquire and use scientific knowledge in the formation of attitudes towards medical genetics in various ways.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662513492485
Additional Information:	This research was funded by the Wellcome Trust, as part of the ‘Developing a novel segmentation of adults and young people in relation to biomedical science’ project, grant reference number: EDU/28/4/20/SotonUni/DO18–1299.
Keywords:	attitudes, genetic and reproductive technologies, genetic testing, religion, scientific literacy
Departments, Centres and Research Units:	Sociology
Dates:	Date Event 9 July 2013 Published Online 1 October 2014 Published
Item ID:	23270
Date Deposited:	01 May 2018 13:52
Last Modified:	01 May 2018 13:52
Peer Reviewed:	Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.
URI:	https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/23270

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