Similarities and differences with the ‘general public’: Chinese civil servants’ attitude to genetically modified organisms and its influencing factors

References

• Miles S, Ueland Ø, Frewer LJ. Public attitudes towards genetically modified food. Brit Food J. 2005;107(4):246–62. doi:10.1108/00070700510589521.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ritter C, Shriver A, McConnachie E, Robbins J, von Keyserlingk MA, Weary DM, Gao Z. Public attitudes toward genetic modification in dairy cattle. PloS One. 2019;14(12):e0225372. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0225372.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rzymski P, Królczyk A. Attitudes toward genetically modified organisms in Poland: to GMO or not to GMO? Food Secur. 2016;8(3):689–97. doi:10.1007/s12571-016-0572-z.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wang Q. China’s scientists must engage the public on GM. Nature. 2015;519(7541):7–7. doi:10.1038/519007a.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Zhao Y, Deng H, Yu C, Hu R. The Chinese public’s awareness and attitudes toward genetically modified foods with different labeling. NPJ Sci Food. 2019;3(1):1–7. doi:10.1038/s41538-019-0049-5.
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Cui K, Shoemaker SP. Public perception of genetically-modified (GM) food: a nationwide Chinese consumer study. NPJ Sci Food. 2018;2(1):1–8. doi:10.1038/s41538-018-0018-4.
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Ruth TK, Rumble JN, Lamm AJ, Irani T, Ellis JD. Are American’s attitudes toward GM science really negative? An academic examination of attitudes and willingness to expose attitudes. Sci Commun. 2019;41(1):113–31. doi:10.1177/1075547018819935.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hakim MP, Zanetta LDA, de Oliveira JM, da Cunha DT. The mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods in Brazil: Consumer’s knowledge, trust, and risk perception. Food Res Int. 2020;132:109053. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109053.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Defez R. Deforming mirrors converting GMOs into smog. Nutr Food Sci. 2016;46(5):620–27. doi:10.1108/NFS-04-2016-0049.
   Google Scholar
• Costa-Font M, Gil JM, Traill WB. Consumer acceptance, valuation of and attitudes towards genetically modified food: review and implications for food policy. Food Policy. 2008;33(2):99–111. doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2007.07.002.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hu Y, House LA, Gao Z. How do consumers respond to labels for crispr (gene-editing)? Food Policy. 2022;112:102366. doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2022.102366.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ichim MC. The more favorable attitude of the citizens toward GMOs supports a new regulatory framework in the European Union. GM Crops & Food. 2021;12(1):18–24. doi:10.1080/21645698.2020.1795525.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Boccia F, Punzo G. A choice experiment on consumer perceptions of three generations of genetically modified foods. Appetite. 2021;161:105158. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2021.105158.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Boccia F, Covino D, Sarnacchiaro P. Genetically modified food versus knowledge and fear: a noumenic approach for consumer behaviour. Food Res Int. 2018;111:682–88. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2018.06.013.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Burton M, Rigby D, Young T, James S. Consumer attitudes to genetically modified organisms in food in the UK. Eur Rev Agric Econ. 2001;28(4):479–98. doi:10.1093/erae/28.4.479.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Lefebvre S, Cook LA, Griffiths MA. Consumer perceptions of genetically modified foods: a mixed-method approach. J Consum Mark. 2019;36(1):113–23. doi:10.1108/JCM-12-2016-2043.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Vecchione M, Feldman C, Wunderlich S. Consumer knowledge and attitudes about genetically modified food products and labelling policy. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2015;66(3):329–35. doi:10.3109/09637486.2014.986072.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Vlontzos G, Duquenne MN. To eat or not to eat? The case of genetically modified (GM) food. Nutr Food Sci. 2016;46(5):647–58. doi:10.1108/NFS-12-2015-0153.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Waterfield G, Kaplan S, Zilberman D. Willingness to pay versus willingness to vote: consumer and voter avoidance of genetically modified foods. Am J Agric Econ. 2020;102(2):505–24. doi:10.1002/ajae.12001.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Zhan J, Ma Y, Deng P, Li Y, Xu M, Xiong H. Designing enhanced labeling information to increase consumer willingness to pay for genetically modified foods. Brit Food J. 2020;123(1):405–18. doi:10.1108/BFJ-08-2019-0637.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bubela T, Nisbet MC, Borchelt R, Brunger F, Critchley C, Einsiedel E, Geller G, Gupta A, Hampel J, Hyde-Lay R, et al. Science communication reconsidered. Nat Biotechnol. 2009;27(6):514–18. doi:10.1038/nbt0609-514.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Miller JD. Public understanding of science and technology in the Internet era. Public Underst Sci. 2022;31(3):266–72. doi:10.1177/09636625211073485.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Simis MJ, Madden H, Cacciatore MA, Yeo SK. The lure of rationality: why does the deficit model persist in science communication? Public Underst Sci. 2016;25(4):400–14. doi:10.1177/0963662516629749.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Jiang K, Anderton BN, Ronald PC, Barnett GA. Semantic network analysis reveals opposing online representations of the search term “GMO”. Global Chall. 2018;2(1):1700082. doi:10.1002/gch2.201700082.
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Yamaguchi T. Public acceptance of GMOs: portraying variable terrain. Asian Biotechnol Dev Rev. 2013;15:43–67.
   Google Scholar
• Losada C, Esteve M. Management roles in political and senior civil servant positions: a multiple-study approach. Int Public Manag J. 2018;21(5):850–76. doi:10.1080/10967494.2017.1418772.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Houston DJ, Aitalieva NR, Morelock AL, Shults CA. Citizen trust in civil servants: a cross-national examination. Int J Public Admin. 2016;39(14):1203–14. doi:10.1080/01900692.2016.1156696.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Toke D, Marsh D. Policy networks and the GM crops issue: assessing the utility of a dialectical model of policy networks. Public Adm. 2003;81(2):229–51. doi:10.1111/1467-9299.00344.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Du L, Rachul C. Chinese newspaper coverage of genetically modified organisms. BMC Public Health. 2012;12(1):1–5. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-326.
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Xu Z, Lu Y. Imagining GMOs: the Chinese public’s scientific perception in the digital age. Cultur Sci. 2019;2(4):241–53. doi:10.1177/209660831900200402.
   Google Scholar
• Yang Z, 2021. Citizen Science Communicators, Boundary-Work and Scientific Authority: Struggle for Discourse Authority between Scientists and the Public in the Digital Media Environment of China [ Doctoral dissertation]. University of Sheffield.
   Google Scholar
• You C. How the Chinese public makes decisions about controversial technologies: a case study on GMOs. Cultur Sci. 2019;2(4):277–92. doi:10.1177/209660831900200404.
   Google Scholar
• Nisbet MC, Scheufele DA. What’s next for science communication? Promising directions and lingering distractions. Am J Bot. 2009;96(10):1767–78. doi:10.3732/ajb.0900041.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Besley JC, Nisbet M. How scientists view the public, the media and the political process. Public Underst Sci. 2013;22(6):644–59. doi:10.1177/0963662511418743.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Irwin A, Michael M. Science, social theory & public knowledge. London: ‎Open University Press; 2003.
   Google Scholar
• Kyvik S. Popular science publishing and contributions to public discourse among university faculty. Sci Commun. 2005;26(3):288–311. doi:10.1177/1075547004273022.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rose KM, Korzekwa K, Brossard D, Scheufele DA, Heisler L. Engaging the public at a science festival: findings from a panel on human gene editing. Sci Commun. 2017;39(2):250–77. doi:10.1177/1075547017697981.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Irani T, Sinclair J, O’malley M. The importance of being accountable: the relationship between perceptions of accountability, knowledge, and attitude toward plant genetic engineering. Sci Commun. 2002;23(3):225–42. doi:10.1177/107554700202300302.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Maes J, Gheysen G, Valcke M, 2014, May. Attitudes of the general public towards genetically modified organisms (GMOs): the paradoxical relationship between knowledge and attitudes. In Proceedings of the “13th International Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference”. Salvador (Brazil) (p. 11).
   Google Scholar
• Pang Y. Empirical analysis on the impact of trust in government, purposes of GM crops, and farmers’ expectations on the delayed commercialization of GM crops in China———based on Xinjiang and Guangdong survey samples. GM Crops & Food. 2023;14(1):1–18. doi:10.1080/21645698.2023.2208996.
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Xu JP, Yan ZJ. 农民对转基因技术的认知及转基因主粮的潜在生产意愿分析——以湖北地区种粮农户为考察对象[Farmers’ cognition of genetically modified technology and analysis of potential production willingness of genetically modified main grain]. China Sci Technol Forum/中国科技论坛. 2010;12:142–48.
   Google Scholar
• Yang HS, Yu L. 我国豆农对种植转基因大豆的态度及其影响因素研究——基于选择实验方法[A study on the attitude of Chinese Soybean farmers to the planting of GM soybeans and its influencing factors – based on the selection experiment method]. China Soft Sci/中国软科学. 2020;34:168–76.
   Google Scholar
• Cui K, Shoemaker SP. 中美公众的转基因态度差异及公众质疑转基因原因探析[differences between Chinese and American public attitudes towards genetically modified Plants and reasons for public Questioning about genetically modified Plants]. J Huazhong Agric Univ (Soc Sci Ed)/华中农业大学学报(社会科学版). 2020;18:155–9+168.
   Google Scholar
• Huang Q. Understanding public perceptions of genetically modified organisms in China: the role that heuristics play during digital media exposure. Chin J Commun. 2020;13(3):293–311. doi:10.1080/17544750.2019.1673453.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Jin Y, Schaub S, Tosun J, Wesseler J. Does China have a public debate on genetically modified organisms? A discourse network analysis of public debate on Weibo. Public Underst Sci. 2022;31(6):732–50. doi:10.1177/09636625211070150.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Xu ZW, Li S, Chen Q. 转基因技术的公众认知问题探究[research on public cognition of transgenic technology]. Jf China Agric Univ: Soc Sci Ed/中国农业大学学报: 社会科学版. 2015;32:102–100.
   Google Scholar
• Neushul P, Wang Z. Between the devil and the deep sea: CK Tseng, mariculture, and the politics of science in modern China. Isis. 2000;91(1):59–88. doi:10.1086/384626.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Illingworth S. Creative communication–using poetry and games to generate dialogue between scientists and nonscientists. FEBS Lett. 2020;594(15):2333–38. doi:10.1002/1873-3468.13891.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Chen MF. The gender gap in food choice motives as determinants of consumers’ attitudes toward GM foods in Taiwan. Brit Food J. 2011;113(6):697–709. doi:10.1108/00070701111140052.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Elder L, Greene S, Lizotte MK. The gender gap on public opinion towards genetically modified foods. Soc Sci J. 2018;55(4):500–09. doi:10.1016/j.soscij.2018.02.015.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Levi S. Living standards shape individual attitudes on genetically modified food around the world. Food Qual Prefer. 2022;95:104371. doi:10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104371.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Thomas K, Swaton E, Fishbein M, Otway HJ. Nuclear energy: the accuracy of policy makers’ perceptions of public beliefs. Behav Sci. 1980;25(5):332–44. doi:10.1002/bs.3830250503.
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Tse H, Mak MK. Value dynamics in support to social movement: Hong Kong civil servants in the anti-extradition bill movement. Soc Transform Chinese Soci. 2022;18(2):137–53. doi:10.1108/STICS-04-2021-0007.
   Google Scholar
• Gamson WA, Modigliani A. Media discourse and public opinion on nuclear power: a constructionist approach. Am J Sociol. 1989;95(1):1–37. doi:10.1086/229213.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bauer MW. The evolution of public understanding of science—discourse and comparative evidence. Sci Technol Soc. 2009;14(2):221–40. doi:10.1177/097172180901400202.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Evans G, Durant J. The relationship between knowledge and attitudes in the public understanding of science in Britain. Public Underst Sci. 1995;4(1):57–74. doi:10.1088/0963-6625/4/1/004.
   Google Scholar
• Durant J, Bauer M, Gaskell G, Midden C, Liakopoulos M, Scholten L. Two cultures of public understanding of science and technology in Europe. In: Meinolf Y, Claudia von G, editors. Between understanding and trust. New York: Routledge;2005. pp. 101–19.
   Google Scholar
• Lee S, Kim SH. Scientific knowledge and attitudes toward science in South Korea: does knowledge lead to favorable attitudes? Sci Commun. 2018;40(2):147–72. doi:10.1177/1075547017753189.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• McFadden BR, Lusk JL. Cognitive biases in the assimilation of scientific information on global warming and genetically modified food. Food Policy. 2015;54:35–43. doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2015.04.010.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Priest SH. Misplaced faith: communication variables as predictors of encouragement for biotechnology development. Sci Commun. 2001;23(2):97–110. doi:10.1177/1075547001023002002.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Huang J, Peng B, Wang X. Scientists’ attitudes toward agricultural GM technology development and GM food in China. China Agric Econ Rev. 2017;9(3):369–84. doi:10.1108/CAER-05-2017-0101.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Drummond C, Fischhoff B. Individuals with greater science literacy and education have more polarized beliefs on controversial science topics. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2017;114(36):9587–92. doi:10.1073/pnas.1704882114.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Yang Z, Luo X, Jia H. Is it all a conspiracy? Conspiracy theories and people’s attitude to COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccines. 2021;9(10):1051. doi:10.3390/vaccines9101051.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mielby H, Sandøe P, Lassen J. The role of scientific knowledge in shaping public attitudes to GM technologies. Public Underst Sci. 2013;22(2):155–68. doi:10.1177/0963662511430577.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Linnhoff S, Volovich E, Russell H, Smith M. An examination of millennials’ attitudes toward genetically modified organism (GMO) foods: is it Franken-food or super-food? Int J Agric Resour Governance Ecol. 2017;13(4):371–90. doi:10.1504/IJARGE.2017.088403.
   Google Scholar
• Chang KL. Occupational literacy: an overview. Lifelong Learn. 1987;11:19–22.
   Google Scholar
• Duan HQ, Liu LL. 我国公务员行政能力测试的现状与改进方向[the present situation and improvement direction of the administrative ability test of civil servants in China]. J Anhui Univ/安徽大学学报. 2006;6:139–44.
   Google Scholar
• Döring M. How-to bureaucracy: a concept of citizens’ administrative literacy. Adm Soc. 2021;53(8):1155–77. doi:10.1177/0095399721995460.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Pollard N, Sakellariou D. Occupational literacy. Polit Occup-Centred Pract. 2012;6(2):42–50.
   Google Scholar
• Jia H, Luo X. I wear a mask for my country: conspiracy theories, nationalism, and intention to adopt COVID-19 prevention behaviors at the later stage of pandemic control in China. Health Commun. 2021;38(3):1–9. doi:10.1080/10410236.2021.1958982.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Jolley D, Douglas KM, Tripp R. The effects of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories on vaccination intentions. PloS One. 2014;9(2):e89177. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089177.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Biddlestone M, Azevedo F, van der Linden S. Climate of conspiracy: a meta-analysis of the consequences of belief in conspiracy theories about climate change. Curr Opin Psychol. 2022;46:101390. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101390.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bricker BJ. Climategate: a case study in the intersection of facticity and conspiracy theory. Commun Stud. 2013;64(2):218–39. doi:10.1080/10510974.2012.749294.
   Google Scholar
• Douglas KM, Uscinski JE, Sutton RM, Cichocka A, Nefes T, Ang CS, Deravi F. Understanding conspiracy theories. Polit Psychol. 2019;40(S1):3–35. doi:10.1111/pops.12568.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Enders AM, Uscinski JE, Klofstad CA, Seelig MI, Wuchty S, Murthi MN, Premaratne K, Funchion JR. Do conspiracy beliefs form a belief system? Examining the structure and organization of conspiracy beliefs. J Soc Polit Psych. 2021;9(1):255–71. doi:10.5964/jspp.5649.
   Google Scholar
• Marques MD, Kerr JR, Williams MN, Ling M, McLennan J. Associations between conspiracism and the rejection of scientific innovations. Public Underst Sci. 2021;30(7):854–67. doi:10.1177/09636625211007013.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wang G, Wang L, Shen J. Food to politics: representations of genetically modified organisms in cartoons on the Internet in China. Public Underst Sci. 2021;30(3):274–84. doi:10.1177/0963662520983564.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Yang Z. How do Chinese scientists maintain their discourse authority? Critical discourse analysis of discourse “boundary work” in genetically modified organisms discussion on a Chinese knowledge-sharing network. Chin J Commun. 2022;16(1):1–22. doi:10.1080/17544750.2022.2075904.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mahl D, Schäfer MS, Zeng J. Conspiracy theories in online environments: an interdisciplinary literature review and agenda for future research. New Media & Society. 2022;25(7):1781–1801. doi:10.1177/14614448221075759.
   Google Scholar
• You CH, Jin JB. 新媒体环境下科学知识对争议性科技态度的影响——以转基因为例[The influence of scientific knowledge on disputed attitudes to science and technology in the New media environment]. Chinese J Journalism Commun/国际新闻界. 2020;42:81–98.
   Google Scholar
• Tianjin Personnel Bureau & Tianjin Institute of Administration National Civil Service Training Needs Research Group. 国家公务员业务素质与行政能力调研分析[investigation and analysis on the professional quality and administrative ability of national civil servants]. J Tianjin Univ Administration/天津行政学院学报. 1999;6(3):51–54.
   Google Scholar
• Kaye C, Korf B. Genetic literacy and competency. Pediatrics. 2013;132(Suppl 3):224–30. doi:10.1542/peds.2013-1032G.
   Google Scholar
• Jin JB. 科学传播: 争议性科技的社会认知及其改变[Science communication: social cognition and change of controversial science and technology]. Beijing: Tsinghua University Press/清华大学出版社; 2018.
   Google Scholar
• Chen X, Sun T, Tian Y. 系统信任、风险感知与转基因水稻公众接受——基于三省市调查数据的分析[System trust, risk perception and public acceptance of GM rice – analysis based on survey data of three provinces and cities]. J Huazhong Agric Univ (Soc Sci Ed)/华中农业大学学报(社会科学版). 2017;12:125–31+149.
   Google Scholar
• Zuo HY, Zhang WJ. 基层公务员的政策执行: 结构脉络中的策略性选择[policy implementation of grass-roots civil servants: strategic choice in the context of structure]. Party Gov Res/党政研究. 2019;6:112–20.
   Google Scholar
• Yu HM, Wu KM. 中国转基因大豆的产业化策略[industrialization strategy of transgenic soybean in China]. Biotechnol Bull/生物技术通报. 2022;6:67.
   Google Scholar
• Amin L, Azad MAK, Gausmian MH, Zulkifli F, Alvarez ML. Determinants of public attitudes to genetically modified salmon. PloS One. 2014;9(1):e86174. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086174.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Frewer L. Societal issues and public attitudes towards genetically modified foods. Trends in Food Sci Technol. 2003 10;14,(5–8): 319–32. doi:10.1016/S0924-2244(03)00064-5.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Jasanoff S. A mirror for science. Public Underst Sci. 2014;23(1):21–26. doi:10.1177/0963662513505509.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Lynas M, 2013. Time to call out the anti-GMO conspiracy theory. Mark Lynas speech hosted by the International Programs–College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (50th Anniversary Celebration), and the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, Cornell University.
   Google Scholar
• Marian-Arnat P. The narrative paradigm in conspiracy theories. Messages Sages Ages. 2020;7:26–32.
   Google Scholar
• Yoshino N, Morgan PJ, Trinh LQ2017. Financial literacy in Japan: determinants and impacts (no. 796). ADBI Working Paper.
   Google Scholar
• Wu QL, Wei ZY, Zhang RN. 公众的转基因认知与信息接触、媒体信任——关注非形式逻辑认知的全国性问卷数据分析 [Public Cognition of Genetically Modified Organisms, Information Contact, and Media Trust: Analysis of National Questionnaire Data Focusing on Informal Logic Cognition]. Science and Society/科学与社会,2022;11(4):117-137.
   Google Scholar