How to Assess How to Assess People’s Views of Biotechnology:People’s Views of Biotechnology:
Lessons from JapanLessons from Japan
Masakazu Inaba and Darryl Macer
Institute of Biological Sciences
University of Tsukuba, Japan
Outline
Trends of Japanese attitudes towards specific applications from survey in 2000 and 2003
Interviews in 2000 to explore deeper reasons behind people’s attitudes
Mapping of ideas from an interview
2000 and 2003 Survey in Japan
Data: Self evaluation attitudes and open comments on
applications of biotech from the 2000* and 2003
survey over Japan ( Respondents: 297 public, 370
scientists in 2000, 357 public in 2003 )
Method: Scoring evaluation scales, categorized open comments
Statistical test: Chi-square test*Reference : Nature Biotechnology 18 (2000), 945-7
Comments 30-40 categories 7 groups
Questions on Agricultural Applications
1. Modern biotechnology in the production of foods and drinks ( biotech food )
2. Gene insertion into a crop from other species to obtain pest resistance to insect pests ( pest-resistant crops )
1. Bacteria inserted human genes to produce medicines (GM medicines)
2. Transgenic mouse with cancer genes for research use (transgenic cancer mouse)
3. Transgenic pig with human heart for xenotransplantation (xenotransplantation)
4. Genetic testing using embryos for diseases such as cystic fibrosis (genetic testing)
Questions on Medical Applications
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
P97
P20
00
P20
03 P97
P20
00
P20
03 P97
P20
00
P20
03 P97
P20
00
P20
03 P97
P20
00
P20
03 P97
P20
00
P20
03
Food Pest -r es i s ta n tMedicines Cancer mouse Xenotr an s p la n tGenetic testing
Public awareness of biotech is increasingPublic awareness of biotech is increasing
Food Cancer mouseMedicinesPest-resistant Xenotransplant Genetic testing
1997 2000 2003
Scoring Algorithm- Cases of ”Definitely Agree” -
Def.
agree
Agree
Disagree
Def.
disagree
+2
+1
-1
-2
-2
-1
+1
+2
Usefulness - Risk + Encouragement = Total
+2
+1
-1
-2
+6
Scoring Algorithm- Cases of ”Definitely Disagree” -
Def.
agree
Agree
Disagree
Def.
disagree
+2
+1
-1
-2
-2
-1
+1
+2
Usefulness - Risk + Encouragement = Total
+2
+1
-1
-2
ー6
Scoring Algorithm- Cases of ”Conditional
Agree/Disagree” -
Def.
agree
Agree
Disagree
Def.
disagree
+2
+1
-1
-2
-2
-1
+1
+2
Usefulness - Risk + Encouragement = Total
+2
+1
-1
-2
+1
-1
Scoring Result of 2000 Survey
-1.0
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
P S P S P S P S P S P S
food pest-resistant medicines cancer mouse xenotransplant genetic testing
Usefulness – Risk + Encouragement
-1.50
-1.00
-0.50
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
P97 P2000 P2003 P97 P2000 P2003 P97 P2000 P2003 P97 P2000 P2003
Food Medicines Xenotran s p la n t Genetic testing
Trends of Japanese Attitudes towards BiotechTrends of Japanese Attitudes towards Biotech
Food Medicines Xenotransplant Genetic Testing
Grouped Categories
Human Benefits Balanced View Risky Ethical Issues No Need Unnatural Personal Choice
30-40 categories
7 groups
Summary of Reasons for UtilitySummary of Reasons for Utility
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
P2003
P2000
P2003
P2000
P2003
P2000
P2003
P2000
Gen
etic
test
ing
Xen
otra
nspl
ant
Med
icin
esFo
od
Human Benefits Balanced View Risk Concerns Ethical Concerns We Don’t Need Unnatural Feelings Comsumers Choice
Summary of Reasons for RiskSummary of Reasons for Risk
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
P2003
P2000
P2003
P2000
P2003
P2000
P2003
P2000
Gen
etic
test
ing
Xen
otra
nspl
ant
Med
icin
esFo
od
Risk Concerns Unnatural Feelings Ethical Concerns Balanced View Human Benefits
Summary of Reasons for Moral acceptabilitySummary of Reasons for Moral acceptability
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
P2003
P2000
P2003
P2000
Gene
tic te
stin
gXe
notr
ansp
lant
Human Benefits Balanced View Risk Concerns We don’t know Unnatural Feelings Ethical ConcernsWe don’t need
Summary of Reasons for Overall encouragementSummary of Reasons for Overall encouragement
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
P2003
P2000
P2003
P2000
P2003
P2000
P2003
P2000
Gen
etic
test
ing
Xeno
trans
plan
tM
edic
ines
Food
Human Benefits Balanced View Risk Concerns We don’t need Unnatural Feelings Ethical Concerns
Interviews: Discourse AnalysisA :・・・ I think we need to respect freedom of a human to bear
children and bring them up.B1: So, it means, whether it is possible to establish such a consens
us in a society.B2: For example, it is embarrassing if people in the society discri
minate handicapped babies as a social consensus, or if there is a policy to discriminate them, towards decision that such people, when people give births to handicapped babies.
C1:・・・ I agree with the use as far as such a personal will is guaranteed to be respected.
B3: Then, such a social consensus, if social consensus cannot be established in the light of social system, such like a system not to discriminate, it is not allowable to use it, I think.
C2: As long as such a thinking as a common sense can be established in individuals, I think it is good ・・・
An Example of Mapping IdeasAn Example of Mapping Ideas
Freedom of reproduction
Social acceptance needed
discrimination
Consensus about freedom of reproduction
Conditionalapproval
Individual
Society
–How people balance the benefits and risks of new technologies can be measured.
–There are different ways to conceptualize people’s ideas, e.g. discourse analysis and research is needed on how to map ideas.
ConclusionsConclusions