State FFA Officers' Perceptions of Biotechnology

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Required Information:
Please write in the two-letter state abbreviation for your current school/college.

1. Are you aware of how biotechnology will affect your:

Food No Somewhat Yes
Health   No Somewhat Yes
Environment   No Somewhat Yes

2. How long ago did you last hear or read something about biotechnology?

Less than 1 week
Less than 6 months
Less than 1 year
More than 1 year
Never

3. To what extent do you believe that agricultural biotechnology will affect the following factors?
Factors Very
Negative		 Somewhat
Negative		 Somewhat
Positive		 Very
Positive
a. Commercial farming
b. The environment
c. Fish and wildlife
d. Food production
e. Small scale farms
f. World hunger
g. Your health

4. How often do you use the following sources to gather information about agricultural biotechnology?
Sources Never Occasionally Often Always
a. Cooperative Extension Service
b. Internet
c. Newspapers
d. Private Organizations
e. Popular Magazines
f. Radio
g. Scientific Journals
h. Technical Publications/Reports
i. Television
j. School course work

5. How often do you hear or read something about biotechnology from the following sources?
Sources Never Occasionally Often Always
a. Cooperative Extension Service
b. Internet
c. Newspapers
d. Private Organizations
e. Popular Magazines
f. Radio
g. Scientific Journals
h. Technical Publications/Reports
i. Television
j. School course work

6. How often do you use the following factors to establish/maintain your perceptions about agricultural biotechnology practices?
Factors Never Occasionally Often Always
a. Experience in science labs
b. Family’s beliefs about biotechnology
c. Friends' beliefs about biotechnology
d. Publicly accepted attitudes about biotechnology
e. Knowledge from science classes
f. Religious beliefs
g. School teachers' beliefs about biotechnology

7. How important is agricultural biotechnology research for each of the following issues?
Issues Not at all
Important		 Somewhat
Important
Important		 Very
Important
a. Added nutritional value to food
b. Benefits to the environment
c. Control of released genes
d. Harming the environment
e. Reduction of pesticides
f. Risk compared to pesticides
g. Safer food

8. How much confidence do you place in statements about biotechnology made by people from each of the following sources?
Sources Very
Low		 Somewhat
Low		 Somewhat
High		 Very
High
a. Activist Groups
b. Biotechnology Company Representatives
c. Celebrities/Popular Stars
d. Cooperative Extension Specialists
e. Farm/Ranch Groups
f. Food Companies
g. Government Agencies
h. Health Professionals
i. University Scientists/Researchers

9. How important is it for you as a future agricultural industry professional to investigate claims made about biotechnology by the following groups?
Groups Not at all
Important		 Somewhat
Important
Important		 Very
Important
a. Activist Groups
b. Biotechnology Company Representatives
c. Celebrities/Popular Stars
d. Cooperative Extension Specialists
e. Farm/Ranch Groups
f. Food Companies
g. Government Agencies
h. Health Professionals
i. University Scientists/Researchers

10. To what extent do the following issues impact your perception of agricultural biotechnology?
Issues Very
Low		 Somewhat
Low		 Somewhat
High		 Very
High
a. Fear of harm to the environment
b. Fear of food safety consequences
c. Fear of genes moving unchecked to other plants, insects, or micro-organisms
d. Religious concerns about "altering nature"

11. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
Statements Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Agree		 Strongly
Agree
a. There are enough qualified persons to test transgenic crops in the USA.
b. The US government has essential bio-safety legislation in place to receive GM crops from abroad.
c. The US government should reject patent protection of transgenic plants.
d. The US government should reject patent protection of transgenic animals.
e. The US government should require labeling of transgenic plant products.
f. The US government should require labeling of transgenic animal products.

Demographics

What is your gender? Male Female
Have you ever lived on a farm/ranch? Yes No
Have you ever worked on a farm/ranch? Yes No

What is your current year in school?
HS Senior
College Freshman
College Sophomore
Other
 How would you rate your current level of biotechnology knowledge?
Low
Somewhat Low
Average
Somewhat High
High
What is your age?
17
18
19
20
21 or older
 Which category best describes your ethnicity?
White/Caucasian
African American
Hispanic American
Multi-racial
Other, please specify

Thank you for your time and participation!

Thank you for your interest in this survey. All data collection has ceased.
If you would like a similar survey posted to this portal, please contact us.