Eurobarometer 35.1: Public Transportation and Biotechnology, March-April 1991

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This round of Eurobarometer surveys focused on transportation and biotechnology (genetic engineering). In addition, respondents were queried on standard Eurobarometer measures, such as whether they attempted to persuade others close to them to share their views on subjects they held strong opinions about, whether they discussed political matters, what their country's goals should be for the next ten or fifteen years, and whether their country had benefited from being a member of the European Community (EC). With respect to transportation issues, the survey assessed how residents of urban areas perceived the increase in car traffic and how they felt about its consequences, including effects on air quality and the risk of accidents. Ratings were sought on the effectiveness of various proposals for solving traffic congestion. Respondents were asked to indicate how well political decision-makers judged the feelings of the public on transportation issues, and which types of transport should be preferred in policy decisions: cars versus public transportation, cars versus cyclists, and cars versus pedestrians. They were asked to indicate how frequently they used various types of transportation and their reasons for using and for not using public transportation. Biotechnology was described as the recent efforts of scientists to change human cells, micro-organisms like yeast, crops, and farm animals. Respondents were asked whether such science and technology in general was likely to improve life in the next 20 years. They were also asked for their views on the morality of applying biotechnology to animals and the value of specific areas of research like plant and animal breeding and the development of hardier micro-organisms for food and waste processing. A series of questions tested respondents' objective knowledge of biotechnology, asking them to state whether particular domains such as cancer research or the treatment of hereditary human diseases were linked to biotechnology. In addition, self-ratings of competency on these questions were obtained, and respondents indicated and evaluated their sources of information on technology and development. This survey also introduced a new set of questions on individuals' personal experience with the Single European Market through the purchase of goods or services from other member states of the EC. Respondents were asked to provide objective information on the particular kinds of products or services bought or sold, and methods of payment used. They evaluated their satisfaction with such transactions, and assessed the levels of quality and standards expected from each of the EC member countries with which they had dealt. Demographic data collected on respondents include gender, age, marital status, occupation, religion and religiosity, age at completion of education, left-right political self-placement, political and trade union participation, household income, number of people in household, number of children under 15 in household, subjective membership in social class, home ownership, type of community, size of locality, and region of residence. Actively employed respondents were asked a series of questions (A.1 to A.34) regarding health and safety at work. For results see EURO-BAROMETER 35A: WORKING CONDITIONS, MARCH-APRIL 1991 [ICPSR 9696].