Public Attitudes Toward Present and Future Technologies: Satisfactions and Apprehensions

Abstract

the social impact of technology.In 1972, a public opinion survey was commissioned to fill some of the gaps in our knowledge of how the public regards technology.A total of 980 adult Californians were interviewed in their homes for approximately one hour.These people were selected using a multi-stage sampling design which closely approximates a random selection procedure.We had hoped, from the outset of the research, to provide at least a partial base line for future study of the effects of technological devel-opment upon social and political change.A record of changes in perceptions of technologies over time could enable a more thorough examination of the char acter of the shifts in public values and in social and political attitudes associated with various types of technological development.