This study explores ways to construct indicators of public attitude to science and technology for international comparison, using available data from Japan (2016 internet survey; 1995 to 2010 public opinion survey) and from EU countries (2014 from Eurobarometer). It finds significantly different patterns between Japan and EU countries, observing that the degree of interest in science and technology in Japan is somewhat lower than the average of EU member countries, but that the diversity of interest (measured as variance among alternative answers) is higher in Japan.
Results of public opinion polls in Japan show that the speed of decline in the younger generations’ interests in science and technology has slowed down. However, the study also highlights important generational and cohort effect, in that older generations (particularly cohorts over 50 years of age) have stronger interests in science and technology than other groups; implying that if the current trend continues, the overall degree of interest may turn downward shortly.
Source: NISTEP (Japanese only)