Student
Created Survey on Public Knowledge
of Genetically Engineered Food Products
Introduction How the
public (consumers) view biotechnology is a critical component in whether or not
a new product is accepted and whether research and development on these
emerging products will continue.
Education and understanding of the scientific facts about biotechnology
is important in coming to an informed decision or point of view. Unfortunately, many people make decisions about
the safety of genetically engineered foods based on rumor or incorrect
information.
In this
lesson, students will become better informed about the safety of genetically
engineered products and will investigate public opinion about these products. Students will learn the basic facts and
issues related to crop biotechnology and food safety and develop a survey to
measure the knowledge and opinions of the public about this issue.
OBJECTIVES
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Students will identify common misconceptions that
the public has about biotechnology
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Students will write survey questions that will
gather data on the public's level of knowledge about biotechnology and
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Students will collect data on public knowledge and
opinion of genetically engineered foods
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Students will analyze data results
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Students will formulate a hypothesis and include supporting
data in a report/presentation with graphs and charts.
Lesson
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1.
Students will investigate and discuss as a class basic facts about
biotechnology and food safety. Excellent
resources on the Web include http://croptechnology.unl.edu
and http://agbiosafety.unl.edu
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2.
Small groups of 3-4 students will develop a survey that documents the knowledge
and opinions of people in their school or community. Survey questions will be based on the
concepts of the process of biotechnology and public opinions of food safety
issues (Survey questions outlined below).
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3. Student will analyze data and summarize the
results in a written report that includes graphs and charts followed by a
written conclusion of the results of the survey.
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4.
Each group will then present the results to the class and a classroom
discussion will follow.
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Survey Questions Ideas
1. The
survey should include a section of questions to obtain demographic information
(i.e. grade/age, occupation).
2. The
remaining questions should gather opinions and information about:
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Their
basic knowledge of biotechnology?
o
What
do they really know as opposed to what they think they know (questions about
DNA, and biotechnology facts)
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Where
do people get most of their information about biotechnology?
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How
do people feel about biotechnology and eating transgenic food?
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Are
people more accepting of transgenic food if the new trait directly benefits the
consumer as opposed to the producer? (i.e. Increased nutrition as opposed to
insect resistance)
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What
the opinions are on labeling genetically engineered food? Should they be labeled? Why or why not?
The survey questions
should be limited to 1-2 pages in length so that the data collected can be
easily analyzed and summarized.
Another adaptation of this lesson is where students work together to
design one survey and each student would be responsible for surveying 5-10
people. The results can be compiled and the entire class can analyze and
discuss the results together.
USEFUL INTERNET RESOURCES
http://www.colostate.edu/programs/lifesciences/TransgenicCrops/
http://www.agbiosafety.unl.edu
ASSESSMENT
Students
should be assessed on composition and delivery of the survey and analysis and
presentation of the results. This may be
done on a point based system or on a project presentation rubric.