Community Interest and Engagement with Science and Technology in Victoria

The Department of State Development, Business and Innovation has been tracking community attitudes and engagement with science and technology since its benchmarking survey in 2007, Community Interest and Engagement with Science and Technology in Victoria Research Report (prepared by Quantum Market Research). Another survey, Community Interest and Engagement with Science and Technology in Victoria was conducted in 2011 (prepared by Sweeney Research).

An interactive data tool is available, accessible at the link in the right hand box, to:

• compare and analyse data collected in 2007 and 2011 on Victorians' attitudes to science and technology, their information sources and leisure preferences,
• filter the data for a variety of demographic characteristics, and
• plot responses to one question to responses from another.

The studies track Victorian's changes in interest and propensity to search for information, information sources and their credibility. Topics explored include community attitudes to science, the impact and benefits of science and technology to society and the economy, plus attitudes to scientists and regulation.

For each survey in 2007 and 2011, data was collected in 800 interviews with Victorians over the age of 18, in inner and outer metropolitan Melbourne, and regional and rural Victoria.

SPSS data files for both the 2007 and 2011 surveys are also available.