**2. Spain and Europe: Generalized optimism?**

Next, we will see some results from the Eurobarometers and FECYT surveys from 2006 and 2010. The principal objectives of the Eurobarometer have been to measure the attitudes of European citizens regarding collaborative investigative projects in biomedicine, as well as European co-financing of same. They also attempt to connect these issues with the degree of interest in science and technology in general, and in biomedicine in particular (European Commission 2002, 2005a, 2010a). The objective of the *Fifth National Survey on the Social Perception of Science 2010* (*Quinta encuesta nacional sobre percepción social de la ciencia 2010*) carried out by FECYT, was the same as in previous editions in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008, that is, to determine how Spanish citizens perceive science and technology. Personal interviews were conducted with 7,744 people of both sexes who had resided in Spain for five or more years and were 15 years of age or more. The field work was done from May 17 to July 9 of 2010, throughout the national territory.1

In the case of the Eurobarometer, people were asked, on a Likert-type scale where they had to select two responses, their degree of interest regarding certain topics. Subjects of interest were: nature and environment (84%), medical and health investigation (71%), European and international news (70%), economic and social subjects (68%), sports and outdoor activities (66%), science and technology (60%), art and literature (52%), celebrities and entertainment (42%). The analysis of these results by country shows that 62% of the Spanish population is interested in medical and health investigation, and 50% in science and technology. In spite of dropping approximately 10 points in respect to the European average, the numbers are much higher than those shown in the third national survey done by FECYT on the perception of science and technology, where scientific and technological subjects occupy a modest position on the scale of informational interest in the Spanish population (see Graph 1). Ten percent of those surveyed cite these subjects as being of informative interest to them. It is a similar percentage to that produced by disparate subjects such as terrorism or travel, but remains far below the subjects that lead the chart, such as sports (30%), medicine and health (26%), and cinema and live shows (20%).

The imbalance of data between the European survey and the Spanish one can partly be explained by comparing the response options in both. In the Eurobarometer, the survey-

<sup>1</sup> The sampling error is from +/- 1.14% for a reliability level of 95.5%.

towards science and technology. Other entities such as the BBVA Foundation have also realized some surveys about specific areas of biotechnology and biomedicine (May, 2008). A few years ago, a compilation was published that collected contributions from the most representative figures in the study of social perception of science and scientific culture, under the suggestive title of *Between Understanding and Trust. The Public, Science and Technology*. The volume covers a wide range of subjects, conceptual approaches, methodologies and proposals for disciplinary renovation where, despite their diversity, what stands out is a recurrent agreement that is underlined in the conclusion by the editors: analysis of science's credibility and the trust it arouses in citizens should be considered as

Next, we will see some results from the Eurobarometers and FECYT surveys from 2006 and 2010. The principal objectives of the Eurobarometer have been to measure the attitudes of European citizens regarding collaborative investigative projects in biomedicine, as well as European co-financing of same. They also attempt to connect these issues with the degree of interest in science and technology in general, and in biomedicine in particular (European Commission 2002, 2005a, 2010a). The objective of the *Fifth National Survey on the Social Perception of Science 2010* (*Quinta encuesta nacional sobre percepción social de la ciencia 2010*) carried out by FECYT, was the same as in previous editions in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008, that is, to determine how Spanish citizens perceive science and technology. Personal interviews were conducted with 7,744 people of both sexes who had resided in Spain for five or more years and were 15 years of age or more. The field work was done from May 17

In the case of the Eurobarometer, people were asked, on a Likert-type scale where they had to select two responses, their degree of interest regarding certain topics. Subjects of interest were: nature and environment (84%), medical and health investigation (71%), European and international news (70%), economic and social subjects (68%), sports and outdoor activities (66%), science and technology (60%), art and literature (52%), celebrities and entertainment (42%). The analysis of these results by country shows that 62% of the Spanish population is interested in medical and health investigation, and 50% in science and technology. In spite of dropping approximately 10 points in respect to the European average, the numbers are much higher than those shown in the third national survey done by FECYT on the perception of science and technology, where scientific and technological subjects occupy a modest position on the scale of informational interest in the Spanish population (see Graph 1). Ten percent of those surveyed cite these subjects as being of informative interest to them. It is a similar percentage to that produced by disparate subjects such as terrorism or travel, but remains far below the subjects that lead the chart, such as sports (30%), medicine and

The imbalance of data between the European survey and the Spanish one can partly be explained by comparing the response options in both. In the Eurobarometer, the survey-

the most significant points for the future agenda of investigation.

**2. Spain and Europe: Generalized optimism?** 

to July 9 of 2010, throughout the national territory.1

health (26%), and cinema and live shows (20%).

1 The sampling error is from +/- 1.14% for a reliability level of 95.5%.

taker is obliged to take a position in each item; however in the Spanish survey they must choose three topics from a much wider variety than in the European survey.

Graph 1. Informational subjects that interest you (máximum 3 responses) (FECYT , 2006)

Among citizens, interest in Medicine and Health (26%) is constant, placing third as a subject of interest in FECYT 2010, behind Work and Employment (32%) and Sports (30%). Regarding the last two, interest may have been influenced by the economic situation, in the first case, and the playing of the World Cup right when the field work was being carried out, in the second. Fifty three point six (53.6) percent of the people are fairly or very interested in medicine and health, although only 29.6% consider themselves fairly or wellinformed on these subjects. By subjects of interest, citizens place medicine and health as the subject of most interest, with 3.58 on a scale of 1 to 5. When asked on the survey about which two areas of investigation should take preference in the future, 78.3% of citizens believe that future investigative efforts should center mainly on medicine and health.

Crossings on Public Perception of Biomedicine: Spain and the European Indicators 189

2,1

1,1

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Optimism Pesimism

Graph 2. Generalised technological optimism and pessimism. Maximum: 8 (European

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1,1 0,9 0,7 1

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0,7 0,8 0,8 1 0,9 1,1 0,8 0,8 0,7 1 0,9

EU27 Norw ay Estonia Finland

Latvia France Bulgaria Netherlands Croatia Belgium Iceland Germany Italy Slovenia Luxembourg Poland Ireland Malta Portugal Lithuania Romania Turkey Sw itzerland Austria

Czech Republic Denmark Slovakia Cyprus Spain Hungary Sw eden United Kingdom

Commission, 2010a)

3,8

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5,7 5,7 5,6 5,6 5,5 5,4 5,4 5,3 5,2 5,1 5 5 4,9 4,9 4,9 4,9 4,9 4,8 4,7 4,7 4,7 4,6 4,6 4,5 4,4 4,3 4,3 4,3 4,3 4,2

To a large degree, all the segments analyzed cite medicine and health as the priority sector in which to concentrate investigative efforts, although it is cited more by women (82.5%). When dealing with questions related to science and technology, the institutions that inspire the most trust (on a scale of 1 "very little" to 5 "much") are Hospitals (4.16) and Universities (4.07). Next come Public Organizations for Investigation (3.79) and Professional Colleges (3.75).
