South Africans have a somewhat complex relationship with science and technology, vacillating between attitudes of promise (benefits) and reservation (concern). Although there is considerable optimism about the potential benefits of science and technology, a notable portion of the population maintains its reservations. Exploring citizens’ attitudes towards science and technology, this is one of three articles in the June edition of the HSRC Review that draws on data from the HSRC’s 2022 South African Public Relationship with Science Survey.
Public attitudes are a key aspect of the relationship between science and society. Attitudes are shaped by knowledge, interest, trust and experiences. People’s feelings about science and technology influence their knowledge, interest, trust, and engagement with it. An understanding of attitudes is crucial to determining how more positive attitudes and support for science and technology can be promoted, particularly in the current era of global societal challenges.
Encouraging more informed and positive views of science and technology can make complex ideas easier to understand, spark curiosity about science-related subjects and careers, get more people involved in important conversations and policy decisions, and help increase public support for research and innovation. In the long run, this can lead to a society that is more knowledgeable, engaged, and supportive of science and technology.
Furthermore, a positive attitude towards science is an important component of an individual’s scientific literacy. Various countries have used a set of items to explore attitudes relating to promise (positive) and reservation (negative) towards science. Scientific promise is linked to the belief that science and technology can offer valuable outcomes and products for society, with the expectation of future benefits. Scientific reservation reflects public apprehension regarding the pace of modern life changes, and a perception that science and technology pose too many risks, or conflict with traditional values or belief systems.
SAPRS 2022 Survey: Promise and reservation attitudes
Several items from this promise-reservation index have been used before in South Africa in previous short modules on the public and science, including the Evaluation of Public Opinion Programme (EPOP) (1999) and the South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) (2010 and 2013).
To further explore South Africans’ attitudes towards science and technology, and to examine trends over time, the 2022 South African Public Relationship with Science (SAPRS) Survey included items measuring both promise and reservation attitudes. The following figures present the percentage of the population that agreed with each of the promise (Figure 1) and reservation (Figure 2) items each year (1999–2022).
Figure 1. Attitudes of promise towards science and technology (S&T) (1999, 2010, 2013, 2022)
Note: Some of the promise and reservation items were phrased slightly differently in some years.
Generally, South Africans have expressed positive attitudes about science and technology. However, the level of agreement with the promise items decreased overall, albeit to a relatively small degree, between 1999 and 2022. The agreement with the idea that science and technology will make work more interesting decreased between 1999 and 2013, but an increase was observed in 2022. When looking at the changes in the levels of promise between 2013 and 2022, for two items, the level of promise was significantly higher in 2022 than in 2013 (The benefits of S&T are greater than the harmful effects, and S&T will make work more interesting). For one item, there wasno change (S&T are making our lives healthier, easier and more comfortable), one had a minimal change (S&T are careers suitable for women) and for one item the level of promise decreased significantly in 2022 (S&T will create more opportunities for future generations).
Figure 2. Attitudes of reservations about science and technology (S&T) (1999, 2010, 2013, 2022)
Source: HSRC
Reservations about science and technology increased over the same period. This suggests that while the population recognises the benefits of science, they have become more cautious about its potential impacts. Between 2013 and 2022, the percentage of the population agreeing to all three reservation statements increased significantly, highlighting a disconcerting pace of change, an over reliance on science instead of faith or religion, and concerns over widening inequalities due to science and technology.
In 2022, the item “New technologies will result in people losing jobs” was included in the survey for the first time. Just over two-thirds (68%) of the population agreed with this statement, indicating a level of concern and distrust about the impacts of technology on employment. This is likely driven by the replacement of human workers with machines in certain industries, along with the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI), which could threaten jobs in other sectors.
Overall, there seems to be greater scepticism regarding the role and impact of science and technology in 2022. This general decline in optimistic attitudes and increase in pessimistic views may be attributed to various factors, such as rising poverty; increasing unemployment and inequality; and growing concerns about threats associated with science and technology – such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, environmental degradation and the emergence of AI.
Cultivating more positive public attitudes towards science and technology in South Africa
The SAPRS survey provided insights into the South African public’s attitudes towards science and technology, building on previous studies and exploring trends over time.
Shaping public attitudes is a complex process that extends beyond socio-demographic characteristics. Across different backgrounds, South Africans generally maintain a positive yet critical stance towards science and technology. This suggests that attitudes are influenced by broader societal values and the culture of science itself. Strengthening attitudes therefore requires fostering an environment that values, celebrates, and promotes science and technology, while encouraging critical thinking and evidence-based discussions.
The promotion of more informed and positive attitudes towards science and technology requires the following:
- Improve science communication by using clear, relatable language that explains scientific concepts accurately.
- Highlight the role of science and technology in everyday life with relatable examples, such as health and sustainability.
- Engage the public through community discussions, citizen science, and participatory research to foster inclusivity.
- Showcase success stories where science and technology have positively impacted lives.
- Address fears and misconceptions respectfully and factually to build understanding.
- Build trust in scientists and institutions by enhancing transparency, community engagement, and media literacy.
Recognising that public attitudes are often a mix of support and scepticism, interventions must focus not only on promoting science and technology, but also on addressing public concerns. Engagements that encourage debate and critique are essential to fostering a more informed, engaged and scientifically literate society – one that recognises the benefits of science and technology, while having the ability to critically evaluate their implications.
Research contacts and acknowledgements
This article was written by Sylvia Hannan (shannan@hsrc.ac.za) and Dr Thando Tenza (ttenza@hsrc.ac.za), chief researchers in the HSRC’s Equitable Education and Economies (EEE) division. It is based on findings from the 2022 SAPRS Survey, which was funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Over the course of four years, the core research team members on the SAPRS Survey project were Dr Vijay Reddy, Dr Benjamin Roberts, Sylvia Hannan and Dr Steven Gordon. Researchers who contributed to aspects of the study were Dr Thando Tenza, Dr Shanaaz Dunn, Dr Saahier Parker, Dr Ngqapheli Mchunu, Dr Thobeka Zondi, and Fabian Arends.
