International Technology Education Association Gallup Poll on What

International Technology Education Association Gallup Poll on What Americans Think About Technology March, 2002

® Research funded by National Science Foundation. ® Process for this research ® Developed questions (based on Standards for Technological Literacy) (Jan. -March, 2002) ® Gallup conducted survey in Spring of 2001 (1, 000 interviews, random sample by telephone) ® Analyzed data (Summer, 2001) ® Wrote report (Fall, 2001) ® Released report (January 17, 2002) at National Academy of Engineering Symposium on Technological Literacy

Survey Demographics were also Analyzed by: ® Gender ® Age ® Education ® Region of Country ® Occupation (Technological or Other) ® Other Factors

Gallup Poll Major Categories of 17 Questions ® Understanding of Technology (1 -5) ® Attitude towards Technology (6 -11) ® Technology and Education (12 -17)

Table 1. Just your opinion, how important is it for people at all levels to develop some ability to understand use technology? Would you say it is: Total Male Female 18 -29 Years Old Age 50 and Older Importance % % % Very important 76 74 77 77 75 Somewhat important 23 26 21 22 22 Not very important 1 — 1 1 2 Not at all important — — 1 Don’t know/refused — — Note: The 18 -29 and age 50 and older categories are reported because they show the greatest contrast.

Table 2. When you hear the word “technology, ” what first comes to mind? (open-ended question) Total Group 18 -29 Year Olds Age 50 and Older List of Mentions % % % Computers 67 78 57 Electronics 4 4 4 Education 2 3 4 New Inventions 2 2 2 Internet 1 2 2 Science 1 — 2 Space 1 — 1 Job/work 1 — 2 Note: Numerous other responses were received; however, no others were mentioned by more than 1%.

Table 3. I want to give you two definitions and ask you to tell me which more closely fits what you think of when you hear the word, “technology. ” Do you think of “computers and the Internet, ” or do you think of “changing the natural world to satisfy our needs? ” Total Group 18 -29 Year Olds Age 50 and Older Definition % % % Computers and the Internet 63 56 67 Changing the natural world to satisfy our needs 36 44 32 Don’t know/refused 1 — 1

Table 4. When you hear the word “design” in relation to technology, which one are you more likely to think of – “a creative process for solving problems” or “blueprints and drawings from which you construct something? ” Selection % Selecting Total College Grads Technology Experts A creative process for solving problems. 41 54 54 Blueprints and drawings from which you construct something Don’t know/refused 59 45 46 — 1 —

Table 5. Now, what about you? To what extent do you consider yourself to be able to understand use technology? Would you say a great extent, to some extent, to a limited extent, or not at all? Total Group 18 -29 Year Olds Age 50 and Older College Graduates High School Graduates Extent % % % A great extent 28 39 18 42 15 Some extent 47 51 39 44 48 Limited extent 20 8 31 12 29 Not at all 5 2 12 2 8 Don’t know/refused — — —

Table 6. Which of the following statements best describes your attitude toward the various forms of technology you use in your everyday lives. Total Group 18 -29 Year Olds Age 50 and Older Attitude % % % You don’t care how it works as long as it works. 24 16 31 You would like to know something about how it works. 75 84 68 Don’t know/refused 1 — 1

Table 7. Now, tell me whether you strongly agree, mostly agree, mostly disagree, or strongly disagree with each of the following statements. How about: SA + MA SA Strongly Agree MA Mostly Agree Mostly Disagree Strongly Disagree Don’t Know/ Refused Statement % % % Technology is a major factor in the innovations developed within a country. 95 61 34 2 1 2 The results of the use of technology can be good or bad. 94 59 35 3 2 1 Engineering and technology are basically one and the same thing. 61 21 40 27 9 3 Science and technology are basically one and the same thing. 59 20 39 27 12 2 Technology is a small factor in your everyday life. 41 17 24 25 34 —

Table 8. To which of the following do you feel technology is of the most importance and has the greatest effect? Selections % Selecting Our society 62 Our environment 20 The individual 17 Don’t know/refused 1

Table 9. Tell me, how much input do you think you should have in decisions in each of the following areas – a great deal, some, not very much, or none at all? How about: Great + Some Great Deal Some Not Very Much None at All Don’t Know/ Refused % % % Designation of neighborhood community centers. 87 43 47 6 3 1 Where to locate roads in your community. 88 44 8 3 1 Development of fuel-efficient cars. 81 37 44 10 8 1 Development of genetically modified foods. 78 41 37 10 11 1 Decisions

Table 10. Again, just testing your knowledge. Let me ask you if you could explain each of the following to a friend; just answer “yes” or “no. ” Could you explain: Explanation Requested Yes Response % Total % Men % Women How a flashlight works. 87 96 83 How to use a credit card to get money out of an ATM. 89 92 86 How a telephone call gets from point A to point B. 65 76 54 How a home heating system works. 70 86 55 How energy is transferred into electrical power. 53 72 36

Table 11. Just based on your understanding, tell me if each of the following statements is true or false. How about: True False DK/Refused Explanation Requested % % % Using a portable phone while in the bathtub creates the possibility of being electrocuted. 46 51 3 FM radios operate free of static. 26 72 2 A car operates through a series of explosions. 82 15 3 A microwave heats food from the outside to the inside. 37 62 1

Table 12. When a national shortage of qualified people occurs in a particular area of technology, which of the following solutions would you feel is the most appropriate course of action for the U. S to take? Selections % Selecting Bring in technologically literate people from other countries. 6 Take steps through our schools to increase the number of technologically literate people in this country. 93 Don’t know/refused 1

Table 13. Using a broad definition of technology as “modifying our natural world to meet human needs, ” do you believe the study of technology should be included in the school curriculum, or not? Choice % Selecting Yes, should be included. 97 No, should not be included. 3 Don’t know/refused. —

Table 14. (Asked of those saying it should be included in the curriculum. ) Should the study of technology be made a part of other subjects like science, math, and social studies, or should it be taught as a separate subject? Preference % Selecting Teach as part of other subjects. 63 Teach as separate subject. 36 Don’t know/refused. 1

Table 15. (Asked of those saying “separate subject. ”) Should the subject be required or optional? Preference % Selecting Required 51 Optional 49 Don’t know/refused —

Table 16. Tell me how important it is for schools to prepare students in the following areas. Would you say it is very important, fairly important, not very important, or not important at all? VI + FI VI Very Important FI Fairly Important Not Very Important Not Important At All % % % The relationship between technology, mathematics and science. The role of people in the development and use of technology. 98 96 79 72 19 24 2 3 — 1 Knowing something about how products are designed. 86 41 45 12 2 The ability to select and use products. 93 66 27 5 2 An understanding of the advances and innovations in technology. 96 66 30 4 — Decisions

Table 17. Should students be evaluated for technological literacy as part of the high school graduation requirements? Choice % Selecting Yes, should be. 61 No, should not be. 38 Don’t know/refused. 1

Full Report of Findings was released in January 2002 at National Academy of Engineering Symposium

ITEA’s Full Report of the Gallup Poll was in the March 2002 The Technology Teacher and on the Web.

ITEA encourages additional research based on this Gallup Poll (complete set of data tables available)

Summary URL: http: //www. iteawww. org Email: standards@itea-tfaap. org Thank you!