Table 1 Independent variables considered in the statistical study, obtained from the Social perception of Science and Technology Questionnaire, 2018.
From: Integrating regression and multiobjective optimization techniques to analyze scientific perception
Variable | Question reference | Notation | Description, reference category and dummy variables |
|---|---|---|---|
Scientific culture | |||
Media to be informed about S&T | Q.10 | Reference category: Internet. | |
Dummy variables | |||
\(x_1\) | Books. | ||
\(x_2\) | Radio. | ||
\(x_3\) | Other means (TV, scientific and technical journals, written press,...). | ||
Opinion about S&T | Q.13 | Reference category: Benefits of S&T greater than damages. | |
Dummy variables | |||
\(x_4\) | Benefits of S&T equal to damages. | ||
\(x_5\) | Benefits of S&T less than damages. | ||
Successful statements about S&T | Q.24 | \(x_6\) | Number of correct answers from the six pairs of sentences about S&T knowledge (ranging from 0 to 6) |
Willingness to financially support science | Q.28 | Reference category: Financial support for science | |
Dummy variables: | |||
\(x_7\) | No financial support for science | ||
\(x_8\) | No possibilities to support science | ||
Scores to scientific techniques | Q.17 | \(x_{9}\) | Numerical continuous variable obtained from the average of the scientific level scores attributed to vaccines and chemotherapy |
Scores to social science techniques | Q.17 | \(x_{10}\) | Numerical continuous variable obtained from the average of the scientific level scores attributed to public opinion polls and economic growth forecast |
Scores to pseudoscience techniques | Q.17 | \(x_{11}\) | Numerical continuous variable obtained from the average of the scientific level scores attributed to homeopathy and acupuncture |
Politics | |||
Political ideology | D.4 | \(x_{12}\) | Numerical continuous variable, ranging from 1 to 10, where 1 means far left and 10 means far right. |
Education | |||
Educational level | D.5 | Reference category: Until first level studies | |
Dummy variables: | |||
\(x_{13}\) | Second level studies | ||
\(x_{14}\) | University studies | ||
Level of S&T knowledge | Q.25 | Reference category: very low/low/normal S&T knowledge | |
Dummy variable: | |||
\(x_{15}\) | High/very high S&T knowledge | ||
Sociodemographic characteristics | |||
Religion | D.8 | Reference category: catholic | |
Dummy variables: | |||
\(x_{16}\) | Non-catholic religion | ||
\(x_{17}\) | Atheist, agnostic or indifferent | ||
Employment situation | D.10.A | Reference category: Inactive, students and unemployed | |
D.10.B | Dummy variables: | ||
\(x_{18}\) | Labourers | ||
\(x_{19}\) | Small entrepreneurs, technicians and middle managers | ||
\(x_{20}\) | Directors and professionals | ||
Gender | D.1 | Reference category: Man | |
Dummy variable | |||
\(x_{21}\) | Woman | ||
Income (st) | D.9.B | \(x_{22}\) | Numerical variable obtained from the interval class marks of net family income, with the values standardized (st) to eliminate the effect of measurement units |
