Poster: Biotech Risk Assessment

Abs # 903: Attitudes of Ohio farm and nonfarm residents toward genetically modified plants and animals

Presenter:	Napier, Ted L, napier.2@osu.edu
Authors	Napier, Ted L (A)   Tucker, Mark  (A)   Henry, Coreen  (A)   Whaley, Sherrie  (A)
Affiliations:	(A): The Ohio State University

Data were collected from rural and urban residents of Ohio to assess attitudes toward the production and consumption of agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). Data were collected using a mailed questionnaire which was mailed to a randomly selected population of 2,431 households in the state. A total of 1,249 questionnaires were returned which constitutes a response rate of approximately 51.4 percent. Such a response rate is considered quite good by contemporary social science research standards. A total of 876 questionnaires were sufficiently completed for statistical modeling. Attitudes toward GMOs were assessed via Likert-type items. Item analysis produced an alpha coefficient of 0.92. A theoretical perspective developed from selected components of social learning and risk theories was used to guide the investigation. Regression analysis demonstrated that the theoretical perspective was very good for predicting variability in the attitudes examined. Approximately 60 percent of the variance in the dependent variable was explained by the statistical model. The findings are discussed in the context of the social acceptability of GMO agricultural food and fiber products among Ohio residents.