ABSTRACT
There is much debate about the nature of scientific and technological culture in Europe. All too often, however, such debate is dominated by what is often termed arm-chair philosophy-a mixture of illinformed speculation, excathedra pronouncement, and special pleading. Only occasionally are the results of disciplined social research brought to bear in the discussion. The Eurobarometer is an important source of empirical insights into European scientific and technological culture. It is a random-sample social survey that is fielded regularly in all member states of the European Union (EU). As such, it is a rich resource for the comparative assessment of trends in public perceptions. In particular, it offers the potential for development as a reliable quantitative “indicator” of trends in European public perceptions of science and technology.
