Perceptions and actions: relationships of views on risk with citation actions of nanotechnology scientists

Abstract

This study links survey data on scientists' societal perceptions of nanotechnology with publication data to understand the extent of association between societal perspectives held by nanoscientists and publication actions. Specifically, we explore the relationship between scientists' attitudes in two areas and their actions in citing nanotechnology environmental, health, and safety (EHS) publications. This relationship is examined by linking responses from participants in the University of Wisconsin's Nanotechnology and Society Survey of nanoscientists with publication data from the Georgia Tech global nanotechnology database. The likelihood of citing EHS publications is estimated as a function of the two societal perception variables as well as the scientific field and background characteristics such as PhD completion year, tenure-track position, gender, and religiosity. We find that perceptions about moral limits mediate citation actions whereas attitudes toward government regulation have no significant effect.