Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2015, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (1): 121-142.

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A Sociological Analysis on the Public Acceptance of GM Crops in China： Based on a Sampling Survey in 6 Cities

Author 1：HE Guangxi，Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development； Author 2：ZHAO Yandong，Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development； Author 3：ZHANG Wenxia，Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development； Author 4：XUE Pin，Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development   

  • Online:2015-01-20 Published:2015-01-20
  • Contact: HE Guangxi，Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development, Email：hegx@casted.org.cn E-mail:hegx@casted.org.cn
  • About author:Author 1：HE Guangxi，Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development Author 2：ZHAO Yandong，Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development Author 3：ZHANG Wenxia，Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development Author 4：XUE Pin，Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development
  • Supported by:
    The research is funded by the Research Funding Project under the China Association for Science and Technology “Survey on the Public Image of Chinese S & T Personnel”（2009DCYJ02）.

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Abstract:  Based on the data of a largescale facetoface interview survey, this study presents an analysis of the acceptance of genemodified (GM) crops among Chinese residents. Departing from a conventional framework in this field which examines the consumers’“individual decisionmaking behavior”, this research intends to develop a “social action model” to explain the factors that influence individuals’decisionmaking about a new technology, by drawing upon risk society theory. In addition to “individual decisionmaking behavior”, this study identifies a number of affecting social factors, including “knowledge and cognitive ability”, “mass media”, and “institutional trust”. The results of the empirical analysis are summarized as follows: (1) The acceptance of new technologies, to some extent, is indeed a decisionmaking process by individuals based on the assessment of benefits (not examined in this study), risks and purchase power. However, this explanation is incomplete. In the face of a new technology, individuals can only make a “bounded rational choice” due to their limited knowledge, and the risks they consider are largely “constructive risks”. (2) The mass media plays an important role in the construction of “risks”. The risks perceived by the public, to some extent, are “shaped”. The traditional TV media have a stronger function of “shaping” the public opinion. In contrast, the Internet as new media plays a more complicated role: while increasing the amount of information available, the Internet also strengthens some people’s perception of risks due to the diversity of information it provides. (3) In understanding individuals’ decisionmaking about risks, institutional trust is an unignorable and indeed crucial factor. In the face of a new technology, individuals’ risk perception and decisionmaking behavior largely rely on institutional trust in various expert systems (including government), and once this trust declines or disappears, they will become very worried about and hostile toward new technologies.

Key words: acceptance , GM crops , risk perception , sampling survey,  , trust  ,   ,