Worldviews and attitudes to science in Kuwait: the engagement threshold hypothesis

Bauer, Martin W., Sartawi, Mohammad and Sammut, Gordon (2024) Worldviews and attitudes to science in Kuwait: the engagement threshold hypothesis. LSE Middle East Centre Kuwait Programme Paper Series (27). LSE Middle East Centre, London, UK.

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Abstract

Between 2021–3, a research project was undertaken to explore more effective ways to design policy in science-related domains such as clean energy, the environment, and public health. The project involved two studies; one that analysed existing policy documents and media coverage concerned with the environment and public health, and the other that surveyed Kuwaiti attitudes towards science and explored their worldviews (the ways in which individuals make sense of and experience the world in general). The researchers hypothesised that a mismatch between worldviews held by the public and those represented in policy will result in less effective policies. In addition, the researchers sought to explore the current state of science culture in Kuwait (interest in science, engagement with science, promise and reserve toward science) and whether people with different worldviews differ in their attitudes toward science. Research findings indicate that there is indeed a mismatch between worldviews held by the public and those represented in policy documents and the media. In addition, differences among worldview types in attitudes towards science only appeared among those who are more interested in and engaged with science. These findings can be a useful guide to future policy design in any science-related policy domain.

Item Type:	Monograph (Working Paper)
Official URL:	https://www.lse.ac.uk/middle-east-centre/publicati...
Additional Information:	© 2024 The Author(s)
Divisions:	Psychological and Behavioural Science
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Date Deposited:	19 Jun 2024 10:12
Last Modified:	19 Jun 2024 15:03
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/123918

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