1. Student Perceptions of Genetically Modified Foods An Empirical Investigation

2. What factors influence perceptions of biotech foods? Perceptions of business and capitalism? Religious and social preferences? Age? Education and income? Knowledge of science and agriculture?

3. Literature Review AdejaHineJonesBaker Trst Bus/Gov (-)Children (-)Female(-)Risk (-) Religious (-)*Ed/$ (+)Income(+)NA Age (-)Age (+) Knowlege(-)Knowledge (+) Check lb (-)  2: 67*** 22***56***78*** % 52% 89.43%52%77.2

4. Variables & Data Based on survey of 108 Agri-108 rural sociology students

5. Variables and Data EffectVariableDescriptions Perception of Safety of Biotech FoodsDependent Variable 1 if 'safe' 0 if 'unsafe' Gendermale 1 if male else 0 ClassyearFR, SO, JR, SR Knowledge of Agricultureagr score on questions related to basic knowledge of agricultural production Knowledge of Sciencegm score on questions related knowledge of science and biotechnology Political Preferencesright 1 if “conservative” else 0 coded based on question related to political preferences choice 1 if "pro-choice" else 0 Food & Science Issues & Preferencesstem 1 if supports embryonic stem cell research else 0 animals 1 if believes most animals are abused in food production, else 0 org 1 if regularly consumes organic food, else 0 gw 1 if believes in existence of anthropogenic global warming

6. Theoretical Model Logit model Prob ( y = 1;safe ) = e X  / ( 1 + e X  ) XB =   +   male +/-   year +   agr+   right -   choice -   stem +   rural +   GM -   animals -   org -   gw

7. Prob ( y = 1 ) = e X  / ( 1 + e X  ) Prob ( y = 0 ) = 1 / ( 1 + e X  ) The likelihood function is formed as the product of these functions for all observations. L =  i e X  / ( 1 + e X  )  j 1 / ( 1 + e X  ) Maximize ln {L } wrt   b mle b mle measueres the impact of the associated independent variable x on the log of the probability that an event will occur (Kennedy, 1998).

8. MLE RESULTS

10. M.L.E. RESULTS

11. Major Findings Based on interpretation of significant odds ratios odds of a response of ‘safe’ : 86% lower for students with positive view of embryonic stem cell research The odds of ‘safe’ : 84% lower for students that believe in anthropogenic climate change

12. PROBLEMS Variation in the Dependent Variable 87% SAFE Sample size n = 108

13. References Abdulkadri, Abdullahi O, Simmone Pinnock, and Paula Tennant. " Public Perception of Genetic Engineering and the Choice to Purchase Genetically Modified Food." Paper presented at the American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting. 2004 Adulaja, Adesoji, et al. "Nutritional Benefits and Consumer Willingness to Buy Genetically Modified Foods." Journal of Food Distribution Research. Volume 34, Number 1. 2003 p. 24-29. Baker, Gregory A. "Consumer Response to Genetically Modified Foods: Market Segment Analysis and Implications for Producers and Policy Makers." Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics" Vol 26, No. 2. 2001. p.387-403. Goldberger, Arthur S. A Course in Econometrics. Cambridge, Massechusetts. Harvard University Press. 1991. Hine, Susan and Maria Loureiro. "Understanding Consumers' Perceptions Toward Biotechnology and Labeling."Paper presented at the American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting. 2002. Jones, Gerald M., Anya McGuirk and Warren Preston. "Introducing Foods Using Biotechnology: The Case of Bovine Somatotropin." Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics. Vol 24, No. 1 1992. p 209-223 Kennedy, Peter. A Guide to Econometrics. Cambridge, Massechusetts. MIT Press.1998. Studenmund, A.H. Using Econometrics: A Practical Guide. New York, New York. Addison Wesley. 2001.