Science Friday Summative Evaluation Phase One: Focus Groups about "Basic Research"

This document reports on the first phase of a summative evaluation of Science Friday's expansion to examine the importance of research as a theme underlying all science and technology changes. In this phase of the evaluation, in-depth qualitative discussions concerning public understanding of basic research were held with listeners of Science Friday. The study has two goals: (1) To provide feedback to producers as to the series’ current strengths and weaknesses with respect to the above stated goals; and (2) To guide the development of a written questionnaire to be mailed to random public radio subscribers in the first and last years of the NSF grant. Participants (N = 32) listened at home to a 50 minute Science Friday program and answered a questionnaire that they brought with them to a one-hour focus group. The questionnaire and group discussions considered the following issues: How do listeners define basic research? How do listeners see basic research as presented through Science Friday? What is the importance of basic research in their own lives? What would be the consequences of a reduction in basic research? What are barriers or obstacles to successful research? How are scientists perceived; what characteristics do listeners attribute to scientists? How should the government be involved or not in basic research? What is the listeners' understanding of the role of basic research in policy-making?

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