Worldviews and Opinions of Scientists (Questionnaire)

Trinity College Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Worldviews and Opinions of Scientists - International Survey Dear Fellow Scientist, A week ago ISSSC sent you a message inviting you to participate in an international research project designed to explore the beliefs and values of science professionals in India. We would appreciate your cooperation in completing this questionnaire. The information gathered in this study will be kept confidential, of course. The data will be reported only in the aggregate and you will not be identified in any way. Your cooperation in the study is very important to this endeavor. Naturally, we would like you to answer all questions. Many of them deal with personal beliefs and worldviews. If you find any question intrusive or insensitive, feel free to skip it. You may change your mind about participating in this study -- or answering particular questions -- at any point. You can offer additional comments about the questionnaire in general or about particular questions at the end. We hope you find this experience interesting. We need to ask you first to give your informed consent.

INFORMED CONSENT By clicking on the button you acknowledge the following: I understand that all of my responses in this study are completely confidential and will be used only for research purposes. I understand that my participation in this project is completely voluntary and anonymous. I further understand that I am free to withdraw my participation at any time. I have read and understand the Introduction and Informed Consent section of this form. Accept/Start Survey

Trinity College Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Worldviews and Opinions of Scientists - International Survey BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1. What is your year of birth: 2. Your sex:

j Male n k l m n j Female k l m

3. Where were you born?

State/Territory: Please Select

4. Where do you currently reside? 5. What is your scientific discipline or scholarly field? 6. What is your particular or primary specialization or research focus?

State/Territory: Please Select

7. Are you:

j Currently k l m n

active in your field

j Retired k l m n

8. Where do you currently g c University or college f d e f g Research institute f c d e g Business or applied c d e (or, if retired, where did g Independently c d e f you) practice or pursue c Other (please specify): d e f g your field? 9. Current title (or highest achieved in career): 10. What is your highest academic degree? 11. Roughly how many scientific papers or articles have you published? 12. Roughly how many scholarly/scientific books have you authored/coauthored/edited? 13. Number of publications in peer reviewed foreign journals:

Please Select

Degree: Conferring Institution:

Major Field: Year Received:

14. What was the main reason that led you to become a scientist?

Start Opinion Survey

Please Select

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Trinity College Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Worldviews and Opinions of Scientists - International Survey OPINIONS - Your views matter. Please be sure to click the Submit button at the end to send us

your responses. 15. In your opinion, what are the TWO main reasons young people in India today are attracted to scientific careers? First Choice j Job opportunities k l m n j Social status k l m n j International contact k l m n j Doing good in the world k l m n j Personal interest, curiosity k l m n j Financial reward k l m n j Vocation/calling k l m n

Second Choice j Job opportunities k l m n j Social status k l m n j International contact k l m n j Doing good in the world k l m n j Personal interest, curiosity k l m n j Financial reward k l m n j Vocation/calling k l m n

16. In your opinion, how well respected are scientists in India? Very badly 1

2

3

4

5

6

Very well 7

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17. How would you rate the scientific literacy today of the following groups in India? Very low 1

2

3

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5

6

Very high 7

The population as a whole:

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Young men:

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Young women:

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School teachers:

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Politicians:

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Government officials:

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Business people:

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Media people:

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18. To what extent do you think that India today is fulfilling its constitutional duty “to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform?” (article 51Ah) Not at all 1

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Very much 7

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19. To what extent should government and public funding of science be based on its technological benefits to the nation? Very little 1

2

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4

5

6

Very much 7

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20. To what extent do you approve of private sector commercial involvement in basic science? Very little 1

2

3

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Very much 7

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21. Which is your preferred economic model? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

The free market Mixed economy Socialism Village based/autarchic Not sure

22. Do you think that religion has a place in politics? Yes

Sometimes

No

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j k l m n

j k l m n

23. Do you believe that scientific organizations should be involved in politics? Yes

Sometimes

No

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j k l m n

j k l m n

24. Do you think that scientific organizations should confront religious practices if they contradict accepted scientific theories?

Yes

Sometimes

No

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j k l m n

25. Do you think that the degree of order or patterning we perceive in nature is most likely attributable to: j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

Properties or recurring patterns that are intrinsic to the nature of the physical universe and nothing more A coherent organizing principle that we cannot, or do not yet, fully comprehend, that is pervasive throughout the physical universe An organizing principle or force that in some way transcends the physical universe An impersonal, but in some sense intelligent, creative force that has brought all that exists into being A personal and in some sense intelligent creative force with which human beings can make contact or have a communicative relationship

26. To what extent do you think of yourself as “spiritual?” Not at all 1

2

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5

6

Very much 7

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27. What does “spiritual” mean? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

Contact with forces or entities that exist beyond nature Sensitivity to a force that connects all (living) things A higher level of human consciousness or awareness A purely emotional or psychological sense of connection with others and/or nature Commitment to higher human ideals, such as peace, harmony, or well-being

28. Are you a vegetarian? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

Yes for health reasons Yes for religious reasons Yes for both Yes for other reasons No

29. Do you think that there is any efficacy in the following? Yes

Maybe

No

Vaastu

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Urine therapy

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Pranic healing

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Magnetic therapy

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Prayer

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Astrology

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Palmistry

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Homeopathy

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Reflexology

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Electropathy

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Dowsing

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Reiki

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Power of amulets

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Numerology

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Faith healing

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Gem and Stone Therapy

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Predictions based on Panchangam

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Predictions based on horoscopes

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30. In 2005 space scientists went to Tirupati to seek the blessing of Lord Venkateswara before launching the rocket and satellite. Do you approve or disapprove of the action? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

Approve strongly Approve somewhat Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Unsure

31. Do you approve or disapprove of degree courses in Vedic Astrology? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

Approve strongly Approve somewhat Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Unsure

32. Do you approve or disapprove of university degree courses in Ayurvedic medicine? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

Approve strongly Approve somewhat Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Unsure

33. Would you refuse to work on any of the following because of your moral or religious beliefs?

Yes

Maybe

No

Stem cell research

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Human cloning

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Designing nuclear weapons

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Designing biological weapons

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Genetic engineering

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Animal vivisection

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Chemical pollution

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Population control

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Voluntary euthanasia

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34. In your opinion, is the under-representation of women in the sciences due to nature (biological, genetic, inheritance) or nurture (learning, cultural influence)? j k l m n

Nature j Nurture k l m n j Unsure k l m n 35. Do you approve of government financial support for religious festivals such as Durga Puja (Nava Ratri), Ramzan, Christmas, Ayyappa worship? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

Approve strongly Approve somewhat Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Unsure

36. Do you approve of public holidays for religious prophets’ birthdays? j k l m n

Approve strongly Approve somewhat j Disapprove somewhat k l m n j Disapprove strongly k l m n j Unsure k l m n j k l m n

37. Do you believe in? Yes

Unsure

No

Miracles

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Ghosts/spirits

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A relationship between comets and human events

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Creationism (intelligent design)

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Life after death

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Caste System

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Karma (sins and deeds of past life)

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Reincarnation

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38. Do you think the following have / had supernatural powers? Yes

Unsure

No

Sri Aurobindo

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Gautama Buddha

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Swami Chinmayananda

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Jesus

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Kalki Baba

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Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

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Matha Amritanandamayi

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Mohammad

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Moses

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Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

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Ramana Maharshi

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Satya Sai Baba

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Shirdi Sai Baba

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39. What is your position on stem cell research? j k l m n

Should be forbidden j Should be allowed with some restrictions k l m n j Should be allowed freely k l m n j Unsure k l m n 40. In your opinion, should researchers in the life sciences refrain from using pigs in research projects? j k l m n

Yes j Unsure k l m n j No k l m n 41. In your opinion, should researchers in the life sciences refrain from doing research on cows? j k l m n

Yes j Unsure k l m n j No k l m n

42. When it comes to your outlook, do you regard yourself as? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

Secular Somewhat secular Somewhat religious Religious Don't know

43. What does “secularism” mean to you? Yes

No

Atheism

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Absence of supernatural or religious beliefs

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No identification or affiliation with any religious tradition

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Separation of religion from state/government

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Tolerance for various religions and philosophies

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44. At 11 years of age, were you being raised in any particular religion/philosophy? j k l m n

Yes j No k l m n 45. IF YES, please name it: 46. To what extent, at age 11, did you participate in religious ritual or worship? Not at all 1

2

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4

5

6

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47. What is your current religion, if any? Do you agree or disagree with the following statements: 48. God exists j Agree strongly k l m n j Agree somewhat k l m n j Disagree somewhat k l m n j Disagree strongly k l m n j Don't know k l m n 49. God helps me j Agree strongly k l m n j Agree somewhat k l m n j Disagree somewhat k l m n

A great deal 7 j k l m n

j k l m n j k l m n

Disagree strongly Don't know

50. God performs miracles j Agree strongly k l m n j Agree somewhat k l m n j Disagree somewhat k l m n j Disagree strongly k l m n j Don't know k l m n 51 . Holy people perform miracles j Agree strongly k l m n j Agree somewhat k l m n j Disagree somewhat k l m n j Disagree strongly k l m n j Don't know k l m n 52. What do you believe about God? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

I don’t believe in God. I don’t know whether there is a God and I don’t believe there is any way to find out. I don’t believe in a personal God, but I do believe in a higher power. I find myself believing in God some of the time, but not at others. While I have doubts, I feel that I do believe in God. I know God really exists and I have no doubts about it.

53. Has there ever been a significant change in your level of religiosity with your becoming MORE RELIGIOUS than before? j k l m n

Yes j Unsure k l m n j No k l m n 54. IF YES, how old were you then? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

Less than 17 18-24 25-44 45-64 65+

55. Has there ever been a significant change in your level of religiosity with your becoming LESS RELIGIOUS than before? j k l m n

Yes Unsure j No k l m n j k l m n

56. IF YES, how old were you then? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

Less than 17 18-24 25-44 45-64 65+

57. What do you think happens after your body dies? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

j k l m n

An afterlife of some kind Reincarnation Nothing. Death is the end of personal existence I don't know I don’t think about it

58. Have you ever gone on a religious pilgrimage as an adult? j k l m n

Yes j No k l m n 59. How often do you pray or worship at home/work? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

j k l m n j k l m n

More than once a day Once a day Several times a week Once a week Less than once a week Once a month Less than once a month Never

60. How often do you go to a place of worship to pray? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

More than once a day Once a day Several times a week Once a week Less than once a week Once a month Less than once a month Never

61. How often do you meditate? j k l m n

More than once a day j Once a day k l m n j Several times a week k l m n j Once a week k l m n

j k l m n

Less than once a week Once a month j Less than once a month k l m n j Never k l m n j k l m n

62. Do you think that the process of biological evolution is a fact? j k l m n j k l m n

j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

Definitely Probably Unsure Probably not Definitely not

63. Do you think that human beings, as we know them, developed from earlier species of animals? j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n j k l m n

Definitely Probably Unsure Probably not Definitely not

64. (optional) Please add any comments that clarify your responses:

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Trinity College Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Worldviews and Opinions of Scientists - International Survey Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Your participation is greatly appreciated.