Culture and Science in Romania. Evidence from World Values Survey

Abstract

People are all influenced by the cultures in which they grew up and the societies in which they live. Cultures shape our expectations, values, beliefs, and goals. Scholars and practitioners too, are modeled by their culture and society, which in turn, influence their activity.
Scholars avoid some research areas due to ethical principles or choose others based on their values or political adherence.
Ideological principles span a wide range of concerns, including socioeconomic structures, race relations, gender issues, social philosophies and customs, religions, morality, equality, freedom, and justice.
This article is based on the outcomes of World Values Survey, (waves 5, 6 and 7). The focus of this research is Romania. It approaches the perceptions on science and technology from a cultural point of view, with a special emphasis on religion. The study detected significant differences between the perception of Romanians during the last decades. It also highlighted the public perception on universities.
The results of the study have implications for science educators regarding science‐related social controversies, particularly issues related to religion.
Our contribution to the culture and innovation literature consists in improving the current understanding of the nexus between culture, science and technology in Romania.