. "Appendix D: Additional Data and Analysis." A Survey of Attitudes and Actions on Dual Use Research in the Life Sciences: A Collaborative Effort of the National Research Council and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2009.
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A Survey of Attitudes and Actions on Dual Use Research in the Life Sciences: A Collaborative Effort of the National Research Council and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Appendix D
Additional Data and Analysis
TABLE D-1 Survey Questions and Number of Responses for Each Question
1. Have you ever conducted research or managed others’ research in the life sciences?
1,950
2. Have you made any changes in how you conduct or manage research because of concerns that knowledge, tools, or techniques from your research might be deliberately misused to facilitate bioterrorism?
I decided against conducting a specific research project/experiment
1,744
I decided to shift my research away from an area altogether
1,744
I decided against seeking funding for a proposed research project
1,744
I decided against collaborating with particular scientists, postdocs, students, etc.
1,744
I limited my conversations about my research
1,744
I decided against submitting a manuscript to a journal
1,744
I modified a manuscript
1,744
I decided against presenting research at a conference
1,744
I modified a conference presentation
1,744
3. Are you currently conducting or managing research in the life sciences?
1,843
4. Do you consider any of the research you currently conduct or manage to have dual use potential?
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A Survey of Attitudes and Actions on Dual Use Research in the Life Sciences: A Collaborative Effort of the National Research Council and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Appendix D
Additional Data and Analysis
TABLE D-1 Survey Questions and Number of Responses for Each Question
Question
Number of Responsesa
1. Have you ever conducted research or managed others’ research in the life sciences?
1,950
2. Have you made any changes in how you conduct or manage research because of concerns that knowledge, tools, or techniques from your research might be deliberately misused to facilitate bioterrorism?
I decided against conducting a specific research project/experiment
1,744
I decided to shift my research away from an area altogether
1,744
I decided against seeking funding for a proposed research project
1,744
I decided against collaborating with particular scientists, postdocs, students, etc.
1,744
I limited my conversations about my research
1,744
I decided against submitting a manuscript to a journal
1,744
I modified a manuscript
1,744
I decided against presenting research at a conference
1,744
I modified a conference presentation
1,744
3. Are you currently conducting or managing research in the life sciences?
1,843
4. Do you consider any of the research you currently conduct or manage to have dual use potential?
1,376b
5. Are you currently conducting or managing research which includes any of these seven types of experiments?
1,376c
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A Survey of Attitudes and Actions on Dual Use Research in the Life Sciences: A Collaborative Effort of the National Research Council and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Question
Number of Responsesa
6. Do you now or have you ever worked with or managed research using select agents?
1,798
7. Do the journal(s) in your field require reviewers to evaluate whether manuscripts include knowledge, tools and techniques with dual use potential?
1,755
8. Do the journal(s) in your field require authors to disclose any research with dual use potential to editors upon submission of the manuscript?
1,755
9. Should scientific journals have policies regarding publication of dual use research?
1,755
10. Have you ever contacted an editor because you felt that a manuscript you were reviewing contained knowledge, tools, or techniques that could pose a threat to national security?
1,755
11. Should professional scientific societies have codes for the responsible conduct of dual use life sciences research?
1,743
12. Are you a member of any professional scientific societies that already have codes of conduct that include statements about the responsible conduct of dual use research?
1,743
13. Principal investigators should be responsible for the initial evaluation of the dual use potential of their life sciences research.
1,658
14. Scientists should provide formal assurance to their institution that they are assessing their work for dual use potential.
1,658
15. Scientists conducting or managing research should take an oath, similar to medicine’s Hippocratic Oath, to carry out research responsibly and guard against deliberate misuse of the knowledge, tools, or techniques of dual use research.
1,658
16. Preventing the potential that knowledge, tools, or techniques from dual use research could pose a threat to national security requires …
1,658
Certification of researchers conducting dual use research
1,658
Greater restrictions on access to specific biological agents or toxins.
1,658
Licensure of certain biological equipment that is commonly used in life science research.
1,658
Restrictions on disclosure of details about the research or its findings through personal communication.
1,658
Alteration or removal of certain experimental methods or findings prior to publication or presentation.
1,658
Restrictions on publication of findings based on dual use potential.
1,658
Classification of research findings based on dual use potential.
1,658
17. Dual use research needs greater federal oversight.
1,637
18. Principal investigators should be responsible for training lab staff, students, and visiting scientists about dual use research including policies and practices to minimize the potential for misuse of information from their research.
1,637
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A Survey of Attitudes and Actions on Dual Use Research in the Life Sciences: A Collaborative Effort of the National Research Council and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Question
Number of Responsesa
19. University and college students should receive educational lectures and materials on dual use life sciences research including the potential that knowledge, tools, and techniques from such research could pose a threat to national security.
1,637
20. Institutions should provide mandatory training for scientists regarding dual use life sciences research.
1,637
21. All grant proposals for life sciences research with dual use potential should be reviewed by a researcher’s institution prior to submission for funding.
1,633
22. Funding agencies should require grantees to attest on grant applications that they have considered dual use implications of their proposed research.
1,633
23. Funding agencies would be less likely to fund grant proposals if the proposed research has dual use potential.
1,633
24. What is the percent chance (ranging from 0 percent chance to 100 percent chance) that an act of bioterrorism will occur somewhere in the world in the next five years?
1,588
25. What is the percent chance (ranging from 0 percent chance to 100 percent chance) that an act of bioterrorism will occur in the United States in the next five years?
1,588
26. What is the percent chance (ranging from 0 percent chance to 100 percent chance) that knowledge, tools, or techniques from dual use life sciences research will facilitate an act of bioterrorism in the next five years?
1,588
27. To date, there have been few acts of bioterrorism. Which of the following help explain why? Terrorists lack the knowledge to work with or create dangerous biological agents.
1,588
Terrorists lack the equipment to work with or create dangerous biological agents.
1,588
Terrorists lack access to dangerous biological agents.
1,588
Terrorists are deterred by the threat of being caught and punished.
1,588
Terrorists prefer to use other means.
1,588
28. Do the following means of communication provide sufficient information for an individual with college level life science training to deliberately create a harmful biological agent?
Scientific journal articles
1,588
Presentations at scientific conferences or meetings
1,588
Personal communications (e.g., e-mail, phone calls)
1,588
Internet
1,588
29. On June 1, 2007, what was your citizenship status?
1,586
30. What is the highest educational degree you have been awarded?
1,586
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A Survey of Attitudes and Actions on Dual Use Research in the Life Sciences: A Collaborative Effort of the National Research Council and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Question
Number of Responsesa
32. Which one of the following best describes your current occupational status? Are you…
1,586
33. Which one of the following best describes your principal employer during the week of June 1, 2007?
1,443
34. Which scientific discipline of the following do you consider to be your primary area of work or study? (If currently unemployed or retired, please select the discipline that most closely matches your last occupation.)
1,586
a Unless otherwise noted, these numbers are the number of responses to each question out of the possible 1,954 respondents who answered at least part of the survey.
bThis number is the number of respondents who answered this question out of the 1,407 respondents who answered “yes” to question #3.
cThis number is the number of respondents who answered this question out of the 1,407 respondents who answered “yes” to question #3.
TABLE D-2 Percentage Likelihood of Dual Use Research Facilitating a Bioterror Attack, by Type of Research in Which Respondents Are Engaged
Type of Research
Percentage Likelihood of Dual Use Facilitating a Bioterror Attack
Mean (%)
SD (%)
N
Works with dual use
Yes
28
33
196
No
25
30
1,033
Total
1,229a
Works with seven types of experiments
Yes
31
33
74
No
25
30
1,155
1,229a
Works with select agents
Yes
30
34
416
No
27
30
1,051
Don’t Know
29
32
120
Total
1,587b
aThese two questions (works with dual use and percent likelihood and works with seven types of experiments and percent likelihood) could only be answered by the 1,407 people who were currently engaged in research. The 178 other respondents did not answer one or both of these questions.
bThe questions about working with select agents and percent likelihood were asked of all 1,954 respondents. The other 367 respondents failed to answer one or both of these questions.
SOURCE: NRC/AAAS Survey; data tabulations by staff.
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A Survey of Attitudes and Actions on Dual Use Research in the Life Sciences: A Collaborative Effort of the National Research Council and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
TABLE D-3 Percentage of Respondents Agreeing or Disagreeing with Statement That Greater Federal Oversight Is Needed, by Type of Research and Employment
Variable
Values
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
Observations
Works with dual use
Yes
20
40
16
21
3
198
No
11
35
29
21
4
1,065
Works with seven types of experiments
Yes
23
32
18
22
5
74
No
12
36
28
21
4
1,189
Works with select agents
Yes
15
40
21
19
4
427
No
10
34
30
23
4
1,088
Employer type
Industry
9
37
23
25
7
223
Academe
12
36
28
20
3
1,023
Government
10
32
28
26
4
125
Other
14
29
25
29
3
72
NOTES: The number of observations reflects the number of individuals who answered each question down the left column (“Variable”) and the likert scale question. Recall that only 1,407 individuals were asked about whether they considered their research to be dual use or involve the seven types of experiments. As can be seen in the far-right column, not all of these 1,407 individuals answered the combination of dual use research and the likert scale question or seven types of experiments and the likert scale question. All 1,954 respondents could have answered whether they work with select agents and what their employer type was, although as noted in the far-right column, not all 1,954 respondents actually did so.
SOURCE: NRC/AAAS Survey; data tabulations by staff.
TABLE D-4 Percentage of Respondents Agreeing or Disagreeing That Particular Policies Should Be Required, by Policy, Type of Research and Employment
Variable
Values
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
Observations
A. Certification of researchers
Works with dual use
Yes
17
35
9
28
11
198
No
10
25
24
31
11
1,077
Works with seven types of experiments
Yes
20
30
11
30
9
74
No
10
26
22
31
11
1,201
Works with select agents
Yes
14
27
17
29
13
429
No
10
25
23
32
10
1,100
Employer type
Industry
12
26
18
35
9
223
Academia
11
26
22
30
11
1,023
Government
9
23
27
29
12
125
Other
11
24
28
29
8
72
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A Survey of Attitudes and Actions on Dual Use Research in the Life Sciences: A Collaborative Effort of the National Research Council and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Variable
Values
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
Observations
B. Restrictions on access
Works with dual use
Yes
19
30
9
33
10
198
No
9
24
22
34
12
1,077
Works with seven types of experiments
Yes
18
32
4
36
9
74
No
10
24
21
34
11
1,201
Works with select agents
Yes
15
28
16
28
13
429
No
7
22
21
38
13
1,100
Employer type
Industry
7
21
15
40
17
223
Academia
10
26
20
34
11
1,023
Government
7
23
13
40
17
125
Other
7
15
35
35
8
72
C. Licensure of equipment
Works with dual use
Yes
32
42
9
14
4
198
No
23
37
21
14
4
1,077
Works with seven types of experiments
Yes
32
42
9
15
1
74
No
24
38
20
14
4
1,201
Works with select agents
Yes
26
39
17
13
5
429
No
22
35
21
17
5
1,100
Employer type
Industry
22
35
18
19
6
223
Academia
25
39
19
14
4
1,023
Government
18
38
19
19
6
125
Other
19
32
25
21
3
72
D. Restrictions on personal communication
Works with dual use
Yes
33
32
15
18
2
198
No
20
38
23
16
4
1,077
Works with seven types of experiments
Yes
22
34
18
26
1
74
No
22
37
22
15
4
1,201
Works with select agents
Yes
27
33
18
17
4
429
No
19
37
24
17
3
1,100
Employer type
Industry
18
31
24
21
6
223
Academia
22
39
22
15
3
1,023
Government
23
26
26
19
5
125
Other
24
33
24
15
4
72
E. Modification of manuscripts or presentations
Works with dual use
Yes
33
26
15
23
3
198
No
22
35
23
17
3
1,077
Works with seven types of experiments
Yes
26
30
12
31
1
74
No
24
34
22
17
3
1,201
Works with select agents
Yes
25
32
20
19
5
429
No
21
35
23
19
3
1,100
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A Survey of Attitudes and Actions on Dual Use Research in the Life Sciences: A Collaborative Effort of the National Research Council and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Variable
Values
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
Observations
Employer type
Industry
18
29
22
24
6
223
Academia
24
36
20
17
3
1,023
Government
21
30
26
19
4
125
Other
19
35
25
19
1
72
F. Restrictions on publications
Works with dual use
Yes
28
36
16
17
3
198
No
20
38
23
17
3
1,077
Works with seven types of experiments
Yes
28
42
15
12
3
74
No
20
37
23
17
3
1,201
Works with select agents
Yes
19
36
23
19
3
429
No
18
37
24
19
2
1,100
Employer type
Industry
16
29
26
25
5
223
Academia
21
40
21
16
2
1,023
Government
19
35
25
18
3
125
Other
19
39
21
21
0
72
G. Classification of findings
Works with dual use
Yes
32
27
21
18
3
198
No
19
28
26
24
3
1,077
Works with seven types of experiments
Yes
27
28
27
18
0
74
No
21
28
25
23
3
1,201
Works with select agents
Yes
24
25
21
26
4
429
No
17
29
27
24
4
1,100
Employer type
Industry
15
25
24
28
8
223
Academia
20
31
25
22
3
1,023
Government
22
19
26
27
6
125
Other
18
22
28
31
1
72
NOTES: The number of observations reflects the number of individuals who answered each question down the left column (“Variable”) and the likert scale question. Recall that only 1,407 individuals were asked about whether they considered their research to be dual use or involve the seven types of experiments. As can be seen in the far-right column, not all of these 1,407 individuals answered the combination of dual use research and the likert scale question or seven types of experiments and the likert scale question. All 1,954 respondents could have answered whether they work with select agents and what their employer type was, although as noted in the far-right column, not all 1,954 respondents actually did so.
SOURCE: NRC/AAAS Survey; data analysis by staff.
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