The Pattern and Importance of Public Knowledge in the Nuclear Age

Abstract

A review of 175 survey questions which measure American public awareness and knowledge of nuclear issues from 1945 through 1987 reveals important and previously undiscovered patterns. Awareness of nuclear weapons is universal amd more dominant than awareness of arms control. People are two times more knowledgeable of nuclear weapons issues than they are of arms control issues. Even though only approximately 5% of the public have detailed knowledge of arms control, many more people have functional knowledge of the subject. While the level and rate of diffusion of nuclear awareness varies greatly, there seems to be a limit to the number of people who learn of nuclear issues after they first reach the public agenda. This places limits on presidential leadership and organized public education campaigns. Despite justifiable methodological concerns with question wording, time series data and self-defined knowledge scales, much can be learned by systematically analyzing relevant public opinion data.