Benchmarks for Science Literacy: Chapter 15 THE RESEARCH BASE

3 THE NATURE OF TECHNOLOGY

    3B) DESIGN AND SYSTEMS

Preliminary research gives some indication of two student perspectives on risk resulting from the failure of technological systems. In the first perspective, if the risk of failure involves the possibility of widespread harm, it is unacceptable; however, if the risk of failure is to oneself and voluntary, it is considered a part of life and hardly worthy of concern by others. In the second perspective, if the risk of failure involves harm to oneself and benefits to oneself, then it is of primary interest. Harm to others is simply ignored in this perspective (Fleming, 1986a, 1986b).