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Biocontrol sources were located with a keyword searchof the electronic database systems Infotrac and FirstSearch, 1989 through 1965. FirstSearch went on-line 10/95, and a total of 56 databases were searched. The keyword strings included:
Content analysis of sources obtained from the electronic searches was used to identify issues and representations of the use of transgenics and genetic engineering in biocontrol.
Data were generated by tabulating four factors from each source: the issues, affiliation of experts, positions taken by experts, and risk representation.
Each factor from a source was numerically encoded, and the positions taken were categorized as positive (non-problematic), neutral, or negative (problematic).
All coding from a particular type of source (e.g., newspapers) was done by one researcher, and reliability was checked by another who recoded approimately 20% of the articles to determine the level of agreement.
Compilations of each factor were grouped into related categories, cross-indexed between categories where appropriate, to dvelop both the frequency with which a particular factor (e.g., an issue) appears and the degree of importance attached to the issue (positions taken and risk representation).
The compilations were analyzed were analyzed by Chi-square analysis, and frequency separations were obtained with Tukey's w test when the overall F test was significant at P<0.05.
Comparisons were made between the types of sources: 1)Newpapers - with priority on syndicated articles, 2)Popular Press - magazines and periodicals intended for public consumption, and 3)Technical/Regulatory - scientific journals aand government (regulatory) documents.