Interviews.

We interviewed 5 of our classmates about GM foods and organic foods using a few questions as a guideline for Socratic Questioning. Here are their individual responses.

Zhi Yuan (Negative example)

Group members: What is your understanding of GM foods?

Zhi Yuan: What's GM food?

G: Genetically modified foods.

Z: Okay, I don't really know about genetically modified food. I think I've heard of it before, like sometimes   they use like tomatoes, they try to plant it with some [genes] or something so to make it more productive of the tomatoes they use.

G: So basically these are GM foods.

Z: Oh, okay.

G: What is your understanding of organic foods?

Z: It's food that contain lesser chemicals compared to some food because like it's much more healthier. 

G: Would you eat GM foods in the future?

Z: I would not eat GM foods in the future because it's not natural.

G: Why is it not natural?

Z: Because... Usually food that is genetically modified, it'll somehow contain some substances that are different from how it naturally occurs. 

G: What would that do to your health? (Linking to earlier response)  

Z: I think it would probably cause some unknown diseases if you eat it long term. Because sometimes you won't know what will happen to you in the future unless you eat it for a long time, right?

G: How about organic foods?

Z: I would eat organic food if possible because organic foods are usually natural and it won't cause anything that will cause like diseases and conditions. 

G: Why would it not cause "diseases and conditions"?

Z: Because... It doesn't contain any chemicals... 

G: How popular do you think GM foods are?

Z: I feel that GM foods are quite popular in the market now as compared to the past because sometimes I will see GM foods in supermarkets whenever I purchase my vegetables and fruits.

G: And why is that so?

Z: Probably because it will be more reproductive if you use these kinds of methods rather than naturally occurring because it will increase the amount you can produce every year.

G: How popular are organic foods?

Z: Organic foods are quite popular now, because some people are quite health conscious people. Organic food is healthier for them.

G: What if it is scientifically proven and tested that GM foods do not cause any health problems? Would you eat GM foods in the future?

Z: Yeah, I would eat GM food in the future if it's not related to health problems. 

G: Who are the main consumers of GM foods?

Z: I think it's for everyone, because everyone is suitable for consuming GM foods if it is not related to any diseases.

G: Then how about organic foods?

Z: Organic foods is apparently suitable for everyone. It's just that it's their own preference because organic foods are slightly more expensive compared to normal food. So organic food probably won't cause much diseases.

G: So you're saying that GM foods are normal foods?

Z: Yeah.

G: However, you seem to perceive that GM foods is going to cause a lot of health problems. What if these effects are removed? It would be safer to consume.

Z: Probably I would still consider it if it was removed, because it doesn't really make much of a difference to me, whether it's GM foods or like normal food (She mentioned GM foods are considered normal. Why the sudden change?) as long as it has nutritional values.

G: So you feel that you do not have to be stringent about the food you eat if it does not cause health problems.

Z: Yeah. 

(Here we see a large amount of assumptions that seem to be mainly about health issues.)

-End-

Millie (Positive example)

G: What is your understanding of GM foods?

M: GM food is food that is being modified to extend the expiry date or to increase the quality or increase production rate.

G: What is your understanding of organic foods?

M: It's like food that has not been modified or not been grown specially to fit special needs?

G: Given a choice, would you eat GM food in the future? Why or why not?

M: Given a choice, I would prefer to eat organic and wouldn't want to eat GM foods because it's like modified and we don't know what substances they put inside to make it even better so if possible, I wouldn't want to eat it unless there's no choice.

G: Do you think GM foods are popular?

M: Popular? Maybe, I think a lot of farmers use that method because it helps them to sell more and many food places use it too. So, popular? Yeah, I think it's kind of popular. Because it's also kind of cheaper.

G: How about organic food?

M: Organic food is more of the expensive side so I don't think it's that popular.

G: Who are the main consumers of organic food?

M: Maybe senior citizens because they are more concerned about their health, they don't want to die early.  (Too crude?)

G: How about GM food?

M: Maybe for those people who want cheap stuff. Because the supply is higher than the demand, so of course it will be cheaper.

G: However, we know that GM food is quite expensive to process.

M: Yes, but they produce a lot, so they can definitely cover the cost. (Agreeable.)

G: What if scientists have proven that GM food does not do any harm to our health? Would you still eat GM foods?

M: I would say I would prefer not to eat GM foods because it is still modified. I prefer... natural. 

G: So this is more of your personal preference.

M: Yeah.

G: If too many people started eating GM foods, what do you think will happen?

M: It depends on if the food has a harmful effect or not. If there isn't, then it's fine. If there is then...  you will see something harmful happen.

G: What would happen to the production of organic foods?

M: It really depends on personal preference. Some people still want to stick to organic foods. You can't help it. You can't force them to eat GM foods.

G: So, do you think people always prefer to eat GM food over organic foods, or the other way round?

M: I think most people prefer... I am not sure about that. 

G: Why do you think we asked these questions?

M: So that you can find out if GM foods are preferred over organic foods?

G: What do you think are the other benefits of GM foods?

M: Maybe it can become healthier and help a person's ability. Other than that, I'm not sure. 

G: However, we are currently talking about first-world countries. GM foods can help alleviate problems in third-world countries, where people do not get enough to eat. Do you think it will help to solve this problem?

M: Yes, it will help to solve this problem as there would be more food that can be grown under different conditions so it will help to solve this problem.

(Not as much assumption. A wider perspective.)

-End-

Priyanka (Unable to pinpoint)

G: What is your understanding of GM foods?

P: I think GM foods are healthy and help people make accurate choices about their diet (Interesting viewpoint).

G: What is your understanding of organic foods?

P: I think organic foods are a way for businessmen to make money because I think most of the organic foods are just plain foods just grown at home (Isn't that the meaning of organic?). They just claim to be healthy but maybe it doesn't make a big difference.

G: Given a choice, would you eat GM food in the future? Why or why not?

P: I don't think so because GM foods may have effects on my body (Contradicting statement?) which may cause long term diseases.

G: How about organic foods?

P: I think I won't eat organic food because it's just a waste of money.

G: So you're saying you won't eat GM foods or organic foods.

P: I would just eat foods that are grown using normal agricultural methods.

G: What do you think would happen if everyone started to buy GM foods?

P: Genetic modification would be heightened, ultimately leading to low levels of the true identity of food. (Very different perspective.)

G: What would happen to the popularity of other foods?

P: People might actually forget that we have those kinds of foods, and they might even become an exquisite cuisine of some sort.

G: What if scientists have proven that GM food does not do any harm to our health? Would you still eat GM foods?

P: I think I will consider [because] I need to assure myself that I will not be harmed because of these foods.

G: Do you think that GM foods can help to solve the problem of hunger in third-world countries?

P: I think so because in third-world countries the main concern is food, not healthy food. So they would be able to live for a short while even if it the food has an adversely negative effect on them. (Prior knowledge on world hunger.)

G: What assumptions do you think you have made?

P: I think I have assumed that GM foods are like some mad scientists coming up with chemicals that are used in poisons…

G: Is there any evidence to show that GM foods are not that healthy?

P: I don’t think so (Actually, there are.) but I always eat food that has been fresh from the supermarket which are not GM or organic so I consider them to be abnormal and different.

G:  So besides GM or organic foods, there is another type of food?

P: Yes.

G: How is it grown?

P: You plant seeds and they grow into trees and you pluck out the fruits.

G: How are GM foods grown?

P: For example, there is this long-living… fish. So they impart the DNA from this fish into, say, an apple, to make it long lasting and more people would buy it.

G: How about organic foods? Do you think that they are just a ploy or are they really organic?

P: I think that they are just a ploy, I mean that it’s like, in a normal situation, 100 apples are grown in a plot. But organic is 20 apples, grown in 5 different plots. I don’t understand the difference it makes.

G: If you don’t understand the difference, then what do you think are the cons of growing the plants close together, according to what you just said?

P: Maybe the plots are smaller, because the company does not want to incur any losses. It’s a way of advertising.

G: So you mean that when companies label their food organic, they might not actually be organic, and may in fact be no different from GM foods. So you would eat foods that do not claim to be organic or GM?

P: Yes.

(Here, we see a confusing viewpoint, until the end, when we have finally gotten her to clarify her thinking. There seems to be quite a bit of prior knowledge, but opinions are direct and sound like assumptions.)

-End-

Indhu (Negative example)

G: What is your understanding of GM foods?
I: I think that it’s kind of weird that they want to change something that’s already good as it is.
G: What is your understanding of organic foods?
I: I think organic foods are healthy because they don’t use pesticides and all those things that might eventually poison us.
G: How popular do you think GM foods are?
I: I think they’re quite popular because they are visually appealing and the food is exactly how the consumers want it.
G: So consumers are attracted to the appearance of the food?
I: And the taste because they change the taste to suit their needs and the fruits can be bigger and the taste nice, as compared to smaller fruits with nice taste.
G: What are the other advantages of GM foods?
I: I think you can get better quality foods because with GM foods, everyone can get a lot of nice food instead of just the richer people, and people can afford foods that taste nice.
G: How about organic foods? Do you think they are popular?
I: They’re popular because they’re healthy but they are also expensive so a lot of people don’t buy them often.
G: Who do you think are the main consumers of organic food?
I: I think it’s those richer people and people who want to maintain a healthy life, and those people with diseases like diabetes.
G: How about the main consumers of GM food?
I: They are those healthy people who don’t have many diseases that require organic food.
G: So you think that if you’re healthy then you eat GM foods and if you’re not healthy you eat organic foods?
I: Not exactly… Well I don’t know how to say this, but… If you are a huge health freak, you should eat organic food.
G: What if scientists have proven that GM food does not do any harm to our health? Would you still eat GM foods?
I: Probably.

G: Why is that so?
I: The taste and size of fruits are enhanced because they are genetically modified. It’s now worth what you’re paying for.
G: What do you think would happen if everyone started to buy GM foods?
I: Other foods will get neglected (Same thought as Priyanka).
G: What would happen to the popularity of other foods?
I: Since consumers purchase more GM foods than other foods, farmers might not want to grow other foods since it would be a waste of time.

G: Do you think that GM foods can help to solve the problem of hunger in third-world countries?
I: Yes, because if they want to eat organic food, they won’t be able to afford it as it takes more work to grow. GM foods taste nice yet are cheaper, so it can help. (Answer is only skimming the surface)
(A few important points but others are quite undeveloped.)

-End-
Fatimah (Positive example)

G: What is your understanding of GM foods?
F: I have no idea about GM foods…

G: What is your understanding of organic foods?
F: They are grown with more care and are healthier than other foods.
G: How popular do you think GM foods are?
F: Not very popular, I guess?
G: How about organic foods?
F: I think organic foods are quite popular but they are quite expensive so probably less people will buy them.
G: You said that you do not know about GM foods. Are you aware that you are consuming them practically every day?
F: No…
G: Well, GM foods are genetically modified foods. It’s simply adding genes and fertilisers and similar substances to enhance plant growth. As you know, farmers find ways to make their farming more productive and let their foods grow well so that they will be able to earn more profits and more popularity. Now that we have explained what GM foods are, what do you think about them?
F: I think that food grown naturally is better than GM food.
G: And why do you think so?
F: Because GM foods are foods with their process of growth changed. So I guess it’s not that good to consume them.
G: Why is it not good to eat foods when they are changed?
F: Maybe it’s because of the chemicals that affect the food and make it less healthy.
G: What could possibly happen, then, if you consume too much of the food?
F: [Health problems]
G: What do you think would happen if everyone started to buy GM foods?
F: There would be more occurrences of health problems and everyone wouldn’t be so healthy because they do not eat much of healthy food.
G: What would happen to the popularity of other foods?
F: It would decrease.
G: However, we are currently talking about first-world countries. GM foods can help alleviate problems in third-world countries, where people do not get enough to eat. Do you think it will help to solve this problem?
F: For third-world countries, I think that it is fine for its consumers to eat GM food as the food will grow faster and they will not go hungry to eat pure, organic food.
G: Who do you think are the main consumers of organic food?
F: People who are aware of the GM food problem and don’t mind spending more to eat healthier food.
G: So these people are more health conscious as compared to those who are not aware?
F: Yes.
G: What if scientists have proven that GM food does not do any harm to our health? Would you still eat GM foods?
F: Probably yes, because I want to save money (So money is a concern). I would still prefer organic food to GM food but since there is no harm in it I would eat GM food.
G: Do you feel that the statement that organic food is healthier than GM food is an assumption?
F: I think it’s an assumption because… There has to be more research done on GM food before actually stating that it is less healthy for consumers.
(This was not exactly easy as she did not have any prior knowledge at all and so whatever thoughts that she had were likely to be assumptions as she only knew that little information that we gave her.)

From these interviews we have gathered that:

• Main concerns of GM foods are health problems.
• The factor that keeps consumers from buying organic food is the price.
• There was no mention of repelling pests from crops.
• It is quite evident that our classmates have never given this issue much thought.
• Most of them are not sure of their information.
• Even though the health risks of GM food is removed, they will still prefer organic food.
• World hunger can be resolved by using GM food as the main concern is the existence of food and not how healthy it is.
• Organic food is stereotyped as food for extremely health conscious people.
• All of them seem to be against GM food due to potential health problems.
• Some of them feel that if GM foods were to become more popular, foods that have not been genetically modified would eventually die out, while others feel that they would still be consumed by health conscious people.