| It is widely observed that efforts to increase the science competency at the United States Department of State have been stymied by the incompatibility, or cultural divide, between the scientific and diplomatic communities. To explore this claim, a survey instrument was used to gather data on attitudes toward the use of experts and the subject of science and technology in federal agencies. Through factor analysis and statistical inference testing, the attitudes of State employees and those of other agencies were found to be similar. These findings indicate that whatever influence State's diplomatic culture has on its employees, it does not result in attitudes significantly different than those found in other agencies. As such, if a cultural divide exists within State, it is little different from any such divide that exists between the scientific community and the community of other federal bureaucrats. |
