Innovation and society

This book studies the values, socioeconomic conditions, and behaviors of the Spanish population related to innovation. The purpose is to explore the innovative features of Spanish society through the possibilities offered by survey methodology. It addresses innovation in the broadest sense, as any intentional, knowledge-based change that has the potential to be adopted and create value of various kinds, both economic and social benefits. The research focuses on the "macrosocial" level of analysis. It describes attitudes, opinions, values, capabilities, social relations, and behavioral patterns that, in aggregate, are important for a country's innovation processes. These characteristics are interpreted as knowledge-related resources that promote or hinder certain types of innovation. The analyses address five dimensions: opinions and attitudes toward innovation (chapter 2); values and innovation (chapter 3); the social structure of innovation (chapter 4); entrepreneurship (chapter 5); and the consumption and diffusion of innovative products (chapter 6). The results show that the innovative features of Spanish society are a fundamental element in the processes of social differentiation. They are closely related to people's values and living conditions and determine the behaviors that enable the mobilization of knowledge with implications for the economy and social well-being. The book contributes to the understanding of innovation in Spain in aspects that are still poorly studied. It is based on the first specific survey on the topic, representative of the general population, conducted through face-to-face interviews using rigorous sampling methods of households and individuals. It complements analyses of the Spanish innovation system typically based on the study of organizations, groups of specialists, and companies. From a broader perspective, it contributes to social studies of innovation from a sociological perspective. It offers conceptual developments and empirical information on the social environment of innovation systems.