Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research Summary of Caravan ORC International National Survey The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) commissioned Caravan ORC International to conduct a public opinion study on issues surrounding stem cell research. The survey was completed during the period May 10-13, 2001 from ORC s central telephone facilities in Tucson, Arizona and/or Tampa, Florida. The telephone survey was conducted among a national probability sample of 1,010 adults, comprising 506 men and 504 women 18 years of age and older, living in private households in the continental United States. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of percentages expressing the results. For this survey, at a 95 percent confidence level, the results can be considered accurate plus or minus three percent or less. Purpose of Study CAMR commissioned the survey to accomplish the following objectives: Measure initial public support for stem cell research; Test a variety of arguments made by supporters of stem cell research; Test a variety of arguments made by opponents of stem cell research Re-test public support for stem cell research after the positive and negative argumentation had been made; Test whether the respondents favored NIH funding of stem cell research; Test whether the respondents would be more or less likely to support a public official based on the official s support of, or opposition to, NIH funding of stem cell research; Examine differences in levels of support and opposition to stem cell research based on the respondent s self-reported religious affiliation and position on abortion.
Initial Public Attitudes When respondents were asked their levels of support or opposition to research on stem cells that come from excess fertilized eggs resulting from in vitro fertilization, 77 percent indicated support, with 14 percent indicating opposition. The intensity of support or opposition can be broken out as follows: Argumentation y Support...41 Support...36 Oppose...6 y Oppose...8 Don t Know...9 Positive Argumentation After the initial measure of public support for stem cell research, five arguments cited by supporters of stem cell research were read to respondents. After each argument was read, respondents were asked whether, based on this argument, they would be extremely likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely, to support stem cell research. The results of the five supporting arguments are as follows: Table 1 Extremely Less Not Too Not At All Stem cell research could be the critical link in finding cures for diabetes, Parkinson s, Alzheimers, cancer, heart disease, spinal cord problems, and arthritis 81 50 31 12 4 8 Federal funding for stem cell research is necessary as it is the way scientists at medical schools and universities across the country can participate in this research 73 30 43 20 8 12 Federal funding would ensure oversight of all stem cell research, including that done by private companies, to ensure the embryos have been voluntarily contributed by couples with informed consent 66 31 35 26 10 16 Celebrity advocates like Christopher Reeve have noted that there are more than 100,000 fertilized eggs that are unused and frozen and are destined to be discarded if not used for research 63 28 35 27 12 15 Many pro-life Members of Congress and community leaders support research into stem cells that come from fertilized eggs 59 22 37 31 12 19 2
Negative Argumentation After the positive argumentation for stem cell research, five arguments cited by opponents of stem cell research were read to respondents. After each argument was read, respondents were asked whether, based on this argument, they would be extremely likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely, to support stem cell research. The results of the five opposing arguments are as follows: Table 2 Less Not Too Not At All Extremely Federal funding for stem cell research on stem cells obtained from fertilized eggs is unnecessary because alternatives for using stem cells from adult tissue are available 34 16 17 55 17 38 Fertilized eggs have the same moral status as human beings and therefore they should not be used for medical research despite the potential health benefits 42 16 26 49 21 28 Federal funding for stem cell research from fertilized eggs is unlawful because existing law prohibits using federal funds in any research that involves the destruction of a fertilized egg 43 19 24 47 19 28 Stem cell research is more similar to abortion than to a scientific issue 44 17 27 45 18 27 The ability to develop new medical treatments does not justify the unethical development of stem cells via the destruction of fertilized eggs 38 17 21 52 20 32 Post-Argumentation Public Attitudes After the positive and negative argumentation a second measure of public attitudes toward stem cell research was taken. When respondents were asked their levels of support or opposition to stem cell research based on what they now knew, 70 percent indicated support, with 23 percent indicating opposition. The intensity of support or opposition can be broken out as follows: y Support...34 Support...35 Oppose...11 y Oppose...12 Don t Know...8 3
Respondents were then asked if they supported or opposed National Institutes of Health funding for stem cell research. A total of 69 percent of the respondents favored NIH funding of stem cell research, while 24 percent opposed such funding. The intensity of support or opposition can be broken out as follows: y Support...32 Support...37 Oppose...11 y Oppose...13 Don t Know...7 Next, respondents were asked if they knew their Member of Congress or Senator supported National Institutes of Health funding for stem cell research, would they be more or less likely to support him. A total of 64 percent of the respondents would be more likely to support that public official, while 27 percent would be less likely to support him. The intensity of support or opposition can be broken out as follows: Extremely...19...44 Not Too...13 Not At All...14 Don t Know...10 A similar question was asked regarding President Bush s potential support for NIH funding for stem cell research. A total of 57 percent of the respondents would be more likely to support President Bush knowing he supported such funding, while 34 percent would be less likely to support him. The intensity of support or opposition can be broken out as follows: Extremely...18...39 Not Too...12 Not At All...22 Don t Know...10 4
Results By Religious Affiliation Initial Support For Stem Cell Research As mentioned above, when respondents were asked their levels of support or opposition to stem cell research, 77 percent indicated support, with 14 percent indicating opposition. Levels of support or opposition by self-reported religious affiliation are broken out as follows: Table 3 Support 77 75 80 71 91 y Support 41 41 46 31 61 Support 36 35 35 40 31 Oppose 14 17 12 21 0 Oppose 6 7 5 8 0 y Oppose 8 10 7 12 0 Post-Argumentation Support For Stem Cell Research As mentioned above, after the positive and negative argumentation a second measure of public attitudes toward stem cell research was taken. When respondents were asked their levels of support or opposition to stem cell research based on what they now knew, 70 percent indicated support, with 23 percent indicating opposition. The intensity of support or opposition can be broken out as follows: Table 4 Support 70 72 71 63 83 y Support 34 31 38 25 61 Support 35 40 33 39 22 Oppose 23 23 22 26 9 Oppose 11 9 11 11 6 y Oppose 12 14 11 15 2 5
Post-Argumentation Support For NIH Funding Of Stem Cell Research Respondents were then asked if they supported or opposed National Institutes of Health funding for stem cell research. A total of 69 percent of the respondents favored NIH funding of stem cell research, while 24 percent opposed such funding. The intensity of support or opposition can be broken out as follows: Table 5 Support 69 71 70 70 83 y Support 32 31 35 22 68 Support 37 40 35 48 15 Oppose 24 25 23 23 9 Oppose 11 10 11 5 0 y Oppose 13 15 12 18 9 Post-Argumentation Attitudes Toward Congressional Support Next, respondents were asked if they knew their Member of Congress or Senator supported National Institutes of Health funding for stem cell research, would they be more or less likely to support him. A total of 64 percent of the respondents would be more likely to support that public official, while 27 percent would be less likely to support him. The intensity of support or opposition can be broken out as follows: Table 6 More 64 64 62 67 95 Extremely 19 18 21 13 46 44 46 42 54 49 Less 27 28 28 24 2 Not Too 13 11 14 12 0 Not At All 14 17 14 11 2 6
Post-Argumentation Attitudes Toward Presidential Support A similar question was asked regarding President Bush s potential support for NIH funding for stem cell research.. A total of 57 percent of the respondents would be more likely to support President Bush knowing he supported such funding, while 34 percent would be less likely to support him. The intensity of support or opposition can be broken out as follows: Table 7 More 57 57 57 64 68 Extremely 18 17 19 15 20 39 40 38 49 48 Less 34 34 33 29 30 Not Too 12 12 11 14 20 Not At All 22 22 21 15 10 Results By Stance On Abortion Initial Support For Stem Cell Research As mentioned above, when respondents were asked their levels of support or opposition to stem cell research, 77 percent indicated support, with 14 percent indicating opposition. Levels of support or opposition by self-reported stance on abortion are broken out as follows: Table 8 y y Support 77 65 80 69 88 86 87 y Support 41 29 30 29 43 58 52 Support 36 37 50 40 45 28 34 Oppose 14 25 15 22 8 8 8 Oppose 6 8 9 9 4 3 3 y Oppose 8 17 6 14 3 5 4 7
Post-Argumentation Support For Stem Cell Research As mentioned above, after the positive and negative argumentation a second measure of public attitudes toward stem cell research was taken. When respondents were asked their levels of support or opposition to stem cell research based on what they now knew, 70 percent indicated support, with 23 percent indicating opposition. Levels of support or opposition by self-reported stance on abortion are broken out as follows: Table 9 y y Support 70 50 73 56 84 82 83 y Support 34 20 23 21 37 52 47 Support 35 30 50 36 47 29 36 Oppose 23 44 20 37 13 13 13 Oppose 11 20 16 18 7 5 6 y Oppose 12 24 4 18 6 8 7 Post-Argumentation Support For NIH Funding Of Stem Cell Research Respondents were then asked if they supported or opposed National Institutes of Health funding for stem cell research. A total of 69 percent of the respondents favored NIH funding of stem cell research, while 24 percent opposed such funding. Levels of support or opposition by self-reported stance on abortion are broken out as follows: Table 10 y y Support 69 50 74 57 82 80 81 y Support 32 19 21 19 30 52 44 Support 37 32 53 38 52 28 37 Oppose 24 45 21 38 14 14 14 Oppose 11 18 14 17 8 5 6 y Oppose 13 27 6 21 6 8 8 8
Post-Argumentation Attitudes Toward Congressional Support Next, respondents were asked if they knew their Member of Congress or Senator supported National Institutes of Health funding for stem cell research, would they be more or less likely to support him. A total of 64 percent of the respondents would be more likely to support that public official, while 27 percent would be less likely to support him. Levels of support or opposition by self-reported stance on abortion are broken out as follows: Table 11 y y More 64 50 65 54 76 74 75 Extremely 19 14 14 14 16 30 25 44 37 51 41 61 44 50 Less 27 42 27 38 20 18 19 Not Too 13 16 21 18 12 6 8 Not At All 14 25 7 20 8 11 10 Post-Argumentation Attitudes Toward Presidential Support A similar question was asked regarding President Bush s potential support for NIH funding for stem cell research. A total of 57 percent of the respondents would be more likely to support President Bush knowing he supported such funding, while 34 percent would be less likely to support him. Levels of support or opposition by self-reported stance on abortion are broken out as follows: Table 12 y y More 57 51 65 55 70 56 61 Extremely 18 15 18 16 16 22 20 39 36 46 39 54 34 41 Less 34 43 27 38 26 34 31 Not Too 12 15 11 14 13 10 11 Not At All 22 28 16 24 13 25 20 9