Stem Cell Opinion Poll
Activity 5.1
STEM CELLS
When looking at the opinion polls
remember to look at the date and the
number of people surveyed
POLLS FROM AUSTRALIA
“Using stem cells to
conduct medical research
and treat disease is
acceptable?"
Yes
No
92%
5%
Don’t know
Biotechnology Australia – Community Attitudes to Biotechnology. 2007.
3%
“Do you approve of the
extraction of stem cells
from human embryos for
medical research?"
Yes
No
82% 13%
Ray Morgan Poll. 2006.
Don’t know
5%
“Do you approve of the use
of excess donated embryos
from IVF treatment for stem
cell research?"
Yes
No
74% 26%
Health and medical opinion research poll. 2006.
“Do you approve of
therapeutic cloning for
health and medical
research?"
Yes
No
60% 40%
Health and medical opinion research poll. 2006.
June 2007
Community Attitudes to Biotechnology Report on Overall Perceptions of Biotechnology and General
Applications, prepared by Eureka Strategic Research, June 2007
POLLS FROM THE USA
"Do you support or
oppose embryonic stem
cell research?“ (US)
Support
Oppose
Unsure
61%
31%
8%
Accessed at PollingReport.com ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Jan. 16-19, 2007. N=1,000 adults
nationwide. MoE ± 3.
" Do you support or oppose
loosening the current
restrictions on federal funding
for embryonic stem cell
research?“ (US poll)
Support
Oppose
Unsure
55%
38%
7%
Accessed at PollingReport.com ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Jan. 16-19, 2007. N=1,000 adults
nationwide. MoE ± 3.
" Should the government ease
the restrictions on use of federal
money to research embryonic
stem cells, or not?"
Support
Oppose
Unsure
56%
41%
3%
Accessed at PollingReport.com Associated Press-AOL News Poll conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs.
Dec. 19-21, 2006. N=1,004 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.
Public opinion polls from
pre 2005
" Do you approve or disapprove
of stem cell research -- that is,
medical research using tissue from
human embryos?” 2003 Poll
Approve
Disapprove
46%
37%
Not sure
16%
Accessed at PollingReport.com FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. July 15-16, 2003. N=900
registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.
CLONING
" In general, do you think that it is
morally acceptable or morally wrong
to use human cloning technology in
developing new treatments for
disease?" (US 2003)
Acceptable
Not
acceptable
36%
53%
Unsure
11%
Accessed at PollingReport.com Virginia Commonwealth University Life Sciences Survey. Sept. 3-26,
2003. N=1,003 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.
" Do you think that cloning that is
designed specifically to result in the
birth of a human being should be
legal or illegal in the United States?"
(US 2003)
Legal
11%
Illegal
86%
Unsure
3%
Accessed at PollingReport.com CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. Jan. 3-5, 2003. N=1,000 adults
nationwide. MoE ± 3.
" Do you favour or oppose scientific
experimentation on the cloning of human
beings?". US 2002)
Favour
Opposed
17%
77%
Don’t know/ Refused
6%
If "Oppose":
"Is your objection to research on human cloning based more on the belief that
the science is not yet safe enough but could be in the future, or the belief that it
is morally wrong?"
Not safe yet
Morally wrong
Both equally
Other
Dont know/Refused
19%
71%
6%
2%
1%
Accessed at PollingReport.com Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and Pew Forum on Religion &
Public Life survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Feb. 25-March 10, 2002. N=2,002 adults
nationwide. MoE ± 2.5.
" Thinking for a moment about cloning: Do you approve or
disapprove of cloning that is designed specifically to result in the
birth of a human being?" Form A (N=518, MoE ± 5) (US 2002)
Approve
Disapprove
9%
88%
No opinion
3%
" Thinking for a moment about cloning: Do you approve or
disapprove of cloning that is not designed to specifically result in
the birth of a human being, but is designed to aid medical research
that might find treatments for certain diseases?" Form B (N=507,
MoE ± 5) (US 2002)
Approve
54%
Disapprove
No opinion
41%
Accessed at PollingReport.com CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. Nov. 26-27, 2001. Nationwide.
5%
" As you may know, scientists have made advances in
cloning, where they can reproduce a whole animal from a
single cell. Do you think it is acceptable to use cloning to
[see below]?" US 2002)
Acceptable
Not
acceptable
Unsure
29
64
7
23
71
6
Reintroduce extinct species
20
72
8
Reproduce a beloved pet such
as a dog or cat
12
84
4
Reproduce humans
7
89
4
Reproduce endangered
species
Reproduce livestock
Accessed at PollingReport.com FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. Feb. 12-13, 2002. N=900 registered voters
nationwide. MoE ± 3.
" How likely do you think it is that somewhere in the
world a human has already been secretly cloned?“
(US 2002)
%
Very likely
30
Somewhat likely
26
Not very likely
20
Not at all likely
18
Not sure
6
Accessed at PollingReport.com FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. Feb. 12-13, 2002. N=900 registered voters
nationwide. MoE ± 3.
Yes
Agree
Support
Should
Approve
No
Disagree
Oppose
Should not
Do not approve
Don’t know
No opinion
Unsure
Neutral