Animals In Medical Research Survey
Examines perceptions of “animal rights” groups (including PETA) by asking respondents to provide a rating of “favorable” or “unfavorable.”
Survey questions ask “What type of organizations, groups or charities do you give money to…health organizations like the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society, environmental groups like the Nature Conservancy or the Sierra Club, women’s groups, like the National Organization of Women, pro-choice or pro-life groups, humanitarian organizations like Habitat for Humanity, or animal rights groups like PETA or the Humane Society?”
- Health organizations (72%)
- Environmental Groups (12%)
- Women’s groups (7%)
- Pro-choice or pro-life groups (8%)
- Humanitarian organizations (17%)
- Animal rights groups (22%)
- Other (13%)
This question was asked to the number of total survey respondents who stated they gave money to groups (66%). Respondents could select more than one answer.
“Would you continue to give money to an animal rights group if you learned that it opposes using animals in medical research?”
- Yes (52%)
- No (32%)
- Don’t know (17%)
“How often do you donate money to animal rights organizations?”
- More than 4 times a year (3%)
- 4 times a year (12%)
- 3 times a year (13%)
- twice a year (24%)
- Once a year (44%)
- Don’t know (4%)
This question was asked of those who said they give money to animal rights organizations (18%).
“Is your average donation to animal rights organizations more than or less than $50?”
- More than $50 (30%)
- Less than $50 (69%)
- Don’t know (1%)
This question was asked of those who said they give money to animal rights organizations and they answered how many times a year they donated (96% of those who gave money to animal rights organizations, 17% of sample).
“Do you have a [level of favorable] impression of…animal rights groups?”
- Very favorable (21%)
- Somewhat favorable (26%)
- Somewhat unfavorable (16%)
- Very unfavorable (14%)
- Never heard of (5%)
- No opinion (18%)
“Do you have a [level of favorable] impression of…People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, also known as PETA?”
- Very favorable (14%)
- Somewhat favorable (2%)
- Somewhat unfavorable (8%)
- Very unfavorable (12%)
- Never heard of (28%)
- No opinion (15%)
“(I’m going to read you some pairs of statement. As I read each pair, tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own views — even if neither is exactly right.) The objectives of the animal rights movement are the same as the animal welfare movement, that is, both equate human life with animal life, or the objectives of the animal rights movement differ from those of the animal welfare movement. Animal rights groups equate the lives of humans and animals, which different from the animal welfare groups goal of humane living conditions for animals. Do you feel strongly about that, or not so strongly?”
- The objectives the animal rights movement are the same as the animal welfare movement, that is, both equate human life with animal life, or the objectives of the animal rights movement differ from those of the animal welfare movement strongly. (8%)
- The objectives of the animal rights movement are the same as the animal welfare movement, that is, both equate human life with animal life, or the objectives of the animal rights movement differ from those of the animal welfare movement–not strongly. (12%)
- Animal rights groups equate the lives of humans and animals, which is different from the animal welfare groups goal of humane living conditions for animals–strongly. (22%)
- Animal rights groups equate the lives of humans and animals, which is different from the animal welfare groups goal of humane living conditions for animals — not strongly (21%)
- Both (4%)
- Neither (2%)
- Don’t’ know/refused (31%)
“(I’m going to read you some pairs of statements. As I read each pair, tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own views–even if neither is exactly right.) Animal rights group like PETA often go too far and are extreme. Animal rights group like PETA often whistle blow the abuses of animals. Do you feel strongly about that, or not so strongly?”
- Animal rights groups like PETA often go too far and are extreme, strongly (26%)
- Animal rights groups like PETA often go to far and are extreme, not strongly (19%)
- Animal rights groups like PETA often whistle blow the abuses of animals, strongly (14%)
- Animal rights groups like PETA often whistle blow the abuses of animals, not strongly (14%)
- Both (7%)
- Neither (1%);
- Don’t know/refused (19%)
“(Sometimes during the course of a survey, people change their minds. Please tell me whether you have a [level of favorable] impression of these following groups.)…Animal rights groups.”
- Very favorable (18%)
- Somewhat favorable (26%)
- Somewhat unfavorable (19%)
- Very unfavorable (19%)
- Never heard of (4%)
- No opinion (13%)
“[Do you agree with the following statement…]. The ultimate goal of animal rights groups is to abolish all use of animals for humans’ benefits. (Is that strongly agree/disagree or not so strongly agree/disagree)?”
- Agree strongly (23%)
- Agree not strongly (21%)
- Disagree strongly (13%)
- Disagree not strongly (19%)
- Neither/Don’t know (24%)
“If you had to make a decision between supporting medical research and supporting animal rights, which one would you pick?”
- Support medical research (69%)
- Support animal rights (16%)
- Both (9%)
- Don’t know (5%)
“How worried are you by that [medical research is being threatened by animal rights activists)?”
- Very worried (13%)
- Somewhat worried (43%)
- Not too worried (31%)
- Not at all worried (11%)
- Don’t know (2%)
“Would you continue to give money to an animal rights group if you learned that it opposes using animals in medical research?” (Asked of Form B half sample)
- Yes (52%)
- No (32%)
- Don’t know (17%)
[From the pairs of statements read, tell whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own views.] “Animal rights organizations protect animals for the wrong reasons, which ends up hurting medical research of humans. Animal rights organizations are right to crusade on behalf of animals to protect them from being used for frivolous research. Do you feel strongly about that or not so strongly?”
- Animal rights organizations protect animals for the wrong reasons, which ends up hurting medical research for humans–strongly (24%)
- Animal rights organizations protect animals for the wrong reasons, which ends up hurting medical research for humans–not strongly (23%)
- Animal rights organizations are right to crusade on behalf of animals to protect them from being used for frivolous research–strongly (21%)
- Animal rights organizations are right to crusade on behalf of animals to protect them from being used for frivolous research–not strongly (18%)
- Both (6%)
- Neither (3%)
- Don’t know/refused (5%)
“The animal rights movement needs to use outlandish tactics to prevent medical testing on animals. Although firebombing medical research facilities may be seem extreme, animals must be rescued from labs that torture them. Animal rights groups must do anything to stop medical research that uses animals…”
- Very convincing (11%)
- Somewhat convincing (14%)
- Not too convincing
- Not at all convincing (50%)
- Don’t know (4%)
“Animal rights groups have campaigned against children’s charities such as the March of Dimes, Boys Town National Research Hospital…just because they support the use of animals in medical research. These groups are out of the mainstream…” (asked of Form A half sample)
- Very convincing (34%)
- Somewhat convincing (29%)
- Not too convincing (19%)
- Not at all convincing (14%)
- Don’t know (5%)
“Radical animal rights groups continue to stall medical progress and use extreme measures. Their tactics range from firebombing medical research facilities to trying to block vital NASA life science researching space aimed at helping women with osteoporosis and anemia. Animal rights groups have no business interfering with research that will improve the health of millions…”
- Very convincing (26%)
- Somewhat convincing (32%)
- Not too convincing (13%)
- Not at all convincing (23%)
- Don’t’ know (6%)
“If you had to make a decision between supporting medical research on women’s health and supporting animal rights, which one would you pick?”
- Support medical research (65%)
- Support animal rights (17%)
- Both (9%)
- Neither (1%)
- Don’t know (8%)