Detailed Results For China From Faunalytics’ Study Of BRIC Countries

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Faunalytics recently completed a cross-national comparative study of attitudes toward farmed animals in the U.S. and the BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

A summary of the comparisons between the five countries is available here. This follow-up report provides full tables of results for China. It includes:

• Tables 1-6: An overall breakdown of survey responses for people from China (these can also be found in the main report, but more detail is included here);
• Tables 7-12: A breakdown of survey responses for people from China by gender;
• Tables 13-18: A breakdown of survey responses for people from China by age; and
• Tables 19-24: A breakdown of survey responses for people from China by region.
• Table 25: Survey items in English and Chinese.

Key Findings

Some of the most noteworthy findings from the results for Chinese respondents include:

1. Chinese respondents were far more likely than respondents from any other country to choose neutral options on the scales: In particular, for beliefs about animals, the perception of social norms, and the conflict between low meat prices and animal care. Of the smaller numbers who expressed an opinion, most tended to be in the pro-animal direction. (See main report for details comparing the countries.)
2. While the neutral option was still very common, pro-animal responses prevailed with respect to attitudes about treating farm animals well—as was the case for all countries—and support for animal welfare reforms. The latter received the most support in the North of China.
3. The older generation of Chinese respondents (aged 45+) has more favorable beliefs and attitudes toward farm animals.
4. Unlike respondents from other countries, Chinese respondents’ perceptions of social norms aligned very closely with their own attitudes. Respondents from all four of the other countries surveyed rated their own attitudes as more pro-animal than those of others. Speculatively, Chinese respondents may be more likely to perceive themselves as similar to their fellow citizens because of a greater emphasis on collective identity in Chinese culture versus the cultures of Brazil, Russia, India, or the U.S. (Hofstede, 1983; Hofstede Insights, 2018). This possibility may be useful to advocates in that it suggests that influencing social norms (by drawing attention to any pro-animal norm or trend) may be a particularly powerful strategy in China.

Methodology

The study methodology is described in more detail in the main report. Data were collected in May and June of 2018 from an online representative sample of 1,001 Chinese respondents. The data were weighted to improve their representativeness.

For the results by demographic group, it is important to remember that small differences between groups are likely not meaningful, because they could occur by chance. Estimates of statistical significance—indicating which differences are large enough to be meaningful—are not provided in this report.

In each demographic section, we provide a rule of thumb for interpreting which differences are meaningful, which should be sufficient for most purposes. However, if exact information about significance is required, please contact Faunalytics.

Participants were presented with nine survey items as part of this study. These items, which are shown in English and Chinese at the end of this report, were carefully designed, translated, back-translated, and checked by native speakers to maximize equivalence between countries and languages.

Overall Results for China

The tables below show the results for all Chinese respondents.

Table 1. Beliefs about Animal Suffering in China

Table 2. Attitudes toward Farmed Animal Welfare in China

Table 3. Perceived Social Norms in China

Table 4. Support for Welfare Reform in China

Table 5. Diet in China

Table 6. Diet Change in China

Results by Gender in China

The tables below show the results for Chinese respondents by gender. Note that small differences between men’s and women’s responses may not be meaningfully different. In particular, differences of less than 5% may be due to chance.

Table 7. Beliefs about Animal Suffering by Gender (China)

Table 8. Attitudes toward Farmed Animal Welfare by Gender (China)

Table 9. Perceived Social Norms by Gender (China)

Table 10. Support for Welfare Reform by Gender (China)

Table 11. Diet in the Past Year by Gender (China)

Table 12. Diet Change in the Last Three Months by Gender (China)

Results by Age in China

The tables below show the results for Chinese respondents by age group. Note that small differences between age groups’ responses may not be meaningfully different. In particular, differences of less than 10% may be due to chance.

There were fewer than 50 respondents aged 55+, so that age group is excluded from the tables. Such a small sample does not represent a wide enough cross-section of the population to be considered statistically reliable.

Table 13. Beliefs about Animal Suffering by Age (China)

Table 14. Attitudes toward Farmed Animal Welfare by Age (China)

Table 15. Perceived Social Norms in Country by Age (China)

Table 16. Support for Welfare Reform by Age (China)

Table 17. Diet in the Past Year by Age (China)

Table 18. Diet Change in the Last Three Months by Age (China)

Results by Region in China

The tables below show the results for Chinese respondents by region. Note that small differences between regions’ responses may not be meaningfully different. In particular, differences of less than 10% may be due to chance.

There were fewer than 50 respondents from the West of China so that region is excluded from the tables. Such a small sample does not represent a wide enough cross-section of the population to be considered statistically reliable.

Table 19. Beliefs about Animal Suffering by Region (China)

Table 20. Attitudes toward Farmed Animal Welfare by Region (China)

Table 21. Perceived Social Norms in Country by Region (China)

Table 22. Support for Welfare Reform by Region (China)

Table 23. Diet in the Past Year by Region (China)

Table 24. Diet Change in the Last Three Months by Region (China)

Survey Instrument

The table below shows the nine items included in the survey as they were written in Chinese.

Table 25. Survey Items in English and Chinese