In the year 2008 1,400 people were asked this question in the GSS:
Scientists should be allowed to do research that causes pain and injury to animals like dogs and chimpanzees if it produces new information about human health problems. (Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree?)
(variable ANSCITST)
I was curious because I ran into some stuff on pro-life sites today about how animal rights activist don’t oppose abortion, and how hypocritical that is. So naturally I was curious about how attitudes varied on that issue.
Allow animal testing which might case pain
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Yes to abortion on demand
8
31
39
22
No to abortion on demand
7
32
39
23
What the results above show is that there is almost no difference in attitudes toward animal research when you vary attitudes toward abortion on demand. In other words, 22 percent of pro-choice people oppose such research strongly, while 23 percent of pro-life people do. How does this vary by demographic?
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Male
8
44
34
14
Female
4
23
42
31
Liberal
6
34
38
22
Moderate
5
32
38
25
Conservative
7
35
38
20
White
6
31
39
24
Black
7
41
36
16
No College Degree
6
32
38
24
College Degree
7
36
38
19
Stupid (WORDSUM 0-4)
8
33
38
22
Average (WORDSUM 5-8)
6
34
36
25
Smart (WORDSUM 9-10)
13
29
41
16
Age 18-35
4
34
40
22
Age 36-65
7
32
37
24
Age 66 and up
8
33
39
20
Protestant
6
35
39
20
Catholic
7
32
38
24
Jewish
12
29
36
23
No Religion
7
31
36
26
Atheist & agnostic
9
36
33
21
Theist
6
33
38
23
Bible Word of God
5
36
39
20
Bible Inspired Word
5
32
39
24
Bible Book of Fables
10
32
35
22
