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 agreeAgreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree
Yes to abortion on demand8313922
No to abortion on demand7323923
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 agreeAgreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree
Male8443414
Female4234231
Liberal6343822
Moderate5323825
Conservative7353820
White6313924
Black7413616
No College Degree6323824
College Degree7363819
Stupid (WORDSUM 0-4)8333822
Average (WORDSUM 5-8)6343625
Smart (WORDSUM 9-10)13294116
Age 18-354344022
Age 36-657323724
Age 66 and up8333920
Protestant6353920
Catholic7323824
Jewish12293623
No Religion7313626
Atheist & agnostic9363321
Theist6333823
Bible Word of God5363920
Bible Inspired Word5323924
Bible Book of Fables10323522
