Harris Interactive Study Reveals Large Majority Believes Stem Cell Research Should be Allowed

Rochester, NY, July 25, 2001—As President Bush prepares to announce his inevitably controversial decision on the federal funding of stem cell research, he knows that his decision is almost certain to annoy powerful forces on one or the other side of this issue. Stem cell research is opposed by many Right-to-Life, anti-abortion advocates – and Pope John Paul has just reminded the president of the Catholic Church's opposition. On the other hand, it is supported by most scientists, medical researchers and sixty-one Senators, including the president's friend, Tennessee Senator (and Dr.) Bill Frist. The president is on record as having thought (and listened) long and hard on this issue. If he decides not to allow federally funded stem cell research, he will please his most conservative supporters on the Religious Right, many of whom care deeply about this issue. But, as the data suggest, he will disappoint most Americans.

This 33^rd issue of The Harris Poll, a Harris Interactive survey conducted by telephone among a nationwide cross section of 1,011 adults between July 12 and 16, 2001, finds that a clear 61% to 21% majority of Americans – when asked – say that they think stem cell research should be allowed.

Furthermore, substantial majorities of the public reject two strong arguments against stem cell research and agree with two statements supporting it. Even more significant, politically, majorities or clear pluralities, of several key groups, which tend to be more pro-life than the public as a whole and tend to be supporters of the president, all favor stem cell research.

Key findings of this poll include:

• Two-thirds of the public (68%) have seen, read or heard about the debate on the use of stem cells in medical research. They are overwhelmingly supportive of stem cell research (by 63% to 22%). Almost as many of those who have not seen read or heard about the debate on the use of stem cells in medical research (by 56% to 20%) also say they favor it, when asked—and they may not have given it any prior thought.
• A large majority of Catholics (61% to 24%) and substantial pluralities of born-again Christians (50% to 29%) and Republicans (49% to 33%) all favor allowing stem cell research. Much larger majorities of Democrats and independents support it.
• An even larger majority (72% to 21%) of the public believes stem cell research should be allowed if "the parents of the embryo give their permission, and the embryo would otherwise be destroyed."
• Majorities also reject two arguments used by some opponents. They disagree (60% to 32%) that "allowing any medical research using stem cells from human embryos should be forbidden because it is unethical and immoral." And, they disagree (53% to 40%) that stem cell research "comes too close to allowing scientists to play God."

Humphrey Taylor is the Chairman of The Harris Poll, Harris Interactive.

TABLE 1

SEEN, HEARD, READ ABOUT STEM CELL RESEARCH

"Have you seen, heard or read anything about the debate on whether to allow the use of stem cells from human embryos to be used in medical research?"

Base: All Adults

TABLE 2

SHOULD STEM CELL RESEARCH BE ALLOWED?

"Stem cells comes from embryos left over from invitro fertilization, which are not used and are normally destroyed. Many medical researchers want to use them to develop treatments, or to prevent diseases, such as diabetes, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. On balance, do you think this research should or should not be allowed?

Base: All Adults

TABLE 3

AGREE/DISAGREE WITH 4 STATEMENTS ABOUT STEM CELL RESEARCH

"Please indicate whether you tend to agree or disagree with the following statements."

Base: All Adults

Methodology

This issue of The Harris Poll was conducted by telephone within the United States between July 12-16, 2001, among a nationwide cross section of 1,011 adults. Figures for age, sex, race, education, number of adults and number of voice/telephone lines in the household were weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population.

In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a statistical precision of plus or minus 3 percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult population had been polled with complete accuracy. Unfortunately, there are several other possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. They include refusals to be interviewed (non-response), question wording and question order, interviewer bias, weighting by demographic control data and screening (e.g., for likely voters). It is difficult or impossible to quantify the errors that may result from these factors.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

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