EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 2008 MILWAUKEE PUBLIC RADIO POLL
Survey of Southeastern Wisconsin Residents: Stem Cell Research Conducted by the UWM Center for Urban Initiatives & Research
Background:
Poll conducted by telephone September 2008 using Random Digit Dialing.
398 interviews were conducted with adults in randomly selected households in seven counties in southeastern Wisconsin: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha.
NOTE: The first question asked of eligible respondents was how closely they followed the issue of stem cell research. Interviews were terminated with respondents who indicated they followed the issue “not at all,” (n=63). Thus the population from which the sample is drawn comprises southeastern Wisconsin adult residents who report they follow the issue of stem cell research at least somewhat.
The sampling margin of error is +/- 5% at the 95% confidence level.
Respondents were introduced to the survey with the following statement: On September 22, 2008, a World Stem Cell Summit will begin in Madison. The event will bring together prominent researchers, advocates, investors and industry leaders to advance stem cell science.
Findings:
Support For Stem Cell Research
Relatively few respondents (less than 9%) indicated they followed the issue of stem cell research very closely, with most (60%) indicating they followed the issue somewhat closely.
A large majority of respondents (93%) agree that stem cell therapy has great potential to treat such diseases as cancer, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injuries in new ways, with 41% of respondents strongly agreeing.
Just less than a majority of respondents (49.7%) favor the use of embryos in stem cell research, with nearly 40% opposed. About 11% had no opinion on this question. Embryonic stem cell research was opposed by majorities of Catholics, other non-Protestant Christians and respondents who attend religious services once per week or more.
Only about a quarter of respondents indicated they were “very clear” on the difference between stem cells that come from human embryos and stem cells that come from adults.
A majority of respondents (59%) indicated that conducting stem cell research that might result in new medical cures is more important than not destroying the potential life of human embryos involved in this research. About 24% of respondents who oppose embryonic stem cell research indicated that conducting stem cell research is more important than not destroying human embryos involved in this research.
About 89% of respondents believe it is at least somewhat important for scientists to try to create stem cells that do not come from human embryos, with 56% indicating it was very important.
Respondents were asked whether they had a personal stake in this issue. Specifically, they were asked: Do you or anyone you care about suffer from a disease or condition that you hope will become curable as a result of stem cell research? Perhaps somewhat unexpectedly, respondents with a personal stake in the issue were not significantly different in their support of stem cell research than respondents with no personal stake.
Other than religiosity, demographic and background characteristics such as gender, educational attainment or age were not related to support for stem cell research in any patterned or systematic fashion.
Economic Benefits
A large majority of respondents (88%) agree that stem cell science and technology has the potential to produce economic benefits and job growth in Wisconsin, with 38% strongly agreeing.
A large majority of respondents (86%) also agree that Wisconsin could become a world-wide leader in stem cell research and in the stem cell industry, with 34% strongly agreeing.
And a large majority of respondents 74% agree that an emerging stem cell industry in Wisconsin would help stop the state’s “brain drain,” although only 18% strongly agree.
In general, support for stem cell research is related to belief in the potential economic benefits of stem cell research: Greater support is associated with stronger agreement that economic benefits could occur.
Funding For Stem Cell Research
A majority of respondents (64%) believe that the federal government should remove restrictions on federal funding of stem cell research (20%) or ease the current restrictions (44%) to allow more stem cell research. About 24% of respondents believe that the federal government should keep the current restrictions in place, while 9% believe the federal government should not fund stem cell research at all.
Even though the federal government has limited funding for research that uses stem cells obtained from human embryos, a majority of respondents (62%) favors investment of state dollars in that research, with 16% strongly in favor.
Respondents who are more supportive of stem cell research are also more supportive of reduced federal restrictions and Wisconsin funding for embryonic stem cell research.
Respondents who attend religious services once per week or more are more likely to support current federal restrictions or to oppose federal funding altogether. Similarly, opposition to State of Wisconsin funding for stem cell research is greater among those who attend religious services once per week or more. Unexpectedly, among respondents who attend religious services frequently a slim majority (50.7%) favors Wisconsin investment in embryonic stem cell research.
