From: allenroy (allenroy@peoplepc.com)
Date: Tue Sep 09 2003 - 19:44:58 EDT
Zogby International
Views Of Texas Residents On Teaching Evolution
Submitted by:
Zogby International
John Zogby, President and CEO
John Bruce, Vice President and Systems Administrator
Rebecca Wittman, Vice President and Managing Editor
Joseph Zogby, Writer
August 28, 2003
Table Of Contents
Subject
I. Methodology and Sample Characteristics
II. Narrative Analysis
Tables
1. Applying Standards To Textbooks
I. Methodology and Sample Characteristics
Methodology
Zogby International conducted interviews of 601 adults chosen at random
in Texas. All calls were made from Zogby International headquarters in
Utica, N.Y., from Monday, August 25 to Wednesday, August 27, 2003. The
margin of error is +/- 4.1%. Slight weights were added to region, age,
race, and gender to more accurately reflect the population. Margins of
error are higher in sub-groups.
Sample Characteristics Frequency Valid Percent*
Sample size 601 100
Dallas 96 16
Houston 132 22
West 66 11
Central 138 23
South 36 6
East 132 22
18-29 147 25
30-49 246 42
50-64 115 19
65+ 85 14
18-24 85 14
25-34 128 22
35-54 224 38
55-69 107 18
70+ 49 8
Did not answer age 8 --
White 326 55
Hispanic 187 31
African American 70 12
Asian/Pacific 6 1
Other/mixed 6 1
Did not answer race 7 --
Male 290 48
Female 311 52
* Numbers have been rounded to the nearest percent and might not total
100.
II. Narrative Analysis
1. Are you the parent or guardian of a child currently attending public
school in Texas?
Yes 34%
No 66%
One-third of the sample are parents or guardians of children currently
attending public schools in Texas. Higher percentages of
parents/guardians are found among 30-49 year-olds (57%), African
Americans (51%), residents of the Central Region (42%), and women (38%).
2. The state board of education is currently deciding which biology
textbooks should be approved for use in public schools in Texas. Which
of the following two statements comes closer to your own opinion?
A: The state board of education should approve biology textbooks that
teach only Darwin's theory of evolution and the scientific evidence that
supports it.
B: The state board of education should approve biology textbooks that
teach Darwin's theory of evolution, but also the scientific evidence
against it.
Statement A 16%
Statement B 75%
Not sure 9%
By nearly a five-to-one margin, people are more likely to agree with
Statement B (75%) than Statement A (16%). Approximately one in ten are
not sure (9%).
Two-thirds or more of people within almost every sub-group agree with
Statement B – that the state board of education should approve biology
textbooks that teach Darwin's theory of evolution, but also the
scientific evidence against it. Among the most likely are 83% of 18-29
year-olds and residents of the East Region.
Those who are more likely to agree with Statement A – that the state
board of education should approve biology textbooks that teach only
Darwin's theory of evolution and the scientific evidence that supports
it – include just over one-fifth of seniors 65 and older and residents
of the West Region.
3 – 4. I will read you two statements. Please tell me if you agree or
disagree with each one.
Table 1. Applying Standards to Textbooks
3. Texas law requires that textbooks be (quote) “free from factual
errors.” Should the state board of education apply this standard to how
biology textbooks present Darwin’s theory of evolution?
Agree, Disagree, Not sure
71%, 20%, 9%
4. Texas law requires students to analyze, review, and critique
scientific explanations, including hypotheses and theories, as to their
strengths and weaknesses using scientific evidence and information.
Should the state board of education apply this standard to how evolution
is presented in textbooks?
Agree, Disagree, Not sure
82%, 14%, 5%
Large majorities agree that the state board of education should apply
both of these standards to textbooks. One-fifth to one in seven
disagrees with each.
Three-fifths or more of people in most sub-groups agree that biology
textbooks presenting Darwin’s theory of evolution be free from factual
errors. The most likely to agree include residents of the South (88%)
and West (79%), parents/guardians of children in public schools (79%),
Hispanics (81%), and approximately three-fourths of 18-49 year-olds.
Even higher percentages – three-fourths or more of people in most
sub-groups – agree that the state board of education should apply Texas
law to how evolution is presented in textbooks. Among the most likely to
agree are close to nine in ten Dallas residents (90%) and residents of
the South Region (87%), 18-29 year-olds (89%) and 30-49 year-olds (86%),
and Hispanics (87%).
5. Which of the following two statements comes closer to your own
opinion?
A: Biology teachers should teach only Darwin's theory of evolution and
the scientific evidence that supports it.
B: Biology teachers should teach Darwin's theory of evolution, but also
the scientific evidence against it.
Statement A 18%
Statement B 76%
Not sure 6%
Mirroring closely the results from Question 2, respondents are more
likely to agree with Statement B (Biology teachers should teach Darwin's
theory of evolution, but also the scientific evidence against it) than
with Statement A (Biology teachers should teach only Darwin's theory of
evolution and the scientific evidence that supports it).
Seventy percent or more of people in almost every sub-group agree with
Statement B. Those more likely to agree include 18-29 year-olds (80%)
and residents of the South (87%) and East (85%) regions.
Among the most likely to agree with Statement A are Dallas residents
(26%), seniors 65 and older (23%), African Americans (22%), and more
parents/guardians of children in public schools (22%) than adults who
are not parents/guardians of children in public schools (16%).
6. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly
disagree with the following statement: “When Darwin's theory of
evolution is taught in school, students should also be able to learn
about scientific evidence that points to an intelligent design of life.”
Agree 84%
Strongly agree 64%
Somewhat agree 20%
Disagree 12%
Somewhat disagree 5%
Strongly disagree 7%
Not sure 4%
A vast majority of adults (84%) agrees that in addition to teaching
Darwin’s theory of evolution, students should also be able to learn
about scientific evidence that points to an intelligent design of life.
This includes nearly two in three (64%) who strongly agree.
Approximately one in eight (12%) strongly or somewhat disagrees.
A majority in every sub-group strongly agrees. The most likely to agree
include 18-29 year-olds (89%) and Hispanics (87%).
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