Animal Experimentation Study

Ipsos has asked the general public about their views on animal experimentation since 1999. The latest survey was conducted on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in December 2008.

This study is the sixth in a series examining trends in public attitudes towards the use of animals in research. The first study from which trends have been examined was carried out on behalf of the Medical Research Council (in June-September 1999), with the second and third such studies being on behalf of CMP, the Coalition for Medical Progress (in 2002 and 2005), and the fourth and fifth on behalf of the Department for Trade and Industry in 2006, and BERR (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) in 2007.

In March 1999, MORI carried out a study examining public attitudes to animal experimentation generally, and experiments involving mice or monkeys, causing no pain, severe pain, or death [see notes].

Notes

1. New Scientist, 22 May 1999, pps 26-31; Worcester, R., "Science and society: what scientists and the public can learn from each other: essays on science and technology from the Royal Institution", chapter in Cosmic Rays, Catlow and Greenfield (Eds), pps 98-160.

• Download the Views on Animal Experimentation report

Technical details

Ipsos conducted the interviews among a representative sample of 1,010 GB adults aged 16 or over. Interviews were carried out face-to-face, in-home in 183 constituency-based sampling points throughout Great Britain between 11-16 December 2008.