Circus Animals Survey
Ipsos Statement Regarding Animal Defenders International (ADI) Survey on Circus Animals
14 March 2006
MORI conducted a survey of public opinion on behalf of ADI in October 2005, regarding views towards performing animals in circuses. The survey comprised a nationally-representative sample of 1,007 people across Great Britain, interviewed by telephone.
The results were posted on our web site -- www.ipsos-mori.com -- for general information. Last month, we received a complaint from a member of the public, claiming that the question was biased by the wording of a preceding question.
The results were removed whilst a similar question was run among a comparable sample -- without the preceding question -- to judge the effects of the claimed bias.
In the event, the two sets of results proved to be very similar -- and so the hypothesis of bias was not proven. We are therefore re-posting the ADI survey results, and are happy to confirm that MORI stands by them.
Topline Results
- 1,007 respondents aged 16+ across Great Britain
- Interviews carried out by telephone
- Fieldwork conducted between 30 September - 2 October 2005
- Results based on all (1,007)
- Results are weighted to the known GB population profile
- An asterisk (*) denotes a finding of less than 0.5%, but greater than zero
- Where figures do not add up to 100%, this is due to multiple coding or computer rounding
Q1 I'm going to read out a statement about circuses and I'd like you to tell me to what extent you agree or disagree. Do you strongly / tend to agree, neither agree nor disagree, or strongly / tend to disagree?
To train circus animals to perform effectively it is necessary to whip or beat them?
| Category | |
|---|---|
| % | |
| Strongly agree | 2 |
| Tend to agree | 4 |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 2 |
| Tend to disagree | 10 |
| Strongly disagree | 81 |
| No opinion / don't know | 2 |
| Agree | 6 |
| Disagree | 90 |
Q2 I'm going to read out some statements about circuses and I'd like you to tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each. Do you strongly / tend to agree, neither agree nor disagree, or strongly / tend to disagree?
| The use of performing animals in circuses should be banned | The use of wild animals in circuses should be banned | |
|---|---|---|
| % | % | |
| Strongly agree | 47 | 66 |
| Tend to agree | 18 | 14 |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 7 | 3 |
| Tend to disagree | 17 | 8 |
| Strongly disagree | 7 | 7 |
| No opinion / don't know | 3 | 2 |
| Agree | 65 | 80 |
| Disagree | 25 | 15 |
