MORI 'Use Of Animals In Medical Research' Survey 2005

Findings of a MORI research study on behalf of the Coalition for Medical Progress (CMP) show that 75% of the GB population can accept animal experimentation so long as it is for medical purposes. A similar proportion (76%) can accept animal experimentation as long as there is no unnecessary suffering to the animals. 72% of adults agree with animal experimentation for all types of medical research where there is no alternative, and 53% can accept animal research only for life-threatening diseases. 89% of those surveyed agreed with one or more of these four statements.

Fewer respondents in the survey now report a lack of trust for the regulatory systems in place, compared with previous surveys conducted in 1999 for the Medical Research Council, and in 2002 for the CMP. In 1999, 65% of people agreed with the statement "I have a lack of trust in the regulatory system about animal research". By 2002, this had fallen to 50% and in 2005 to 36%. Furthermore, the proportion actively disagreeing with this statement has increased from 11% (in 1999), to 19% (in 2002), to 37% in 2005.

In 1999, 29% said that they trusted scientists not to cause unnecessary suffering to the animals being experimented on. In 2002 this figure had risen to 39%, and in 2005 it is 52%. The corresponding figures for the proportions who disagree with this statement are 56% (in 1999), 44% (in 2002), and 31% in 2005.

52% of participants expect that the rules in Britain on experimentation are well enforced, compared to 22% who think they are not. The agreement figure has increased from 29% in 1999 and 40% in 2002; and the disagree figure has fallen from 41% in 1999 and 29% in 2002.

Technical details

The MORI/CMP 2005 survey was conducted among a representative sample of 956 GB adults aged 15 or over. Interviews were carried out face-to-face, in-home at 195 sampling points throughout Great Britain between the 20-24 January 2005.

The 2002 MORI/CMP survey interviewed a representative sample of 1,023 GB adults aged 15 or over. Again, these were conducted face-to-face, in-home at 148 sampling points throughout Great Britain between 8-24 April 2002. Booster surveys were also conducted in Scotland and Wales between 17-29 May 2002 among a further 102 adults aged 15 or over.

The MORI survey conducted in 1999 for the Medical Research Council interviewed a representative sample of 1,014 GB adults aged 15 or over at 149 sampling points throughout Great Britain. Interviews were conducted face-to-face and in-home between 1-26 September 1999