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January 26, 2006

Brits almost as ignorant as Americans

From BBC:
The survey was conducted by Ipsos MORI for the BBC's Horizon series.

Its latest programme, A War on Science, looks into the attempt to introduce intelligent design into science classes in the US.

Over 2000 participants took part in the survey, and were asked what best described their view of the origin and development of life:

  • 22% chose creationism
  • 17% opted for intelligent design
  • 48% selected evolution theory
and the rest did not know.

Intelligent design is the concept that certain features of living things are so complex that their existence is better explained by an "intelligent process" than natural selection.

Andrew Cohen, editor of Horizon, commented: "I think that this poll represents our first introduction to the British public's views on this issue.

"Most people would have expected the public to go for evolution theory, but it seems there are lots of people who appear to believe in an alternative theory for life's origins."

When given a choice of three theories, people were asked which ones they would like to see taught in science lessons in British schools:

  • 44% said creationism should be included
  • 41% intelligent design
  • 69% wanted evolution as part of the science curriculum.
Participants over 55 were less likely to choose evolution over other groups.

Outstanding!

Posted by ekr at January 26, 2006 7:16 AM | Filed under:

Comments

Interesting. I wonder what the results would have been if they had put "evolution that does not rule out the existance of a diety".

Posted by: Grumpy at January 26, 2006 10:49 AM

It's terrifying, isn't it? Sadly I can't find the original tables for the poll on MORI's site -- I'll see if I can find them elsewhere....

Posted by: Chris Lightfoot at January 27, 2006 1:41 AM

MORI have now published the tables, and there's really nothing dodgy or ambiguous in the wording of the questions. So no excuse at all.

Posted by: Chris Lightfoot at January 31, 2006 6:09 AM