Results of ordered probit regression models predicting U.S. adult support for embryonic stem cell research.

<p>Note:</p><p>* p<.05.</p><p>** p<.01.</p><p>*** p<.001.</p><p>Respondents were asked: “On the whole, how much do you favor or oppose medical research that uses stem cells from human embryos - do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose this?” Responses are coded in the direction of increasing support. Source: Virginia Commonwealth University Life Sciences Surveys, 2002–2010, N = 8,105. No survey was collected in 2009.</p

Percentage of U.S. adults by partisanship and education who favor embryonic stem cell research, 2002–2010.

<p>Respondents were asked: “On the whole, how much do you favor or oppose medical research that uses stem cells from human embryos - do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose this?” College-educated adults include those with a four-year college degree or higher. Non-college educated adults include those with a two-year associates degree, some college experience, a high school degree, or less. Source: Virginia Commonwealth University Life Sciences Surveys, 2002–2010. No survey was collected in 2009.</p

Dates, sample size, and response rates for VCU Life Sciences Surveys, 2002 to 2010.

<p>Note: Survey data collected by the Virginia Commonwealth University Life Sciences Surveys, 2002–2010. No survey was conducted in 2009. The survey questions were developed jointly by VCU Life Sciences and by the VCU Center for Public Policy. All surveys by the designated survey firms were conducted by either landline or cell phone. The sample of landline and cell telephone numbers was designed so that all residential telephones, including new and unlisted numbers, had a known chance of inclusion. Response rates based on AAPOR RR3 calculation method. The data used in our analysis were weighted to adjust for unequal probabilities of selection due to multiple adults living in the household. In addition, the data are weighted on sex, age, education, race/ethnicity, and region to reflect the demographic composition of the adult population in the U.S. The surveys in 2008 and 2010 were additionally weighted by population density. All percentages reported in the current study's figures and tables are weighted.</p

Percentage of U.S. adults by views on science and society who favor embryonic stem cell research, 2002–2010.

<p>Respondents were asked: “On the whole, how much do you favor or oppose medical research that uses stem cells from human embryos - do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose this?” Source: Virginia Commonwealth University Life Sciences Surveys, 2002–2010. No survey was collected in 2009.</p

Views on science and society as a proportion of U.S adult population and by percentage favoring embryonic stem cell research.

<p>Unique audience segments relative to their views on the social implications of science and society were identified using principle components analysis, oblique rotation. Participants who scored high on scientific optimism and low on scientific reservations were categorized as “Scientific Optimists” (35.9% of respondents). Those who scored high on scientific reservations and low on scientific optimism were categorized as “Scientific Pessimists” (23.3% of sample). Respondents who scored high on both measures were categorized as “Conflicted” (24.6% of sample). Those who scored low on both measures were categorized as “Disengaged” (16.2% of sample). Size of the bubbles for each schema-related audience segment are proportional to the percentage of relevant respondents within the pooled, aggregated data sets (N = 8,105). To measure their views on embryonic stem cell research, respondents were asked: “On the whole, how much do you favor or oppose medical research that uses stem cells from human embryos - do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose this?” Source: Virginia Commonwealth University Life Sciences Surveys, 2002–2010. No survey was collected in 2009.</p

Percentage of U.S. adults by partisanship who favor embryonic stem cell research, 2002–2010.

<p>Respondents were asked: “On the whole, how much do you favor or oppose medical research that uses stem cells from human embryos - do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose this?” Source: Virginia Commonwealth University Life Sciences Surveys, 2002–2010. No survey was collected in 2009.</p

Major characteristics of U.S. adults as segmented by their views on science and society.

<p>Note: All χ² and F tests are significant at p<.01. Source: Virginia Commonwealth University Life Sciences Surveys, 2002–2010, N = 8,105. No survey was collected in 2009.</p

Results of ordered probit regression models testing interactions between education and partisanship and education and science schema.

<p>Note:</p><p>* p<.05.</p><p>** p<.01.</p><p>*** p<.001.</p><p>In testing each of the above interactions, all previous variables displayed in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0088473#pone-0088473-t004" target="_blank">Table 4</a> are controlled for (not shown for clarity). The interactions testing education and partisanship and the interactions testing education and schema were tested independently of each other by entering them as the final variables in separate regressions. Model improvement statistics are calculated relative to the final model shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0088473#pone-0088473-t004" target="_blank">Table 4</a>.</p