You are hereScientific Illiteracy and the Partisan Takeover of BiologyA new article in PLoS Biology (April 18, 2006) discusses the state of scientific literacy in the United States, with especial attention to the survey research of Jon D. "The 'Teach the controversy' party's over"
"A mendacious bit of hucksterism" is Robert Camp's description of the "teach the controversy" slogan frequently used to promote the teaching of "intelligent design" in the public schools. And it's not just idle rhetoric. Rather, it's based firmly on the results of a survey that he conducted of the heads of biology departments in colleges and universities around the country. CBS News poll on evolution
Following on the heels of Gallup's latest poll, CBS News recently conducted a poll of public opinion about evolution, creationism, and science education. Public view of creationism and evolution unchanged, says Gallup
A recent article from the Gallup News Service reports on the pollster's latest results concerning public opinion on the evidence for evolution, creationism, and biblical literalism. Because Gallup's polls on public opinion on creationism extend back to 1982, its data are particularly useful. The results are overall consistent with previous polls conducted by Gallup. The Creationists: How Many, Who, and Where?Title: The Creationists: How Many, Who, and Where? Issue: 5 This is a report on an epidemiological inquiry. The morbid condition — so to speak — under study could be variously characterized as a deficit of knowledge or a disease of the intellect, one that involves accepting a theological answer to a historical question. Present means of identifying those afflicted do not provide a clear distinction between these two disabilities or mixtures of them. But of the two most useful bodies of data now available — the Gallup Poll and the General Social Survey (GSS) — one puts the emphasis on theology, the other on knowledge of science. Year: 2004 Date: September-October Page(s): 26–33 This version might differ slightly from the print publication. Ohio Teachers on Teaching Evolution and Counter-Evolutionary Concepts in Biology ClassroomsTitle: Ohio Teachers on Teaching Evolution and Counter-Evolutionary Concepts in Biology Classrooms Issue: 1 The Question*How did the 2002 state curriculum standards debate influence Ohio teachers’ decisions to emphasize evolution and counter-evolutionary concepts in biology classrooms?The ContextYear: 2004 Date: January–February This version might differ slightly from the print publication. Wisconsonites Support Biblical Creationism in School
The Wisconsin Badger Poll reports that of 514 state residents surveyed, 50% of them would support a law requiring "the biblical theory of creation as an alternative to the theory of evolution” according to a story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Jan 26, 2003. Fifty percent said yes, 43% were opposed, and 6% had no opinion. The margin of error was reported to be plus or minus 4 points.
Ohio Scientists' Intelligent Design Poll
A poll of scientists' opinions on "intelligent design", commissioned by the University of Cincinnati and Case Western Reserve University, was presented in October, 2002. Here are the results: Department of Political Science University of Cincinnati By: George Bishop, PhD Professor of Political Science Director Internet Public Opinion Laboratory Department of Political Science University of Cincinnati (513) 556-5078 Survey of Scientists Supports Evolution, Rejects "Intelligent Design"
A survey of Ohio university scientists shows that they overwhelmingly view "intelligent design" as a religious, not a scientific, concept. The survey was conducted by faculty at Case Western Reserve University and the University of Cincinnati, and results were announced at a press conference on October 10. Professor Joseph Koonce, Chair of the Department of Biology at Case Western, issued the following statement:
Creationism and the New Right Agenda: An Opinion SurveyTitle: Creationism and the New Right Agenda: An Opinion Survey Number: 1 Year: 1988 In 1983, while teaching anthropology at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, I conducted a survey of student opinions on specific aspects of "scientific creationist" claims and other New Right issues. Though public interest in the creation-evolution controversy seemed to be higher then than it is now, my recent tabulation of this data produced intriguing results which suggest that public opinion in favor of "scientific creationism" was and is much weaker than usually advertised (even if higher than most scientists and educators would like). Quarter: Winter Page(s): 6–12 Media Type: This version might differ slightly from the print publication. Pages
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