Fun_People Archive
30 Mar
The Journal of Irreproducible Results Takes a Stand on Abortion

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 94 02:01:26 PST
To: Fun_People
Subject: The Journal of Irreproducible Results Takes a Stand on Abortion

[This is just one of the carefully researched and presented articles in the
April issue of the mini-Journal of Irreproducible Results <jir@MIT.EDU>. 
Fortunately, recent changes in the mini-JIR copyright notice have made some
forms of excerpting legal (thank you, Marc).  -psl]

Subject: Apr '94 issue of mini-JIR -- please refrigerate promptly
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The mini-Journal of Irreproducible Results ("mini-JIR")
ISSN 1072-7159
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The Official Electronic mini-Organ of
The Society for Basic Irreproducible Research
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Produced jointly by
The Journal of Irreproducible Results (JIR) and
The MIT Museum
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1994-04-04      Our Stand on Abortion

Where We Stand
With recent advancements in medicine and biology it is now possible to
push back the time of a safe abortion. Because of this, and its impact
on society, it is important that scientists take a stand on exactly how
late an abortion should allowed. We propose 18 years.

                We also commissioned a public opinion survey,
                the results of which are presented here:

                                * * *

                The Abortion Controversy
                A Public Opinion Survey
                by Aaron K. Lish, Ph.D.
                The Institute for Public Acknowledgment

Background
We undertook a definitive survey of American public opinion about the
abortion controversy. Previous attempts to measure the public's views
about abortion have all been flawed or otherwise inadequate. In the
United States, abortion has become an increasingly divisive issue. An
accurate assessment of public opinion could have profound effects on the
country's political and moral climate.

The Survey Question
We surveyed 41,000 adults. The survey consisted of one question:

        Do you support the abortion controversy? (yes or no)

Results of the Survey
We tabulated the responses according to criteria of gender, age,
religious affiliation, and political affiliation.
[A detailed graphical interpretation of the data appears in section
1994-04-12 below.]

        Male:
        13% YES
        76% NO
        11% UNDECIDED

        Female:
        76% YES
        13% NO
        11% UNDECIDED

        Ages 18-50:
        59% YES
        32% NO
        9% UNDECIDED

[Note: In order to conform with recent Supreme Court interpretations of
U. S. laws, we have destroyed all data for the age group 51-64.]

        Ages 65 and above:
        23% YES
        21% NO
        56% UNDECIDED

        Protestant:
        83% YES
        12% NO
        5% UNDECIDED

        Catholic:
        12% YES
        83% NO
        5% UNDECIDED

        Jewish and/or Moslem
        43% YES
        42% NO
        5% UNDECIDED

        Other religeous affiliation, no religious affiliation,
        or illegible:
        3% YES
        3% NO
        94% UNDECIDED

        Republicans:
        32% YES
        62% NO
        4% UNDECIDED

        Democrats:
        62% YES
        32% NO
        4% UNDECIDED

        Independents:
        33% YES
        33% NO
        34% UNDECIDED

        Libertarians:
        98%YES
        2% NO
        0% UNDECIDED

Analysis and Conclusion
The American public is deeply divided on the abortion controversy.

---------------------------
1994-04-11      Yes, please DO make copies! (*)

You have permission to send copies of mini-JIR, or excerpts from it, to
anyone who might be interested. The only limitations are:
A) Please include this section, or in some other way clearly indicate
that the material appeared in mini-JIR and is reprinted with permission.
B) You do NOT have permission to copy this document for commercial
purposes.

The contents of this document are copyright (c) 1994, Marc Abrahams.
For subscription information, send e-mail to:   jir@mit.edu

                                ----------------
The mini-Journal of Irreproducible Results ("mini-JIR")
        Editor: Marc Abrahams (jir@mit.edu)
        Technical Brains: Marilyn Geller (mgeller@mit.edu)
        Associate Editors: Mark Dionne, Stanley Eigen, Jane Patrick
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© 1994 Peter Langston