Portraits of American Life Study
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The PALS seeks to understand the impact of religion in everyday life, and ultimately the connections between religious change and other forms of change among diverse individuals and families over the course of their lives.
Results & Summaries

Moral/Political Attitudes

  All frequencies weighted by PAWT2


Do you believe that each of the following is morally wrong or not a moral issue? Having an abortion when the fetus is old enough to survive on its own outside the mother's womb. Would you say that is always morally wrong, usually morally wrong, sometimes morally wrong, never morally wrong, or not a moral issue? (MA_1)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused21.8
-4) Don't know271
1) Always morally wrong147456.6
2) Usually morally wrong44817.2
3) Sometimes morally wrong36814.1
4) Never morally wrong371.4
5) Not a moral issue1756.7
6) Decide on case-by-case basis (Vol.)562.1
Missing2 
TOTAL2606100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Destroying human embryos if doing so helps scientists find cures for diseases. (MA_2)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused16.6
-4) Don't know642.5
1) Always morally wrong82531.7
2) Usually morally wrong31412
3) Sometimes morally wrong55721.4
4) Never morally wrong34313.2
5) Not a moral issue41916.1
6) Decide on case-by-case basis (Vol.)682.6
Missing2 
TOTAL2606100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Creating a baby that is a clone of another person. (MA_3)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused14.5
-4) Don't know552.1
1) Always morally wrong171965.9
2) Usually morally wrong28310.8
3) Sometimes morally wrong2218.5
4) Never morally wrong542.1
5) Not a moral issue2278.7
6) Decide on case-by-case basis (Vol.)361.4
Missing2 
TOTAL2609100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Using genetic engineering, that is changing a person's DNA or genes, to create a baby that is smarter, stronger, or better looking. (MA_4)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused9.3
-4) Don't know461.8
1) Always morally wrong179768.9
2) Usually morally wrong28911.1
3) Sometimes morally wrong2138.2
4) Never morally wrong532
5) Not a moral issue1816.9
6) Decide on case-by-case basis (Vol.)19.7
Missing2 
TOTAL2607100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Viewing pornography. (MA_5)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused4.2
-4) Don't know12.5
1) Always morally wrong144855.5
2) Usually morally wrong34313.1
3) Sometimes morally wrong39715.2
4) Never morally wrong773
5) Not a moral issue30711.8
6) Decide on case-by-case basis (Vol.)21.8
Missing2 
TOTAL2609100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Do you believe that each of the following should be legal or should not be legal? Destroying human embryos if doing so helps scientists find cures for diseases. (MA_6)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused321.2
-4) Don't know783
1) Legal104440
2) Not legal113443.5
3) Legal in most cases (Vol.)582.2
4) Legal in a few cases (Vol.)471.8
5) Must be decided on a case-by-case basis (Vol.)2158.2
Missing2 
TOTAL2608100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Do you believe that each of the following should be legal or should not be legal? Creating a baby that is a clone of another person. (MA_7)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused21.8
-4) Don't know481.8
1) Legal29811.4
2) Not legal212781.6
3) Legal in most cases (Vol.)13.5
4) Legal in a few cases (Vol.)15.6
5) Must be decided on a case-by-case basis (Vol.)853.3
Missing2 
TOTAL2607100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Do you believe that each of the following should be legal or should not be legal? Using genetic engineering, that is changing a person's DNA or genes, to create a baby that is smarter, stronger, or better looking. (MA_8)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused20.8
-4) Don't know522
1) Legal35713.7
2) Not legal207779.6
3) Legal in most cases (Vol.)15.6
4) Legal in a few cases (Vol.)16.6
5) Must be decided on a case-by-case basis (Vol.)712.7
Missing2 
TOTAL2608100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Do you personally believe that abortion should be legal under . . . (MA_9)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused9.3
-4) Don't know14.5
1) Almost all circumstances31412
2) Most circumstances32612.5
3) Some circumstances67025.7
4) Only extreme circumstances73428.1
5) Under no circumstances40015.3
6) Must decide on case-by-case basis/can't say1415.4
Missing2 
TOTAL2608100.0
[ Analyze results ]
How legally restricted do you think pornography should be in our society? (MA_10)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused7.3
-4) Don't know271
1) Much more restricted than it is now141554.3
2) Somewhat more than it is now51119.6
3) The same as it is now43316.6
4) Somewhat less than it is now692.6
5) Much less than it is now762.9
6) Can't answer because I don't know the current restrictions (Vol.)692.6
Missing2 
TOTAL2607100.0
[ Analyze results ]
For you personally, do you believe that what is morally right or wrong should be . . . (MA_11)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know401.5
1) Based on God's law113943.7
2) Decided by society2469.4
3) A matter of personal conscience118145.3
Missing2 
TOTAL2608100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Instructions
View each question on our survey and how our respondents answered to the left.

To perform an auto-analysis of how an item relates to key demographics such as gender, education, church attendance and more, click on the "Analyze results" link below a variable.
Modules
Click on a link to jump to a topic module. Move the mouse over links to see short descriptions.

Household Roster
Current Living Arrangement
Race/Ethnicity
Race Ethnicity (ACASI)
Housing Choice
Work/Job
Sensation-Seeking
Social Activities
Congregational Identity
Congregational Affiliation
Religious Identification
Centrality and Salience of Religious Identity
Networks and Network Density
Intergroup Contact
Political Participation
Volunteering and Informal Helping
Moral/Political Attitudes
Moral and Political Attitudes (ACASI)
Religion - Importance
Religious Guidance/Religious Authority
Religious Guidance and Religious Authority (ACASI)
Relationship Behaviors (ACASI)
Relationship Quality (ACASI)
Deviance (ACASI)
Religious Beliefs (ACASI)
Religious Attendance (ACASI)
Spiritual Experiences
Health
Demographics
Generated Variables
Appended and Other Variables

Give us your feedback!

Through out these sections, we invite you to enter the discussion about these findings and what their implications may be. Click on the COMMENT link to send your thoughts to pals@rice.edu. Where appropriate we will include comments for others to read and discuss. Names of contributors will not be posted, but, if you like, include your religious tradition.

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