Can one question get the answers on the death penalty?
Elon University pollster Hunter Bacot says no.
He cites social science research dating back to the 1970s that has found significant differences in poll results based on how the question is asked.
Simply asking if respondents support the death penalty is not enough, he says. A large majority will usually answer yes, though some theorize that's because they are looking for a suitably harsh punishment for crimes such as first-degree murder.
But when presented with an alternative, such as life in prison without the possibility of parole, support drops dramatically.
"At the minimum, you have to at least ask about the death penalty and an alternative," Bacot says.
That would call into question polls done by the conservative Civitas Institute.
More after the jump.
—————
To avoid pushing respondents too far in the other direction, Elon asks a series of questions. First, an open-ended question about what people think is the most appropriate punishment for murder. Then, closed questions about whether they support or oppose the death penalty and life without parole.
He says the poll results indicate an ambivalence on the issue.
"It suggests that people don't want to get rid of the death penalty. They want it as an available punishment for the most heinous crimes where there's little or no doubt," he said. "But they also seem to prefer life in prison without parole."
Blog RSS feed
