Surveys on attitudes towards legalisation of euthanasia: Importance of question phrasing
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Surveys on attitudes towards legalisation of euthanasia : Importance of question phrasing. / Hagelin, J.; Nilstun, T.; Hau, J.; Carlsson, H. E.
In: Journal of Medical Ethics, Vol. 30, No. 6, 12.2004, p. 521-523.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Surveys on attitudes towards legalisation of euthanasia
T2 - Importance of question phrasing
AU - Hagelin, J.
AU - Nilstun, T.
AU - Hau, J.
AU - Carlsson, H. E.
PY - 2004/12
Y1 - 2004/12
N2 - Aim: To explore whether the phrasing of the questions and the response alternatives would influence the answers to questions about legalisation of euthanasia. Methods: Results were compared from two different surveys in populations with similar characteristics. The alternatives " positive", "negative", and "don't know" (first questionnaire) were replaced with an explanatory text, "no legal sanction", four types of legal sanctions, and no possibility to answer "don't know" (second questionnaire). Four undergraduate student groups (engineering, law, medicine, and nursing) answered. Results: In the first questionnaire (n = 684) 43% accepted euthanasia (range 28-50%), 14% (8-33%) did not, and 43% (39-59%) answered " don't know". Two per cent of the respondents declined to answer. In comparison with previous surveys on attitudes to euthanasia the proportion of "don't know" was large. The results of the second questionnaire (n = 639), showed that 38% favoured "no legal prosecution" (26-50%). However, 62% (50-740%) opted for different kinds of legal sanctions, and two of four groups expressed significantly different views in the two surveys. A proportion of 10% declined to answer the second questionnaire. Conclusion: An introduction of an explanatory text and a wider range of response alternatives produced differences between the results of the two surveys conducted.
AB - Aim: To explore whether the phrasing of the questions and the response alternatives would influence the answers to questions about legalisation of euthanasia. Methods: Results were compared from two different surveys in populations with similar characteristics. The alternatives " positive", "negative", and "don't know" (first questionnaire) were replaced with an explanatory text, "no legal sanction", four types of legal sanctions, and no possibility to answer "don't know" (second questionnaire). Four undergraduate student groups (engineering, law, medicine, and nursing) answered. Results: In the first questionnaire (n = 684) 43% accepted euthanasia (range 28-50%), 14% (8-33%) did not, and 43% (39-59%) answered " don't know". Two per cent of the respondents declined to answer. In comparison with previous surveys on attitudes to euthanasia the proportion of "don't know" was large. The results of the second questionnaire (n = 639), showed that 38% favoured "no legal prosecution" (26-50%). However, 62% (50-740%) opted for different kinds of legal sanctions, and two of four groups expressed significantly different views in the two surveys. A proportion of 10% declined to answer the second questionnaire. Conclusion: An introduction of an explanatory text and a wider range of response alternatives produced differences between the results of the two surveys conducted.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=11144251644&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/jme.2002.002543
DO - 10.1136/jme.2002.002543
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 15574435
AN - SCOPUS:11144251644
VL - 30
SP - 521
EP - 523
JO - Journal of Medical Ethics
JF - Journal of Medical Ethics
SN - 0306-6800
IS - 6
ER -
ID: 369367681