| dc.description.abstract | This is an opinion survey about laboratory animals by the University of Utrecht, department of Animals, Science and Society. The survey describes the Dutch view relating the use of laboratory animals. A sample of 274 individuals, which samples the Dutch population was asked to fill in a written survey in the months September till November 2008. The survey method is called The Dillman method (3).
The findings indicate that most people spontaneosly think of medical research or science research when animal experiments are mentioned. A smal minority still associates animal experiments with cosmetics. Strikingly women tend to think more negative when they think of animal experiments than men do.
The public view in the Netherlands is very varied. The percentages in favour and against are close together. A possible reason for this can be subscribed to the lack of information and thus knowledge by the people. People with a low socio-economic status tend to be more against animal experiments than people with an higher socio-economic status.
As we look at some ‘lifestyle’ factors that people have, we see that it makes a difference in opinion and knowledge in comparison with people who do not have that factor. People who tend to ‘relate’ more to animals are more against animal experiments. This category consists of vegetarians, people who buy cosmetics that aren’t tested on animals, people who would buy medicines that are not tested on animal if it was possible, people who are joined in an animal organisation, people who call themselves ‘animal lovers’ and people who have pets. The same group of people seems to have more knowledge about animal experiments than people without these ‘lifestyle’ factors. They tend to hear or read more about laboratory animals, know more organisations that revolve around animal experiments and know more often that every animal experiment has to be approved first by an animal experimental commission. | |
