Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-26-2013
Abstract
Background: The current study explores variables related to public acceptance of evolution in the United States by state. Data on acceptance of evolution, religiosity, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree attainment, educational attainment, high school dropout rate, average teacher salary, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita were analyzed for the 50 states.
Methods: Employing secondary data analysis, bivariate correlations were used to investigate the relationship between US acceptance of evolution and each variable.
Results: As predicted, there was a strong negative correlation between acceptance of evolution and religiosity and a strong positive relationship between acceptance and science degrees awarded, bachelor degree attainment, advanced degree attainment, average teacher salary, and GDP per capita.
Conclusion: Several implications for evolution education and acceptance are discussed.
Copyright Statement
This document was originally published by SpringerOpen in Evolution: Education and Outreach. This work is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0. Details regarding the use of this work can be found at: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. DOI: 10.1186/1936-6434-6-3
Publication Information
Heddy, Benjamin C. and Nadelson, Louis S.. (2013). "The Variables Related to Public Acceptance of Evolution in the United States". Evolution: Education and Outreach, 6(3), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/1936-6434-6-3
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