Flemington, NJ, July 17, 2009 – A new national media study among 300 viewers of an interview with former astronaut, Buzz Aldrin revealed that Americans believe that U.S. space exploration should rank as the lowest priority for federal spending compared to other national issues.
The study was conducted by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com® website on July 16, to obtain viewers’ perceptions of an interview with Buzz Aldrin in which he discusses the future of U.S. and global space exploration.
The study also revealed that 44% of Americans indicated that Russia is currently the leader in the global ‘space race’ compared to 41% who reported that the U.S. is in the lead. The majority of respondents (57%) agree that U.S. space exploration is headed in the right direction.
Among the findings:
Participants were asked to rate the following national issues on importance with regard to what areas should receive the highest priority for federal funding. These issues were rated on a scale of 1-7 with 1 represents “not at all important” and 7 representing “extremely important.”
|
|
Total |
|
Economic Recovery |
6.3 |
|
Education |
5.9 (5.92) |
|
Cancer Research |
5.9 (5.87) |
|
Energy Supply and Creation |
5.7 |
|
Health Care Reform |
5.3 (5.32) |
|
Environment/Agriculture |
5.3 (5.27) |
|
Military Expenditures |
4.8 |
|
Space Exploration |
4.1 |
“Do you think the future of U.S. space exploration is headed in the right direction?”
|
|
Total |
|
Yes |
57% |
|
No |
43% |
“Who do you feel is currently the front runner in the global ‘space race?’”
|
|
Total |
|
U.S. |
41% |
|
Europe |
2% |
|
Russia |
44% |
|
India |
0% |
|
China |
4% |
|
Japan |
1% |
|
Iran |
0% |
|
North Korea |
1% |
|
Other |
6% |
While viewing the video, participants indicated their levels of agreement by moving their mouse from left to right on a continuum. The responses were recorded in quarter-second intervals and reported in the form of curves. The participants were also asked to respond to post-viewing questions.
Editors/Reporters: For more information on the study, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net). You can also receive updates from MediaCurves.com by following us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mediacurves and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flemington-NJ/MediaCurves/86691908820
HCD Research is a marketing and communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ. For additional information on HCD Research, access the company’s website at www.hcdi.net. MediaCurves.com® (www.mediacurves.com) is a media measurement website that provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.
So much that we have now, and take for granted, came from experiments that can only be performed in space.
Americans as a whole are stupid. Just go sit at the mall and watch if you have a differing opinion.
This has become a microwave-I want it now society with no long term memory. Who cares what most Americans surveyed say.