LSU Survey Results
The MARDI GRAS edition
For each Louisiana Public Square program, the studio audience is given a pre-and a post-show survey. Analysis of the responses provides an opportunity to track any changes in opinions that may be the result of the deliberative process experienced by our participants. Below are some of the most striking modifications of opinions about this month’s topic in Louisiana.
Among our studio participants, there was some movement toward greater recognition of environmental influences in personal health risk factors. These changes are never particularly large, but there does appear to be a pattern across questions. There is one interesting and notable exception – the support for gastric bypass surgery. This may reflect perceptions regarding medical need, or, alternatively, increased information about the what the surgery is.
Full pre-and post-survey results follow.
Q1. Some people say that obesity is a private issue that people need todeal with on their own. Others you say that it is a public health issue that society needs to help solve. Which comes closer to how you feel?
% Before % After Private issue 28.6 0.0 Public health issue 71.4 100.0 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Q2. A series of explanations people give about why Louisianans are overweight follows. Please indicate your response to each statement.
a. There is too much unhealthy and fatty food in restaurants and supermarkets.
% Before % After Agree strongly 28.6 42.9 Agree 14.3 42.9 Neither agree nor Disagree 0.0 14.3 Disagree 57.1 0.0 Disagree strongly 0.0 0.0 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 b. Being overweight is something you inherit from your parents.
% Before % After Agree strongly 0.0 0.0 Agree 71.4 71.4 Neither agree nor Disagree 0.0 0.0 Disagree 28.6 28.6 Disagree strongly 0.0 0.0 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 c. Most people spend too much time watching television or using computers and not enough time engaged in physical activities or exercise.
% Before % After Agree strongly 42.9 71.4 Agree 57.1 28.6 Neither agree nor Disagree 0.0 0.0 Disagree 0.0 0.0 Disagree strongly 0.0 0.0 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 d. Louisiana's culture and traditions emphasize celebration through food and festivals.
% Before % After Agree strongly 42.9 57.1 Agree 42.9 42.9 Neither agree nor Disagree 0.0 0.0 Disagree 14.3 0.0 Disagree strongly 0.0 0.0 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Q3. Now we'd like to ask you some general questions about government policies and society. There are no right or wrong answers here. We'd just like to know your feelings about some political and social issues that people often talk about. Please indicate your response to each statement.
a. We should outlaw smoking in all public places like restaurants, airports, and stadiums.
% Before % After Agree strongly 42.9 42.9 Agree 0.0 14.3 Neither agree nor Disagree 14.3 0.0 Disagree 42.9 0.0 Disagree strongly 0.0 42.9 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 b. There's too much advertising for junk food and fast food on television that is aimed at children and the federal government should regulate these ads the way they do for cigarettes and alcohol.
% Before % After Agree strongly 42.9 71.4 Agree 28.6 0.0 Neither agree nor Disagree 0.0 14.3 Disagree 28.6 14.3 Disagree strongly 0.0 0.0 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 c. The government should impose "snack taxes" on unhealthy food and use the proceeds to support the production and distribution of nutritious foods.
% Before % After Agree strongly 14.3 42.9 Agree 28.6 14.3 Neither agree nor Disagree 0.0 0.0 Disagree 42.9 28.6 Disagree strongly 0.0 14.3 Don't know / Not available 14.3 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Q4. Would you support or oppose allowing health insurance providers to charge less in premiums for people who engage in health lifestyles, including, e.g., exercising regularly, eating a nutritious diet, etc.
% Before % After Support 85.7 71.4 Oppose 14.3 28.6 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Q5. Would you support or oppose allowing health insurance providers to charge more in premiums for people who regularly smoke cigarettes, cigars, or pipes?
% Before % After Support 71.4 57.1 Oppose 28.6 42.9 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Q6. Would you support or oppose allowing health insurance providers to charge more in premiums for people who are overweight?
% Before % After Support 42.9 71.4 Oppose 42.9 28.6 Don't know / Not available 14.3 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Q7. In your opinion, should insurance companies provide gastric bypass surgeries for obese patients with significant health-related problems?
% Before % After Support 42.9 100.0 Oppose 28.6 0.0 Don't know / Not available 28.6 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Q8. How confident are you that in the next ten years scientists will invent a pill that will allow people to lose weight without watching what they eat or exercise?
% Before % After Very confident 42.9 14.3 Somewhat confident 0.0 28.6 Not very confident 57.1 57.1 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Q9. Would you say the government is pretty much run by a few big interests looking out for themselves or that it is run for the benefit of all the people?
% Before % After Big Interests 71.4 85.7 Benefit of All 28.6 14.3 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Q10. How much attention do you feel the government pays to what the people think when it decides what to do?
% Before % After Good Deal 0.0 0.0 Some 100.0 85.7 Not Much 0.0 14.3 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Q11. Discussions - even those that involve serious disagreements - should be an important part of the political processes.
% Before % After Strongly Agree 71.4 100.0 Agree 14.3 0.0 Don't know / Not available 14.3 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Q12. Democracy requires hearing from all sides of a political issue, even those with unpopular views.
% Before % After Strongly Agree 71.4 85.7 Agree 14.3 0.0 Don't know / Not available 14.3 14.3 Refused 0.0 0.0
Some questions and comments may be included in the program.
