What do People Think About Gene Therapy?

In 1999–2000, the National Centre for Social Research conducted a major study for the Wellcome Trust to investigate what people in the UK thought about gene therapy, and how their attitudes were formed.

The research was primarily concerned with building upon existing models of social research to develop more rigorous models of public consultation. It assessed the impact of innovative stimuli intended to encourage and support debate about the social and ethical issues raised by scientific developments. By combining both quantitative and qualitative approaches in a panel study, it attempted to offer both breadth and depth of understanding in relation to public attitudes towards gene therapy.

The study began with a detailed survey of opinion. It then moved on to a series of follow-up enquiries designed to shed light on what kind of information or process may affect attitudes. That is, it went beyond survey methodology to provide people with more information, and allowed participants to discuss a range of different possible uses of genetic techniques.

This summary report presents some of the findings of the study, and also compares them with some more recent (but less detailed) surveys that have been conducted in the UK, the USA and Australia. The report then gives some details of the later stages of the study, and of what was found about the effects of providing additional information and discussion of the issues.

Download the full report [PDF 688KB].