Background Memo  

The most recent survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind was conducted by telephone from February 27 through March 6 using a randomly selected sample of 601 registered voters statewide aged 18 and over.  The sampling error for 601 adults is +/- 4 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling error. This kind of error, which cannot be measured, arises from a number of factors including, but not limited to, non-response (eligible individuals refusing to be interviewed), question wording, the order in which questions are asked, and variations among interviewers. All PublicMind interviews are conducted by TMR, Inc. of Cedar Knolls, NJ.  Professionally trained interviewers use a CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) system. Random selection >is achieved through computerized random-digit dialing. This technique gives every person with a phone number (including those with unlisted numbers) an equal chance of being selected.

The questions included in this release are as follows:

Question: I1. On a different topic, recently, cartoons have been published that insult the Islamic Prophet Mohammed and many people have protested the cartoons. How much have you heard or read about this issue…READ?

• A great deal
• Some
• Just a little
• Nothing at all

Question I2: Have you personally seen any of these cartoons?

Question: I3. Some people say American TV and newspapers should… Others say American TV and newpapers should… Which comes closer to your opinion?

• show the cartoons to the public
• NOT show the offensive cartoons

Question: I4. In your opinion, should the government regulate TV and newspapers to ensure they do not run stories and pictures that are insulting or hurtful to religious groups?

Question: I5. In your opinion, should the government regulate TV and newspapers to ensure they do not run stories and pictures that are insulting and hurtful to racial minorities?

see also:
Survey Analysis
Republican / Democratic Dialog
Tabular Results