Evolution means different things to different people.
Some see Charles Darwin's theory as indisputable scientific fact.
Other people claim evolution is just an unproven hypothesis, and
believe the biblical story of creation -- in which God created
humans in their current form -- is indisputable. There are, of
course, countless nuanced opinions that fall somewhere in
between.
Many battles have been waged over whether and how evolution or
creationism (or both) should be taught in the nation's schools. The
most recent Gallup Youth Survey* asked U.S. teenagers what they
think about man's origins and found predictably mixed feelings.
How Did We Get Here?
Gallup asked teens (aged 13 to 17) to choose from three
different statements on the origin of human beings: 1) humans
developed over millions of years, but God guided the process; 2)
humans developed over millions of years, but God had no part in the
process; or 3) God created humans pretty much in their present form
within the last 10,000 years or so. A plurality of teens (43%)
choose the "middle-ground" option, believing God guided human
evolution over millions of years. More than a third of teens (38%)
choose the "creationist" option -- that God created humans pretty
much as they are now. Only 18% of teens choose the "evolutionist"
view -- that humans evolved over millions of years with no help
from God.
Gallup asked this same question of U.S. adults in a November
2004 poll**. The results are similar, although slightly more adults
(45%) believe God created human beings in their present form within
the last 10,000 years or so. Thirty-eight percent of adults say
humans evolved over millions of years with God's guidance, and only
13% believe human beings evolved without God's help.
Why are teens slightly more likely than adults to choose an
evolutionist theory of human origin? One possible explanation is
evolution did not begin to gain prominence in school curricula
until the 1960s -- therefore many older adults may never have
learned about Darwin's theory. Further, many of today's teenagers
have recently studied evolution in school (or are currently
studying it), so the subject may be fresh in their minds.
Darwin's Theory: Fact or Fiction?
Gallup also posed a more direct question about evolution to
teens, asking them if they believe Darwin's theory of evolution is:
1) a scientific theory that is well supported by evidence, 2) just
one of many theories and has not been well supported by evidence,
or 3) they don't know enough to say. Thirty-seven percent think
evolution is a theory well supported by evidence, 30% say it is not
well supported by evidence, and 33% don't know enough to say.
While teens show a slight tilt in favor of Darwin's theory,
adults are divided -- 35% say Darwin's theory is well supported by
evidence and 35% think it is not. Twenty-nine percent aren't
sure.
Bottom Line
In 1925, Tennessee high school biology teacher John Scopes was
put on trial for teaching evolution, which was illegal in the state
at that time. Education has changed considerably since the famous
"Scopes Monkey Trial," but the debate about teaching evolution
hasn't ended. Legal battles continued throughout the
20th century, and the Kansas state school board is still
debating whether "alternatives" or "challenges" to evolution theory
should be included in school curricula. A 10-day hearing on the
subject will take place this spring.
Data from Gallup Youth Surveys and adult surveys alike reinforce
the notion that evolution is far from a foregone conclusion among
large numbers of Americans.
*These results are based on telephone interviews with a
randomly selected national sample of 1,028 teenagers in
the Gallup Poll Panel of households, aged 13 to 17,
conducted Jan. 17 to Feb. 6, 2005. For results based on this
sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum error
attributable to sampling and other random effects is ±3
percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording
and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce
error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
**Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,016
national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Nov. 7-10, 2004. For
results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say
with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is
±3 percentage points.
