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Spring 2001: Does Capital Punishment Have a Future?
Pretest/Posttest Results
Following are the results of the pretest and posttest we asked our online summit
participants to take. The pretest was administered in February (before delving into
learning about the death penalty); the posttest was given at the conclusion of the summit.
The test covered issues and opinions related to the death penalty.
About the Results
These results represent a diverse group of students from the Pacific Northwest to the
East Coast, and include schools in the Midwest, South, and West, as well. Students of
varying economic, racial and ethnic backgrounds in urban, rural, and suburban settings
participated. To find out which schools participated, check out the Participants section.
A total of 48 high schools (over 1,000 students) participated. The pretest results
include 49 classes with a total of 961 students. The posttest results include 40 classes
with a total of 766 students.
Results
Questions:
The death penalty is illegal in the United States. |
|
True |
False |
Not sure |
Pretest |
73 (8%) |
798 (88%) |
35 (4%) |
Posttest |
78 (11%) |
638 (89%) |
4 (0%) |
Correct answer: False |
| |
Some states in the United States
do not have a death penalty. |
|
True |
False |
Not sure |
Pretest |
728 (82%) |
35 (4%) |
129 (14%) |
Posttest |
670 (92%) |
40 (6%) |
16 (2%) |
| Correct answer: True |
| |
In the United States, people
between the ages of 16-18 cannot be sentenced to death for any crime. |
|
True |
False |
Not sure |
Pretest |
267 (30%) |
367 (40%) |
267 (30%) |
Posttest |
98 (13%) |
550 (76%) |
77 (11%) |
| Correct answer: False |
| |
In the United States, people who
are mentally retarded can be sentenced to death for certain crimes. |
|
True |
False |
Not sure |
Pretest |
221 (25%) |
353 (40%) |
306 (35%) |
Posttest |
512 (71%) |
103 (14%) |
106 (15%) |
| Correct answer: True |
| |
Every state in the United States,
provides legal representation to people who received a death sentence, regardless of where
they are in the legal appeals process. |
|
True |
False |
Not sure |
Pretest |
546 (61%) |
84 (9%) |
269 (30%) |
Posttest |
479 (65%) |
140 (19%) |
114 (16%) |
| Correct answer: False |
| |
More than one-half of all of the
countries in the world have no death penalty or, if they have it, they do not enforce it. |
|
True |
False |
Not sure |
Pretest |
272 (30%) |
220 (25%) |
402 (45%) |
Posttest |
395 (55%) |
134 (18%) |
196 (27%) |
| Correct answer: True |
| |
I believe in the death penalty. |
|
Yes |
No |
In some
circumstances |
Not sure |
Pretest |
270 (30%) |
154 (17%) |
424 (47%) |
47 (5%) |
Posttest |
250 (35%) |
152 (21%) |
269 (38%) |
39 (6%) |
| |
I believe the death penalty
deters/prevents crimes. |
|
Yes |
No |
Not sure |
Pretest |
316 (37%) |
395 (46%) |
148 (17%) |
Posttest |
251 (35%) |
363 (51%) |
96 (14%) |
| |
I believe in "an eye for an
eye." |
|
Yes |
No |
In some
circumstances |
Not sure |
Pretest |
234 (27%) |
211 (24%) |
355 (40%) |
79 (9%) |
Posttest |
192 (27%) |
238 (33%) |
239 (34%) |
43 (6%) |
| |
I believe in the death penalty
for people between the ages of 16-18. |
|
Yes |
No |
In some
circumstances |
Not sure |
Pretest |
135 (15%) |
356 (40%) |
328 (37%) |
72 (8%) |
Posttest |
175 (24%) |
256 (36%) |
232 (32%) |
59 (8%) |
| |
I believe in the death penalty
for people who are mentally ill and/or mentally retarded. |
|
Yes |
No |
In some
circumstances |
Not sure |
Pretest |
68 (8%) |
463 (52%) |
251 (28%) |
113 (13%) |
Posttest |
89 (13%) |
334 (48%) |
192 (27%) |
84 (12%) |
| |
My parents believe in the death
penalty. |
|
Yes |
No |
In some
circumstances |
Not sure |
Pretest |
279 (31%) |
98 (11%) |
167 (19%) |
355 (39%) |
Posttest |
254 (36%) |
116 (16%) |
148 (21%) |
189 (27%) |
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