Survey Results

Zombies: inconceivable, metaphysically possible, or conceivable but not metaphysically possible?


1610 respondents
Login to view or update your response to this question.

What the percentages mean: "Accept or lean toward P: 50% (40%)" means that 50% of respondents endorsed this answer inclusively (including multiple-answer endorsements) and 40% endorsed this answer exclusively (excluding multiple-answer endorsements).

These results should not be used for comparison to 2009 results due to different populations and parameters. For meaningful longitudinal comparisons, see the longitudinal analysis section.

Accept or lean towards:
inconceivable
16.40% (15.84%)
Reject or lean against:
inconceivable
0.62% (0.00%)
Accept or lean towards:
conceivable but not metaphysically possible
36.52% (35.78%)
Reject or lean against:
conceivable but not metaphysically possible
0.37% (0.00%)
Accept or lean towards:
metaphysically possible
24.41% (24.22%)
Reject or lean against:
metaphysically possible
1.06% (0.00%)
Accept a combination of views
1.68%
Accept an alternative view
1.68%
The question is too unclear to answer
5.34%
There is no fact of the matter
3.54%
Agnostic/undecided
10.99%
Other
0.93%
N = 1610, excluding skipped & insufficiently familiar (175 respondents)

Longitudinal comparison to 2009 survey

Geographic filters do not apply to this section.
Option 2009 2020 Change Swing
Option
Accept or lean towards: inconceivable 16% 13.12%  2.88 -1.23
2009 16%
2020 13.12%
Change  2.88
Swing -1.23
Accept or lean towards: conceivable but not metaphysically possible 35.55% 36.88%  1.33  2.98
2009 35.55%
2020 36.88%
Change  1.33
Swing  2.98
Accept or lean towards: metaphysically possible 23.31% 19.91%  3.40 -1.75
2009 23.31%
2020 19.91%
Change  3.40
Swing -1.75
Accept a combination of views 1.4% 0.93%  0.47
2009 1.4%
2020 0.93%
Change  0.47
Accept an alternative view 0.54% 1.54%  1.00
2009 0.54%
2020 1.54%
Change  1.00
The question is too unclear to answer 4.3% 5.25%  0.95
2009 4.3%
2020 5.25%
Change  0.95
There is no fact of the matter 1.29% 2.16%  0.87
2009 1.29%
2020 2.16%
Change  0.87
Insufficiently familiar with the issue 9.02% 8.64%  0.38
2009 9.02%
2020 8.64%
Change  0.38
Agnostic/undecided 6.55% 9.57%  3.02
2009 6.55%
2020 9.57%
Change  3.02
Skipped 1.07% 1.54%  0.47
2009 1.07%
2020 1.54%
Change  0.47
Other 0.97% 0.46%  0.51
2009 0.97%
2020 0.46%
Change  0.51
N (2020) = 648
N (2009) = 931
Weighted values
Option 2009 2020 Change
Inconceivable 27.24 27.09 0.15
Conceivable but not metaphysically possible 42.9 40.79 2.11
Metaphysically possible 31.48 33.32 1.84

Strongest correlations with main questions (target population)

r: 0.38
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 116 127
Reject 85 435
n: 763
p < 0.0001
r: 0.31
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 204 38
Reject 340 241
n: 823
p < 0.0001
r: -0.29
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 62 95
Reject 481 185
n: 823
p < 0.0001
r: -0.28
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 152 220
Reject 587 324
n: 1283
p < 0.0001
r: -0.24
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 135 184
Reject 491 309
n: 1119
p < 0.0001
r: -0.24
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 54 269
Reject 147 296
n: 766
p < 0.0001
r: 0.23
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 108 129
Reject 128 439
n: 804
p < 0.0001
r: 0.22
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 367 161
Reject 375 383
n: 1286
p < 0.0001
r: 0.22
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 36 129
Reject 45 360
n: 570
p < 0.0001
r: 0.21
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 37 127
Reject 53 353
n: 570
p < 0.0001
r: 0.21
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 92 227
Reject 122 690
n: 1131
p < 0.0001
r: 0.2
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 64 148
Reject 65 372
n: 649
p < 0.0001
r: -0.2
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 60 177
Reject 231 342
n: 810
p < 0.0001
r: -0.2
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 70 174
Reject 228 295
n: 767
p < 0.0001
r: 0.2
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 25 153
Reject 25 422
n: 625
p < 0.0001
r: 0.19
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 238 126
Reject 489 472
n: 1325
p < 0.0001
r: 0.18
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 122 124
Reject 104 224
n: 574
p < 0.0001
r: 0.18
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 63 132
Reject 72 331
n: 598
p < 0.0001
r: 0.18
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 12 140
Reject 14 684
n: 850
p < 0.0001
r: 0.17
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 69 201
Reject 112 617
n: 999
p < 0.0001
r: 0.17
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 170 110
Reject 184 215
n: 679
p < 0.0001
r: 0.17
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 44 57
Reject 90 369
n: 560
p < 0.0001
r: 0.17
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 109 266
Reject 174 798
n: 1347
p < 0.0001
r: -0.17
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 31 178
Reject 115 397
n: 721
p < 0.0001
r: -0.17
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 44 120
Reject 179 228
n: 571
p < 0.0001
r: -0.17
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 22 173
Reject 86 318
n: 599
p < 0.0001
r: 0.17
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 298 168
Reject 330 325
n: 1121
p < 0.0001
r: -0.16
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 163 85
Reject 905 200
n: 1353
p < 0.0001
r: 0.16
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 332 47
Reject 736 237
n: 1352
p < 0.0001
r: -0.16
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 16 111
Reject 184 452
n: 763
p < 0.0001
r: -0.15
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 68 83
Reject 431 262
n: 844
p < 0.0001
r: 0.15
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 14 114
Reject 18 619
n: 765
p < 0.0001
r: 0.15
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 62 261
Reject 51 392
n: 766
p < 0.0001
r: 0.15
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 146 192
Reject 147 328
n: 813
p < 0.0001
r: 0.15
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 70 132
Reject 105 369
n: 676
p < 0.0001
r: 0.15
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 30 82
Reject 78 411
n: 601
p: 0.0003
r: 0.15
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 188 159
Reject 353 510
n: 1210
p < 0.0001
r: -0.14
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 23 219
Reject 87 434
n: 763
p < 0.0001
r: -0.14
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 31 116
Reject 177 405
n: 729
p < 0.0001
r: 0.14
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 20 248
Reject 38 690
n: 996
p < 0.0001
r: 0.14
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 52 166
Reject 62 442
n: 722
p < 0.0001
r: 0.14
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 67 84
Reject 197 496
n: 844
p < 0.0001
r: -0.14
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 192 183
Reject 658 316
n: 1349
p < 0.0001
r: -0.14
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 33 213
Reject 128 438
n: 812
p < 0.0001
r: 0.14
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 93 71
Reject 156 226
n: 546
p: 0.0013
r: 0.14
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 62 67
Reject 235 403
n: 767
p < 0.0001
r: 0.14
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 158 160
Reject 308 512
n: 1138
p < 0.0001
r: 0.13
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 122 201
Reject 225 622
n: 1170
p < 0.0001
r: 0.13
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 134 75
Reject 301 210
n: 720
p: 0.0004
r: -0.13
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 76 261
Reject 160 310
n: 807
p: 0.0002
r: 0.13
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 146 178
Reject 153 293
n: 770
p: 0.0003
r: -0.13
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 36 128
Reject 128 252
n: 544
p: 0.0023
r: -0.13
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 41 231
Reject 88 290
n: 650
p: 0.001
r: -0.13
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 157 162
Reject 447 319
n: 1085
p < 0.0001
r: 0.13
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 395 170
Reject 458 329
n: 1352
p < 0.0001
r: 0.13
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 43 96
Reject 119 554
n: 812
p: 0.0002
r: 0.13
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 56 81
Reject 50 138
n: 325
p: 0.0211
r: 0.13
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 111 266
Reject 168 791
n: 1336
p < 0.0001
r: -0.13
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 100 464
Reject 183 603
n: 1350
p < 0.0001
r: -0.12
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 26 219
Reject 64 264
n: 573
p: 0.0028
r: -0.12
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 11 40
Reject 95 177
n: 323
p: 0.0271
r: 0.12
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 321 44
Reject 425 104
n: 894
p: 0.0002
r: 0.12
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 73 97
Reject 127 265
n: 562
p: 0.0037
r: -0.12
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 23 45
Reject 140 173
n: 381
p: 0.0174
r: -0.12
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 63 217
Reject 112 287
n: 679
p: 0.0016
r: -0.12
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 59 252
Reject 116 321
n: 748
p: 0.0009
r: -0.12
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 36 74
Reject 214 222
n: 546
p: 0.0048
r: -0.12
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 12 108
Reject 69 383
n: 572
p: 0.0048
r: -0.12
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 210 64
Reject 533 84
n: 891
p: 0.0004
r: -0.12
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 36 174
Reject 109 324
n: 643
p: 0.0028
r: -0.12
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 74 53
Reject 402 180
n: 709
p: 0.0018
r: 0.11
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 124 66
Reject 479 415
n: 1084
p: 0.0002
r: -0.11
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 78 134
Reject 141 160
n: 513
p: 0.0099
r: 0.11
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 79 106
Reject 142 306
n: 633
p: 0.0042
r: -0.11
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 26 97
Reject 185 406
n: 714
p: 0.0025
r: 0.11
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 106 210
Reject 102 313
n: 731
p: 0.0024
r: -0.11
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 60 263
Reject 201 616
n: 1140
p: 0.0002
r: -0.11
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 142 99
Reject 745 335
n: 1321
p < 0.0001
r: -0.11
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 23 156
Reject 76 370
n: 625
p: 0.0055
r: 0.11
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 74 83
Reject 145 209
n: 511
p: 0.0125
r: 0.11
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 183 127
Reject 232 206
n: 748
p: 0.0033
r: -0.11
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 65 87
Reject 207 183
n: 542
p: 0.0138
r: 0.1
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 16 194
Reject 41 905
n: 1156
p: 0.0004
r: -0.1
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 35 202
Reject 133 438
n: 808
p: 0.0029
r: -0.1
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 151 341
Reject 235 467
n: 1194
p: 0.0003
r: -0.1
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 141 361
Reject 207 464
n: 1173
p: 0.0004
r: 0.1
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 171 182
Reject 322 540
n: 1215
p: 0.0003
r: 0.1
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 74 225
Reject 85 339
n: 723
p: 0.0054
r: 0.1
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 149 109
Reject 281 322
n: 861
p: 0.0029
r: -0.1
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 76 137
Reject 467 531
n: 1211
p: 0.0004
r: -0.1
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 63 193
Reject 200 387
n: 843
p: 0.0035
r: 0.1
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 33 212
Reject 40 315
n: 600
p: 0.014
r: 0.1
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 268 101
Reject 619 332
n: 1320
p: 0.0003
r: 0.1
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 38 96
Reject 109 478
n: 721
p: 0.0072
r: 0.1
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 59 92
Reject 206 459
n: 816
p: 0.0046
r: 0.1
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 133 171
Reject 150 249
n: 703
p: 0.0087
r: 0.1
Zombies: metaphysically possible Accept Reject
Accept 271 94
Reject 634 312
n: 1311
p: 0.0004
r: -0.1
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 26 126
Reject 209 443
n: 804
p: 0.0052
r: -0.1
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 30 93
Reject 191 320
n: 634
p: 0.0138
r: 0.1
Zombies: inconceivable Accept Reject
Accept 15 95
Reject 40 447
n: 597
p: 0.0171

Strongest correlations with demographic questions (target population)

r: 0.13
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 22 262
Reject 14 717
n: 1015
p < 0.0001
r: 0.12
Zombies: inconceivable Yes No
Accept 35 163
Reject 66 752
n: 1016
p < 0.0001
r: 0.12
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 219 150
Reject 460 481
n: 1310
p < 0.0001
r: 0.11
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 58 327
Reject 67 929
n: 1381
p < 0.0001
r: -0.11
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 28 357
Reject 114 882
n: 1381
p < 0.0001
r: 0.11
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 16 268
Reject 14 717
n: 1015
p: 0.0008
r: 0.11
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 219 74
Reject 465 244
n: 1002
p: 0.0009
r: 0.1
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 250 140
Reject 542 480
n: 1412
p < 0.0001
r: 0.1
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 24 260
Reject 22 709
n: 1015
p: 0.0016
r: 0.1
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 118 267
Reject 225 771
n: 1381
p: 0.0004
r: 0.09
Zombies: inconceivable Yes No
Accept 46 207
Reject 96 1032
n: 1381
p: 0.0006
r: 0.09
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 346 38
Reject 835 152
n: 1371
p: 0.0007
r: -0.09
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 73 312
Reject 239 757
n: 1381
p: 0.0007
r: 0.09
Zombies: inconceivable Yes No
Accept 12 186
Reject 16 802
n: 1016
p: 0.0038
r: -0.09
Zombies: inconceivable Yes No
Accept 51 202
Reject 273 855
n: 1381
p: 0.0013
r: -0.08
Zombies: inconceivable Yes No
Accept 105 75
Reject 578 243
n: 1001
p: 0.0078
r: 0.08
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 5 279
Reject 2 729
n: 1015
p: 0.0084
r: 0.08
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 123 450
Reject 154 659
n: 1386
p: 0.0025
r: -0.08
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 448 125
Reject 655 158
n: 1386
p: 0.0025
r: -0.08
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 5 288
Reject 36 673
n: 1002
p: 0.0125
r: -0.08
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 35 395
Reject 66 521
n: 1017
p: 0.0147
r: -0.08
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 40 533
Reject 85 725
n: 1383
p: 0.0045
r: -0.07
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 7 423
Reject 29 558
n: 1017
p: 0.0182
r: -0.07
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 10 375
Reject 60 936
n: 1381
p: 0.006
r: 0.07
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 7 277
Reject 5 726
n: 1015
p: 0.0202
r: -0.07
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 117 456
Reject 227 583
n: 1383
p: 0.0076
r: -0.07
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 22 262
Reject 79 652
n: 1015
p: 0.025
r: 0.07
Zombies: inconceivable Yes No
Accept 8 190
Reject 10 808
n: 1016
p: 0.0252
r: -0.07
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 13 371
Reject 66 921
n: 1371
p: 0.0122
r: 0.07
Zombies: inconceivable Yes No
Accept 9 189
Reject 15 803
n: 1016
p: 0.0315
r: 0.07
Zombies: inconceivable Yes No
Accept 7 246
Reject 11 1117
n: 1381
p: 0.0126
r: -0.06
Zombies: inconceivable Yes No
Accept 24 229
Reject 162 966
n: 1381
p: 0.0159
r: -0.06
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 256 285
Reject 425 347
n: 1313
p: 0.0195
r: 0.06
Zombies: inconceivable Yes No
Accept 26 172
Reject 61 757
n: 1016
p: 0.0425
r: 0.06
Zombies: inconceivable Yes No
Accept 34 146
Reject 104 717
n: 1001
p: 0.0452
r: -0.06
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 32 337
Reject 109 832
n: 1310
p: 0.0219
r: 0.06
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 19 265
Reject 32 699
n: 1015
p: 0.0465
r: -0.06
Zombies: inconceivable Yes No
Accept 208 48
Reject 973 142
n: 1371
p: 0.0217
r: 0.06
Zombies: inconceivable Yes No
Accept 21 232
Reject 54 1074
n: 1381
p: 0.0223
r: 0.06
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 83 302
Reject 202 794
n: 1381
p: 0.0226
r: -0.06
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 25 359
Reject 86 901
n: 1371
p: 0.0299
r: 0.06
Zombies: inconceivable Yes No
Accept 29 224
Reject 68 1060
n: 1381
p: 0.0298
r: 0.06
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 55 330
Reject 127 869
n: 1381
p: 0.0327
r: 0.06
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 18 367
Reject 20 976
n: 1381
p: 0.0336
r: 0.06
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 53 488
Reject 43 729
n: 1313
p: 0.0408
r: -0.06
Zombies: metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 12 378
Reject 64 958
n: 1412
p: 0.0379
r: 0.05
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 28 545
Reject 30 780
n: 1383
p: 0.0471
r: 0.05
Zombies: conceivable but not metaphysically possible Yes No
Accept 49 535
Reject 43 788
n: 1415
p: 0.049