Responding to Pro-Abortion Researchers

We are still engaged in the national “Reproductive History Survey” which is giving us the opportunity to compare a random sample women who have had abortions to women who have not. This survey was mailed to 5000 women in three variants: a basic form, a basic form plus an addendum form women who have had abortions, and a basic form plus an extra long addendum form for women who have had abortions. The total respondents to all three variants of the “Reproductive History Survey” was 702 women. At the same time, a fourth survey form investigating “Stress and Trauma” was tested in a mailing to 500 women, to which 104 women responded.

Data entry for the “Stress and Trauma” survey has been completed, 6656 data points in all. Data entry for the basic form used in all three variants of the “Reproductive History Survey” has also been completed, 58,906 data points in all. Data entry of the addendum forms for the “Reproductive History Survey” has been deferred pending further analysis of the basic form. Virtually all of the data entry was done by Catherine Goeckner, a volunteer who bravely took on this formidable task. Our thanks go out to her and her family. Please bless her in your prayers.

Data cleaning and analysis of the “Reproductive History Survey” basic forms began this fall after completion of the data entry. The preliminary results continue to confirm our previous research findings. Progress continues, but is slower than I would like due to the backlog of other Elliot Institute tasks which demand my constant attention. More on these other tasks in other sections of this newsletter.

— David C. Reardon

Originally published in The Post-Abortion Review 1(1) Winter 1993. Copyright 1993 Elliot Institute