MPO Research Group Finds Support for Military Intervention in Syria Surges

A new public opinion research group has uncovered interesting findings regarding American opinion on how to respond to the crisis in Syria.

Christchurch (I-Newswire) September 15, 2012 - MPO Research Group was started by university professors to provide data for their own research, but has expanded to offer a cost-effective surveying service to other academics and professionals.

The surveys are conducted from a national panel of over 5,000 randomly selected individuals in the United States, accurately reflecting all backgrounds in terms of age, education, ethnicity, gender and political affiliation. The group is completely self-funded, independent and non-partisan. Its news stories also make efforts to present information in an unbiased and non-partisan way, so readers can understand issues without any spin.

When MPO Research Group asked Americans what they think should be done about the conflict in Syria, the group found a new surge in support for military intervention when compared to opinion in May.

In August, half of all Americans believed military intervention to be the best course of action. The next most popular option, with 20.7% in favor, was diplomatic and economic sanctions to pressure the Syrian government. 13.2% of Americans support the option of military intervention with U.N. authorization, 11.3% recommend letting Syria resolve the problem itself and 4.1% of respondents had no opinion.

This marks a dramatic shift from opinion just two months ago, when U.S. military intervention was the least supported option (12.4%). In a survey from June, MPO Research Group found that using diplomatic and economic sanctions on Syria, with no military intervention, was the most popular solution (31.2%), followed closely by U.N. authorized military intervention (28.7%). The option of doing nothing and allowing Syria to resolve the issue themselves was supported by 19% of respondents.

This survey was based on two polls: one of 474 participants in June 2012. The margin of error is 4.5% and at a 95% confidence level, and one of 608 respondents in August 2012, with a margin of error of 3.97% and at a 95% confidence level.