In a new research highlight, START researchers examine results from a survey of 1,392 American adults conducted in January and February of 2014, and specifically focus on responses to questions regarding reporting terrorism-related activity to law enforcement. When possible, the researchers also compare findings to an earlier wave of the same survey conducted in the spring of 2013 before the Boston Marathon bombings.
Major findings include that, when presented with several terrorism-related situations and asked how likely they would be to call the police in each circumstance, respondents were:
- Most likely to say they would call the police if they overheard talk about planting explosives.
- Least likely to say they would call the police if they became aware of an individual reading material from a terrorist group.
When respondents indicated that they would not call the police in response to terrorism-related situations, it was most often out of concerns that citizens should be able to speak and act freely.
Read the full research highlight: "U.S. Attitudes toward Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Reporting Terrorism-related Activity."