was a 'flying saucer'?" the replies to th'3 above question were examined
witl, respect to four demogl'3phic variables: region, sex, age, and educa-
tion. It \~a5 found that the proporti on of sighters in the various regions
of the country, East, Midwest, South, and West, arc similar. Equal
pel'centages of men and women say that they have seen an UFO. There are
also no differences among age or educational levels. Dif~erences with
respect to these demographic variables, except for region of the country,
"ere also absent in the project's analysis of the 1966 Gallup data.
:\ poi nt at whil.'h the results of the above analyses do not agree wi th
those of the Cnl1up sllrvC'~· conc,:rns the proportion of the puh lie who say
that ther have seen an UFO. lhree percent of our sample said they had
seen an UFO "'hile 5~, of thosf polled in the Gallup survey ind icated that
they had seen as the questi:',n was worded, a "flying saucer." The differ-
ence beth1een the results of the two :,urveys approaches stad stical
significance. TI1C apparrnt discrepancy between the findings of the
Gallu)J and the Colorado project surveys may te due to one or more vari.ables,
such as the difference in the worJing of the two questions, or difference
in sa.!;ipl ing techniqu('~;.
TIle findings of the study undertaken by the Colorado project suggest
that the actual mrillber of sighters in the United States is approximately
3.75 million. TItis estimate is based on the continental U. S. civilian
population, 18 years of age and over (Cul'l'ent Poputation RepoY'tB, 14
Fcbruar)' 1968). thf' parameters of which were used ir. determining the
survey sample ..:haracteristics.
The actual number of sight.ers may, however range from as few a:o
1,nOO,non to as many as 5,000,000. (,\ rango, as compllred with a
specific 'lumbt'r, takes into acc'~unt possible sampling variation).
~}_r.~""; on report ing
At t i tudes tOl~a rtl the reportill~ of UFOs were cover8d: n one of the
Color.\tJo 1'1'('.h'ct questionnaires by nino quustions, five addressed to
sighters :lnd four to Tlonsighters. 11\0 proviou:dy conducted c.pinion
S\ll'veys, by Gallup (l~q7, 1950, 1~1(6) attempt-ed to estl.matL: 'the percentage
l,r th~ American population who had heard of flying saucers ami, in tho
1~)t16 surve)', the number of sightcl's ill the\lllcricun population. Ilowcvcr,
338
was a 'flying saucer'?" the replies to th" abrwe question were examined
wi th respect to four demogr:tphir.: vaTi abies: region, sex, age, and educa-
tion. It \~a5 found that the proporti on of sighters in the various regions
of the country, East, Midwest, South, and West, arc similar. Equal
pel'centages of men and women say that they have seen an UFO. There are
also no differences among age or educational levels. Dif~erences with
respect to these demographic vuriables, except for region of the country,
\~ere also absent ill the project's analysis of the 1966 Gallup data.
:\ point at whi.:!\ tIl(' results of the above analyses do not agree with
those of the Crtllup Sllrvc" conc(:rns the proportion of the public who say
that they have seen an uro. '111ree percent of our sample said they had
seen an UFO II"hile 5~, of those polled i.n the Gallup survey indicated that
they had seen as the questi:Hl was worded, a "flying saucer." The differ-
ence bet,;een the resul ts of the two :,urveys approaches stat is t1 ca 1
sigllificance. l11f' appan at discrepancy between the findings of the
GallujJ and the Colorado project surveys may te due to one or more vari.ables,
such as the difference in the wor~ing of the two questions, or difference
in sal;ipl in!! techniqu(".;.
TIle findings of the study undertaken by the Colorado project suggest
thr,t the actual nUillLJer uf sighters in the United States is approximately
3.75 million. lhls estimate is based on the continental U. S. civilian
population, 18 years of age and over (Cul'!'ent PopuZation RepoY'tB, 14
February 1968). th(> parameters of which were used ir, determining the
survey sample dlaracteristics.
The actual numbor of !lighters may, however range from as few as
1,nOO/Oon to as man)' as 5,()[J(j.OOO. (,\ range, as compl'l.red with a
specific Ilumbl'r, takes into acc'\unt possible sampling variation).
':~e~~.i on reporting
Attitudes tOl<ard thl~ reporting of UFOs were covcr8d:n one of the
(olordJo l,r0jcct questionnaires by nine quostions, five addressed to
sigh ters :ll1d fOllr to Ilonsighters. The previ ou:ily conduct"~J tpin; on
5Ul'Veys, by Gallup (l~1,\7 ,1950, 1~10b) attempt-ed to esti.matt.; the percentage
of the American poplilation who had heard of flyil1!.( saucers and, in the
1\1\16 survc)', the numbcr' of sightcl'~ in the .\mcrican population. Ilowcvcr,
33R