Report · Culture

Half would save a child first in a theater fire

Reading

In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted Jan. 16-27, 2025, about half of Americans (51%) say they would help a child first if a fire broke out in a movie theater.

A spouse or partner is the next most common choice (28%), followed by one's mother (13%). Few would prioritize a friend (3%), a sibling or stranger (2% each), or a father (1%).

Topline

single choice

Topline distribution

Half would save a child first in a theater fire.

Imagine being in a movie theater when a fire breaks out. In such a situation, who would you prioritize helping the most? Please select the one option that best represents your choice:

  • Child 51.2%
  • Spouse/partner 28.2%
  • Mother 12.7%
  • Friend 3.5%
  • Sibling 1.9%
  • Stranger 1.7%
  • Father 0.8%

2025 · base n 1,000 · +/- 3.3%

Verasight AEA Omnibus Survey #2025-002

Source report pending

Methodology

Source report pending
Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
Field dates
2025-01-16 → 2025-01-27
Base (unweighted)
1,000
Margin of error
+/- 3.3%
Module
Verasight AEA Omnibus Survey #2025-002

Source

  • 01
    Source report pending

Citation

Verasight AEA Omnibus Survey #2025-002, fielded January 16-27, 2025, N=1,000 United States adults, +/- 3.3%.

Source report pending

Verasight survey methodology

How Verasight conducts surveys.

This page describes the Verasight general survey contract, separate from how the Data Library packages it. When a wave report is published, its field dates, sample sizes, and module breakdown are listed in that report.

Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting.
Population
US adults age 18+.
Sample design
Surveys are run as omnibus or single-topic waves. Omnibus waves are split into modules with their own respondent set, typically around one thousand respondents per module.
Field window
Each wave specifies its own field dates. Most omnibus waves field across roughly two weeks.
Weighting
Per-module weighting to CPS targets including age, race and ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, and metropolitan status.
Partisanship benchmark
Pew Research Center's NPORS benchmarking surveys, three-year running average.
Vote benchmark
2024 presidential vote population benchmarks.
Margin of error
Typically about plus or minus 3.4 to 3.6 percent per module at standard module sizes. Question-level MoE is recomputed when a base shrinks materially below the module baseline.
Reporting
The canonical report hub is reports.verasight.io. Verified legacy reports remain on their original hosts, and unpublished reports are marked pending.
Transparency
Verasight is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research Transparency Initiative.

The canonical report hub is reports.verasight.io; older reports may remain on verified legacy hosts.