Complete Topic Collection

Getting Started

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

This guide is a curated collection of 176 discussion topics that have been tested in real Sway conversations, organized by discipline and annotated with performance data. It is designed for instructors who are setting up Sway assignments and want to choose topics that reliably produce productive, engaging debates.

Every topic listed here was drawn from over 15,000 student conversations across 90+ institutions and 15+ disciplines. We selected topics that are well-balanced — meaning they produce a rough 30/70 to 70/30 opinion split among students. That threshold matters because Sway pairs students who disagree: if 95% of your class holds the same view, the platform cannot form enough productive pairings.

What you will find for each topic

The exact proposition text students see
Sample size (how many students have discussed it)
Opinion split and mean rating before the conversation
Badges indicating standout performance (balanced split, high satisfaction, or high rates of mind-changing)

Browse by discipline to find topics relevant to your course, or scan the badges to find topics with the strongest track records. You can use any topic here as-is, adapt the wording to fit your syllabus, or write entirely original propositions. The next section covers how to do that well.

Browse the topics

Topic Design

WHAT MAKES A GOOD SWAY TOPIC

Key Principles

State a clear position, not a question. Students rate their agreement or disagreement, so the proposition must be something they can agree or disagree with.
Be specific enough to anchor debate. Vague propositions lead to vague conversations. Give students a concrete claim to grapple with.
Avoid loaded language. Phrasing that signals a "right answer" discourages honest disagreement and skews the opinion split.
Choose genuine points of disagreement. The best topics are ones where thoughtful, informed people land on different sides.
Match complexity to your students. Introductory courses benefit from accessible, broadly debatable propositions. Advanced courses can handle nuanced or domain-specific claims.
Consider using multiple related propositions. Assigning two or three propositions on the same theme gives students a richer, more layered discussion experience.

State a Position, Not a Question

Sway asks students to rate agreement on a scale from -3 (Strongly disagree) to +3 (Strongly agree). The proposition must be a declarative statement that someone could meaningfully agree or disagree with. Open-ended questions do not work because there is no position to take a stance on.

Be Specific, Not Narrow

A good proposition stakes out clear enough ground that students know what they are debating, but leaves enough room for the conversation to develop. If the topic is too broad, students talk past each other. If it is too narrow, the conversation stalls after a few exchanges.

Good vs. Bad Topic Framing

Weak Framing	Stronger Framing	Why It's Better
"What do you think about the death penalty?"	"The death penalty should be abolished in all cases."	A clear position students can agree or disagree with. The original is a question, not a proposition.
"Social media is bad."	"Social media companies should be required to verify that users are at least 16 years old."	Specific enough to generate substantive arguments about policy, evidence, and trade-offs rather than vague complaints.
"We need to do something about the harmful effects of misinformation on our democracy."	"The government should have the power to remove misinformation from social media platforms."	The original signals a "right answer" through loaded language. The revision presents a debatable policy position where reasonable people disagree.

Avoid Consensus Topics

Topics where 90% or more of students hold the same view do not work well on Sway. If almost everyone agrees, there are not enough dissenting students to form pairings, and the few dissenters may feel isolated. Aim for topics where your class is likely to split somewhere in the 30/70 to 70/30 range. The data in this guide helps you identify those topics in advance.

Guide

HOW TO READ THE TOPIC DATA

Each topic in this guide is annotated with data from real student conversations. Here is what each metric means and how to use it when selecting topics for your course.

Sample Size (N)

N is the number of students who have discussed this topic on Sway. Higher sample sizes give you more confidence that the opinion split and satisfaction data are reliable. Topics with small sample sizes may still work well, but the data is less stable.

Opinion Split (D% / A%)

This shows the percentage of students who disagreed (rated -3 to -1) versus agreed (rated +1 to +3) with the proposition before the conversation began. A split near 50/50 is ideal for pairing efficiency. Splits in the 30/70 to 70/30 range still work well. Beyond that range, some students may not get a partner who disagrees with them.

Mean Rating

The average pre-conversation opinion on the -3 to +3 scale. A mean near 0 indicates a perfectly centered topic. Positive means indicate the class leans toward agreement; negative means indicate a lean toward disagreement. Use this alongside the split to get a quick read on how balanced the topic is likely to be for your students.

Badges

Topics that perform especially well earn one or more badges:

Proven Splitter — The opinion split falls in the well-balanced range, meaning Sway can reliably pair students who disagree.
Student Favorite — Students gave this topic high satisfaction ratings in post-chat surveys.
Mind-Changer — A high proportion of students reported reconsidering or changing their view after the conversation.
Star — The topic earned all three badges: balanced, well-liked, and effective at prompting genuine reconsideration.

Survey Data

Satisfaction and mind-change metrics come from optional post-chat surveys completed by students after their conversations. Not every student completes the survey, so these figures reflect the subset who did. They are useful directional indicators, not census-level measurements.

All Star (9) Favorite (149) Mind-Changer (52)

All Disciplines

1117 shown

Ethics & Philosophy 149 Health & Bioethics 132 Technology & AI 109 Gender, Identity & Equality 84 Politics & Government 126 Culture & Society 51 Economics & Labor 58 Criminal Justice & Law 48 Free Speech & Media 47 Education 80 Environment & Animals 94

ethics & philosophy

Foundational questions about morality, justice, and the good life. These topics work well in philosophy courses but also travel easily into political science, law, and general education seminars where students are learning to construct and evaluate normative arguments.

Research on Animals

Research involving animals should be banned if the animals suffer or are harmed.

Opinions517 Split19% D / 72% A Neutral9% Mean+1.35

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

79% rated Awesome/Good (138 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 74% A)

“I really like the way guide supports in questioning the other person and it's really helpful, and the chat was really smooth without any lags or bugs”

Comparing the Best Normative Ethical Theories

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Social contract theory is the best normative ethical theory, better even than ethical egoism, utilitarianism, natural law, Kant's categorical imperative, virtue ethics, and care ethics.

Opinions92 Split33% D / 50% A Neutral17% Mean+0.23

Data from Southeast M1 HBCU

83% rated Awesome/Good (42 post-chat surveys)

“It definitely increased my confidence. Hearing Kamaiya’s challenges helped me think more critically about my own arguments and express them more clearly.”

Worst Metaethical Theory

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Subjective relativism is worse than emotivism, divine command theory, and cultural relativism.

Opinions100 Split53% D / 37% A Neutral10% Mean-0.23

Data from Southeast M1 HBCU

85% rated Awesome/Good (27 post-chat surveys)

“I think it helps in a way because it gives each person some time to think about what they're going to say and how they're going to say it which usually gives a better representation of what they think.”

Morality

It can be immoral to have an unquestioning attitude.

Opinions82 Split12% D / 68% A Neutral20% Mean+1.01

Data from Canada

62% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 54% A)

Iranian Women

Staying silent about Iranian women's oppression to avoid seeming colonialist is a moral failure.

Opinions122 Split14% D / 55% A Neutral31% Mean+0.77

Data from West R1 HSI

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 55% A)

Moral Licensing

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Studies show that when some people do something good, like conserving water, they may feel ‘licensed’ to be wasteful elsewhere. Policymakers should avoid nudging because it might backfire due to moral licensing.

Opinions104 Split43% D / 39% A Neutral17% Mean-0.12

Data from Southeast R1

92% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

“The Guide's suggestions allowed us to see alternative perspectives and enhanced the conversation.”

Autonomy

Proven Splitter Mind-Changer

Clients’ choices should be respected even if they lead to self-harm; intervention is moral arrogance.

Opinions22 Split64% D / 27% A Neutral9% Mean-0.50

Data from Midwest R1

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

“Sway did a very good job. You made feel really comfortable to discuss with others. And you pointed out some really good points”

Responsibility Gaps

Responsibility gaps aren't much of a concern.

Opinions98 Split69% D / 10% A Neutral20% Mean-1.17

Data from Canada

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (69% D / 10% A)

“I am still confident in my stance on the topic, but it gave me a new light to see it from a different perspective”

Moral Realism V. Non-Realism

At least one moral statement is true independently of any observer.

Opinions76 Split26% D / 61% A Neutral13% Mean+0.59

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 62% A)

The Gnostics

Assuming that there is a Demiurge (a creator of the world), the Gnostics are right that he must be malevolent.

Opinions76 Split43% D / 25% A Neutral32% Mean-0.59

86% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (38% D / 29% A)

Aristotle on the Point of Life

Aristotle is correct that the point of life is happiness.

Opinions76 Split25% D / 74% A Neutral1% Mean+1.16

Data from Midwest R1

60% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 78% A)

Suffering

Proven Splitter

We should not seed life across space because doing so risks spreading immense future suffering.

Opinions36 Split33% D / 36% A Neutral31% Mean-0.03

Data from Canada

The Ethics of Extreme Wealth

It is unethical for governments to allow people to become billionaires

Opinions75 Split75% D / 12% A Neutral13% Mean-1.33

Data from Mid-Atlantic R1

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (71% D / 15% A)

The Value of Autonomy

Student Favorite

It would be better to let someone else make every important decision about your life for you, if this would lead to your life having more happiness than if you were to make your own decisions.

Opinions84 Split70% D / 20% A Neutral10% Mean-1.17

Data from Canada

80% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (70% D / 20% A)

Duty to Yourself

You have a moral duty to improve yourself. (I.e., to 'cultivate and safeguard your own autonomy', to develop your talents, etc.)

Opinions84 Split14% D / 69% A Neutral17% Mean+1.04

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 69% A)

Intellectual Autonomy

Proven Splitter

‘Thinking for ourselves’ isn’t really possible today, because modern knowledge depends on trusting long chains of experts.

Opinions82 Split46% D / 43% A Neutral11% Mean-0.16

Data from Canada

50% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

“I feel challenged in a good way and come into a nuanced conclusion.”

Design

Student Favorite

We should design institutions or technologies that encourage unquestioning trust.

Opinions82 Split77% D / 13% A Neutral10% Mean-1.40

Data from Canada

92% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (77% D / 13% A)

Social-Epistemic Reboot

The best way out of an echo chamber is to temporarily suspend all beliefs, and start over again from scratch.

Opinions82 Split49% D / 27% A Neutral24% Mean-0.39

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (49% D / 27% A)

Standing up for Justice

Sometimes it is necessary to disrupt normal operations in order to stand up for justice.

Opinions66 Split5% D / 82% A Neutral14% Mean+1.59

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 78% A)

“Guide helps lead the discussion and responds to us directly to allow deeper engagement.”

Killing and Letting Die

Proven Splitter Mind-Changer

Killing is not in any morally significant way different from letting die.

Opinions52 Split40% D / 52% A Neutral8% Mean+0.37

Data from Southeast R1

22% rated Awesome/Good (18 post-chat surveys)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Spanking

Proven Splitter

Corporal punishment is morally harmful because it relies on fear rather than moral reasoning.

Opinions36 Split25% D / 42% A Neutral33% Mean+0.39

Data from Mid-Atlantic

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Wiretapping

Intentionally invading personal privacy through wiretapping is ethically wrong, even for noble ends.

Opinions36 Split39% D / 47% A Neutral14% Mean+0.19

Data from Mid-Atlantic

58% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 51% A)

Mind-Body Identity

Proven Splitter

The mind is just the brain.

Opinions72 Split40% D / 38% A Neutral22% Mean-0.06

Data from Canada

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Pain

Proven Splitter

You can’t be mistaken about whether you are in pain or not.

Opinions72 Split40% D / 46% A Neutral14% Mean+0.14

Data from Canada

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Equality of Opportunity

In a just society, each person must have equal opportunity for economic success.

Opinions16 Split19% D / 81% A Neutral0% Mean+1.44

Data from South R2

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 79% A)

“This chat boosted my confidence in discussing complex issues with people who hold different views from me. I was able to articulate my thoughts better and come up with a more defined argument about what I believe.”

Duty to Obey

It is wrong to break the law.

Opinions64 Split8% D / 92% A Neutral0% Mean+1.72

Data from South R2

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (7% D / 93% A)

“It was great, I think the guide was super helpful in furthering the discussion because sometimes the conversation stopped and I didnt know how to add on.”

Sacred

Human life is inherently sacred.

Opinions60 Split2% D / 92% A Neutral7% Mean+2.10

Data from Northeast Associate's

Tends to skew agree (2% D / 92% A)

Heart Markets

People should be permitted to sell not just organs that they can live without but also organs that they can’t live without, like their hearts.

Opinions55 Split73% D / 11% A Neutral16% Mean-1.49

Data from Southeast R1

50% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (71% D / 11% A)

National Borders as Inherited Privilege

National borders are the world's most consequential form of inherited privilege — birthplace determines life outcomes more than almost any other factor.

Opinions54 Split15% D / 78% A Neutral7% Mean+1.13

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 78% A)

“I like Guide's input and find it valuable in keeping the conversation clear and focused.”

What's a Life Worth?

Some lives are more valuable than other lives.

Opinions38 Split66% D / 34% A Neutral0% Mean-0.95

Data from Canada

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (72% D / 28% A)

“obviously delays hinder us compared to classroom discussions. However its was good for the technology, a more timely notification can be appreciated”

Fetus Has Moral Status

A fetus has full moral status as a person.

Opinions52 Split65% D / 10% A Neutral25% Mean-1.13

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew disagree (65% D / 10% A)

Universal Justice

Star Student Favorite Mind-Changer

We should prioritize universal equality and justice over relationships when making moral decisions.

Opinions50 Split36% D / 52% A Neutral12% Mean+0.54

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

100% rated Awesome/Good (18 post-chat surveys)

“It made me feel more comfortable discussing complex issues with a person who may not agree with me.”

Intentions

Proven Splitter

Intentions matter more than the outcomes of an action.

Opinions50 Split32% D / 66% A Neutral2% Mean+0.80

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Moral Rules

Proven Splitter

Moral rules should always be true.

Opinions50 Split48% D / 46% A Neutral6% Mean+0.12

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

“It is flexible with time, allows for deeper thought without the constraints of time, and there is less social pressure to cause bias. However, it is a bit less enjoyable without face to face interactions”

Mere Means

It is wrong to use other people as a mere means to an end.

Opinions50 Split12% D / 86% A Neutral2% Mean+1.82

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 86% A)

Helping Those in Need

Proven Splitter

We have an obligation to help other people in need, even if it requires us to sacrifice.

Opinions50 Split48% D / 46% A Neutral6% Mean-0.10

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Human Superiority

Humans are distinct and more special than other animals.

Opinions48 Split27% D / 52% A Neutral21% Mean+0.12

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 52% A)

Having Children

Mind-Changer

We should restrict who can have children.

Opinions46 Split24% D / 61% A Neutral15% Mean+0.57

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

62% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 62% A)

“good because can get more talked about one on one with someone of opposing view”

Lives Worth Living

Student Favorite Mind-Changer

Some lives are not worth living.

Opinions46 Split61% D / 24% A Neutral15% Mean-0.96

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

80% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (60% D / 26% A)

“It helped to float the actual point the other person was making to the surface”

Morality of Porn

Consuming pornography is morally wrong.

Opinions46 Split39% D / 26% A Neutral35% Mean-0.22

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

50% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (40% D / 26% A)

Children

Having children is wrong

Opinions46 Split83% D / 7% A Neutral11% Mean-1.91

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew disagree (83% D / 6% A)

Violence

Violence may be morally justified in defense of property or in response to systemic oppression.

Opinions10 Split0% D / 80% A Neutral20% Mean+1.60

Data from Northwest R1 HSI

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Reasons to Chose Immortality

I would choose biological immortality if it meant staying healthy and youthful.

Opinions44 Split57% D / 34% A Neutral9% Mean-0.61

Data from Southeast R1

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

“I wish I got more feedback on how I could improve my stance to make it more clear and how I could articulate better.”

Immortality and Knowledge

Student Favorite Mind-Changer

Living forever would allow me to pursue knowledge and experiences without limit.

Opinions44 Split14% D / 82% A Neutral5% Mean+1.27

Data from Southeast R1

90% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 83% A)

“I enjoyed it and it was nice to hear someones opposing view of a topic.”

Reasons to Chose Death

Death gives life meaning and urgency that would be lost with immortality.

Opinions44 Split9% D / 89% A Neutral2% Mean+1.80

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 89% A)

Immortality and Social Stagnation

Student Favorite

Society would stagnate if people lived forever, blocking progress and change for new generations.

Opinions44 Split27% D / 64% A Neutral9% Mean+0.84

Data from Southeast R1

92% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (28% D / 63% A)

“In terms of this chat space, the environment provided by Sway did allow me to express my ideas with less concern that they may be judged harshly or disregarded.”

The Unbearable Pain of Immortality

Watching everyone you love die while you live on would be unbearable.

Opinions44 Split7% D / 91% A Neutral2% Mean+2.25

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 91% A)

“The guide felt more inconsistent compared to the classroom discussion. You can't clarify with the guide if it misrepresents your point.”

Individual V. Society

The failure to punish Emmett Till’s killers wasn’t just one person’s fault—it shows that the whole system was unfair, and we need to make that right.

Opinions40 Split15% D / 65% A Neutral20% Mean+1.00

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 67% A)

Belief

Belief matters more than truth.

Opinions42 Split52% D / 29% A Neutral19% Mean-0.48

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (50% D / 27% A)

“Honestly it was so interesting even though we agreed on the same thing, but sway definitely helped us think about what we should say when responding.”

The Limits of Bodily Autonomy

A woman's right to bodily autonomy includes the right to end a pregnancy.

Opinions38 Split24% D / 74% A Neutral3% Mean+1.32

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 74% A)

“In this chat, some of the downsides of Sway were starkly apparent. Namely, it was hard for both of us to articulate our position in a concise manner without risking interruptions.”

Moral Personhood

A fetus in early pregnancy lacks the characteristics that confer moral personhood.

Opinions38 Split16% D / 66% A Neutral18% Mean+1.11

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 66% A)

“My experience talking on Sway was very good. It was similar to a classroom discussion because the AI mediator was like a teacher, as it was able to guide our discussions in the right direction and help us understand d...”

Decriminalizing Drugs

Decriminalizing drugs sends the wrong moral message, even if it reduces harm.

Opinions38 Split34% D / 45% A Neutral21% Mean+0.26

Data from Midwest R1

Moral Authority

Modern medicine has expanded its moral authority too far.

Opinions38 Split34% D / 26% A Neutral39% Mean-0.11

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (34% D / 26% A)

Retaliation as Protection

A moral system that treats retaliation as protection ultimately protects no one.

Opinions38 Split24% D / 47% A Neutral29% Mean+0.42

Data from Mid-Atlantic

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 47% A)

Duty to Retreat

A moral framework that removes the duty to retreat legitimizes impulsive violence rather than preventing injustice.

Opinions38 Split34% D / 29% A Neutral37% Mean-0.26

Data from Mid-Atlantic

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (34% D / 29% A)

Is Violence a Moral Failure?

The belief that violence is the only viable response is a moral failure, regardless of whether it is socially or legally sanctioned.

Opinions38 Split18% D / 55% A Neutral26% Mean+0.47

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 55% A)

Stand Your Ground as a Solution

In communities where fear and violence are normalized, a clearly defined legal right to self‑defense offers a more ethical alternative to informal “codes” that demand revenge.

Opinions38 Split13% D / 39% A Neutral47% Mean+0.45

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 40% A)

Street Codes vs. Stand Your Ground Laws

Stand Your Ground laws and street codes of revenge share the same ethical flaw: they prioritize perceived threat over actual accountability.

Opinions38 Split26% D / 34% A Neutral39% Mean-0.11

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 34% A)

Are Laws or Rules Necessary

When moral reasoning is replaced by rigid rules—legal or cultural—human life becomes negotiable.

Opinions38 Split16% D / 39% A Neutral45% Mean+0.24

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 40% A)

The Repugnant Conclusion

It would be better to have a huge population of people living lives that are worth living but not very good than to have a small population of people living lives that are very good.

Opinions36 Split61% D / 14% A Neutral25% Mean-0.94

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (60% D / 14% A)

Distant Future People

Distant future people matter just as much--they have the same moral value--as present people.

Opinions36 Split19% D / 81% A Neutral0% Mean+1.42

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 78% A)

“I enjoyed the experience! Guide is very helpful. That said, I feel like the guide should respond more to Shiloh's view and pose more questions to me in order to advance the debate.”

Harming and Wronging

If an act doesn't harm anyone, then it isn't morally wrong.

Opinions36 Split69% D / 28% A Neutral3% Mean-0.83

Data from Canada

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (68% D / 30% A)

Boonin's Case of Barney

Student Favorite

In the following case, Barney does the morally wrong thing. Barney: Barney is walking past a lake in which two young women are drowning. One is near him, the other is further away. Barney has one life preserver. He can toss the life preserver to the woman who is near him, but by the time she is safely ashore, it will be too late to save the further away woman. He can run down the shore and toss the life preserver to the further away woman, but by the time that she is safely ashore, it will be too late to save the first woman. So Barney can only save one of the two women. Since he would have to walk further to save the second woman, it would be somewhat more convenient for Barney to save the woman who is near him. The inconvenience to Barney of saving the further away woman rather than the nearby woman is comparable to the inconvenience of taking or giving a tiny pill once a day for two months. Barney also knows the following facts about the women: each of them has just had sexual intercourse and conception will occur in each of them in approximately an hour, if they do not die first. One of the women will conceive an incurably blind child. The other will conceive a child who is not blind. The woman who will shortly conceive a blind child is the one who is closer to Barney. Barney decides to save the woman who will shortly conceive a blind child because this is more convenient for him.

Opinions37 Split31% D / 53% A Neutral17% Mean+0.33

Data from Canada

83% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (70% D / 22% A)

Betty and Wilma

In the following case, Betty does something wrong by throwing away her pills, but Wilma does nothing morally wrong by throwing away her pills and conceiving immediately. Betty: Betty takes her newborn baby for a checkup. The doctor explains that the baby is going to become permanently blind, unless Betty gives the baby a tiny pill once a day for the next two months. The pill is free, has no side-effects, and is easy to give to the baby. Fully understanding all of this, Betty decides that it is too inconvenient and throws the pills away. As a result, she ends up with an incurably blind child rather than a sighted child. Wilma: Wilma is planning to have a baby and goes to the doctor for a pre-conception checkup. The doctor explains that if Wilma conceives now, she will have a child that is permanently blind. But she can prevent this by taking a tiny pill once a day for two months before conceiving. The pill is free, has no side-effects, and is easy to take. Fully understanding all of this, Wilma decides that it is too inconvenient and throws the pills away, conceiving at once. As a result, she ends up with an incurably blind child rather than a sighted child.

Opinions37 Split28% D / 61% A Neutral11% Mean+0.42

Data from Canada

43% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (70% D / 24% A)

“Sway allowed me to consider [redacted's] opinion from a different perspective concerning bodily autonomy.”

Terraforming

Altering another planet’s ecosystems is ethically wrong.

Opinions36 Split22% D / 39% A Neutral39% Mean+0.31

Data from Canada

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (30% D / 54% A)

Irresponsibility

Spreading life to other planets is morally irresponsible if there is any chance of existing indigenous life on those planets.

Opinions36 Split44% D / 33% A Neutral22% Mean-0.19

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 62% A)

Legal Policies vs. Moral Obligations

Legal equality requires colorblind policies; moral equality requires race-conscious remedies.

Opinions36 Split36% D / 19% A Neutral44% Mean-0.36

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 38% A)

Moral Obligations of a Leader

When legality and morality conflict, leaders have a moral obligation to prioritize morality over law.

Opinions36 Split19% D / 39% A Neutral42% Mean+0.31

Data from Mid-Atlantic

62% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Corrective Measures

Historical injustice imposes a moral duty on present-day institutions to implement corrective measures, regardless of legal limitations.

Opinions36 Split22% D / 31% A Neutral47% Mean+0.11

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew disagree (35% D / 22% A)

“The Sway chat helped me practice breaking down arguments, staying calm, and focusing on the core question instead of getting pulled into side points. It showed me how to ask clarifying questions and challenge claims r...”

The Innocence Question

The moral risk of executing an innocent person outweighs any ethical justification for capital punishment.

Opinions36 Split33% D / 67% A Neutral0% Mean+0.69

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 38% A)

Offensive Speech

Moral respect for individual autonomy justifies allowing even deeply offensive speech.

Opinions36 Split31% D / 61% A Neutral8% Mean+0.58

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 32% A)

Moral Weight

Student Favorite

The interests of humans have a greater moral weight than the interests of non-human animals.

Opinions36 Split61% D / 25% A Neutral14% Mean-0.92

Data from Canada

80% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

“It was pretty fun. I enjoy debating on topics like this”

Consciousness

All animals are conscious.

Opinions36 Split44% D / 53% A Neutral3% Mean+0.06

Data from Canada

Speciesism

Speciesism is just like racism or sexism.

Opinions36 Split17% D / 75% A Neutral8% Mean+1.19

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (61% D / 25% A)

Capacity to Feel Pain

All beings that can feel pain should count equally in our moral decisions.

Opinions36 Split6% D / 69% A Neutral25% Mean+1.03

Data from Canada

Harm Budgets

Living ethically means keeping one’s total harm within a reasonable limit, not minimizing harm at all costs.

Opinions30 Split7% D / 83% A Neutral10% Mean+1.70

Data from Canada

75% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 75% A)

“I think we had the same opinion, it was just the interpretation that was different”

Net-Positive Lives

Most wild animals have lives that are, on balance, good rather than bad.

Opinions30 Split0% D / 97% A Neutral3% Mean+2.50

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 69% A)

Collective Moral Responsibility

Moral responsibility for global problems should be shared collectively rather than assigned to individuals.

Opinions30 Split23% D / 73% A Neutral3% Mean+1.03

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (8% D / 83% A)

Anthropocentrism Versus Ecocentrism

Nature has moral value independent of its usefulness to humans.

Opinions30 Split37% D / 63% A Neutral0% Mean+0.33

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (3% D / 94% A)

Rights of Nature

Ecosystems should have legal rights similar to human rights.

Opinions34 Split6% D / 79% A Neutral15% Mean+1.79

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 75% A)

Moral Responsibility for Climate Change

Individuals are morally responsible for climate change in the same way governments and corporations are.

Opinions34 Split47% D / 32% A Neutral21% Mean-0.15

Data from Canada

Current Machines

Current machines don’t have the kind of interests that would make them moral patients.

Opinions34 Split32% D / 50% A Neutral18% Mean+0.15

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 80% A)

Synthetic Life

Mind-Changer

The creation of synthetic life is wrong, or would at least diminish the value of life.

Opinions30 Split40% D / 27% A Neutral33% Mean-0.27

Data from Canada

57% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

Moral Dilemmas

It is possible to face decisions in which all your options are so bad that even choosing the ‘lesser evil’ is morally unacceptable. (E.g., Sophie in Sophie’s Choice may face a decision like this.)

Opinions30 Split17% D / 60% A Neutral23% Mean+1.10

Data from Canada

60% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Moral Relativism

There are no universal moral truths incumbent upon everyone.

Opinions30 Split60% D / 27% A Neutral13% Mean-0.87

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (34% D / 29% A)

“Prior to the discussion, I don’t believe that.I had considered a lot of the counter arguments that were brought up. However I felt that it was a very good discussion and challenged me in my perceptions well and that I...”

Is Over Over?

Death is not the end of us.

Opinions34 Split56% D / 26% A Neutral18% Mean-0.76

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 57% A)

“It's really good at removing any confusion between two people. It's also good in summarizing what the other person is saying as well as helps give proper questions to answer to keep us on the same page.”

Moral Vegitarianism

Animals have a right not to be eaten/raised to be eaten.

Opinions34 Split32% D / 65% A Neutral3% Mean+0.79

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (57% D / 29% A)

Are All Lives Meaningful?

Some lives are not meaningful.

Opinions34 Split12% D / 59% A Neutral29% Mean+1.12

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

50% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (54% D / 26% A)

Free Will

We have total free will.

Opinions34 Split0% D / 97% A Neutral3% Mean+2.50

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

“It made me more confident in my position, but also made me understand how others view the same topic.”

Moral Responsibility

We should only hold people morally responsible if they could done otherwise. .

Opinions34 Split24% D / 50% A Neutral26% Mean+0.41

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 57% A)

Create Meaning

Even if there is no ultimate meaning, we can create meaning for ourselves.

Opinions34 Split24% D / 56% A Neutral21% Mean+0.68

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew agree (0% D / 97% A)

No Free Will?

If we all found out that we did not have free will, bad things would happen.

Opinions34 Split59% D / 32% A Neutral9% Mean-0.59

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 49% A)

What Animals Deserve

Animals deserve moral consideration, but this falls short of possessing actual rights

Opinions34 Split15% D / 79% A Neutral6% Mean+1.24

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 56% A)

Moral Reasoning and Rights

Only beings capable of moral reasoning and reciprocal obligations can possess rights.

Opinions32 Split31% D / 41% A Neutral28% Mean+0.34

Data from Southeast R1

“I enjoyed this conversation. It was nice that the AI kept challenging our views when we agreed.”

Suffering and Rights

Animals' capacity to suffer gives them moral rights we must respect.

Opinions32 Split41% D / 22% A Neutral38% Mean-0.22

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 79% A)

Personhood

Moral personhood begins at conception. (Meaning, at the point of conception, it is a person, regardless of what lines scientists draw such as heartbeat, consciousness, etc.)

Opinions32 Split28% D / 47% A Neutral25% Mean+0.12

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Psychological vs. Biological Capacities

Moral rights depend on psychological capacities (mental capacity) rather than biological membership alone.

Opinions32 Split25% D / 44% A Neutral31% Mean+0.44

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew disagree (39% D / 21% A)

Woman's Right to Bodily Autonomy

Mind-Changer

A woman’s right to bodily autonomy morally outweighs a fetus’s right to life.

Opinions32 Split25% D / 47% A Neutral28% Mean+0.50

Data from Mid-Atlantic

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 48% A)

Self-Protection

Causing death is morally permissible when necessary to preserve personal autonomy.

Opinions32 Split19% D / 53% A Neutral28% Mean+0.66

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 42% A)

Potential Personhood

"Potential personhood" (the fact that if a healthy pregnancy is allowed to continue, to healthy outcome is the birth of a person) is sufficient to grant a fetus moral rights.

Opinions32 Split31% D / 44% A Neutral25% Mean+0.00

Data from Mid-Atlantic

60% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 46% A)

“Sway maintained my confidence by asking me to clarify my viewpoint and make distinctions in my claims.”

Societal Interests

Society has a moral obligation to protect prenatal human life. (Through laws, etc.)

Opinions32 Split9% D / 66% A Neutral25% Mean+1.16

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 52% A)

Value of Human Life

The moral value of human life exists on a developmental continuum rather than at a fixed moment. (The value of a human life increases as that life develops physically and cognitively.)

Opinions32 Split22% D / 47% A Neutral31% Mean+0.50

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Moral Obligation to Help Others

If we can prevent suffering without sacrificing something of comparable moral importance, we are morally obligated to do so. (Ex. save a drowning child, but at the cost of ruining our $200 pair of shoes).

Opinions32 Split31% D / 44% A Neutral25% Mean+0.19

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 66% A)

Veil of Ignorance

A just society is one whose rules we would choose behind a veil of ignorance, not knowing our own position.

Opinions30 Split23% D / 67% A Neutral10% Mean+0.87

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 47% A)

Fairness and Equality

Mind-Changer

A fair society should allow differences in wealth and power only if those differences help the people who have the least.

Opinions30 Split27% D / 57% A Neutral17% Mean+0.57

Data from Mid-Atlantic

50% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

“Guide was helpful as always and the specific questions focused my thinking.”

Humans Versus Non-Sentient Life

When human interests conflict with the flourishing of non-sentient life, human interests take priority.

Opinions30 Split50% D / 43% A Neutral7% Mean+0.03

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 68% A)

Could Artifacts Have Interests?

Only a living thing could have interests or ‘goods of its own’.

Opinions30 Split23% D / 77% A Neutral0% Mean+0.97

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 55% A)

Death

Death is always a harm to a living being, even one without consciousness/sentience.

Opinions30 Split27% D / 50% A Neutral23% Mean+0.50

Data from Canada

Value of Life

All living things have intrinsic moral value.

Opinions30 Split50% D / 37% A Neutral13% Mean-0.23

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 77% A)

Non-Sentient Life Versus Sentient Life

It is morally permissible to kill non-sentient organisms when doing so benefits sentient beings.

Opinions10 Split40% D / 40% A Neutral20% Mean-0.30

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 52% A)

The Inference from Value to Moral Status

Even if non-sentient beings have intrinsic value or ‘goods of their own’, they are not moral patients (do not belong in the moral community; are not morally considerable).

Opinions30 Split67% D / 13% A Neutral20% Mean-1.30

Data from Canada

60% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Justice

Fairness matters more than equality in justice.

Opinions26 Split46% D / 54% A Neutral0% Mean+0.04

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

Superhumans

It is ethical to create genetically enhanced soldiers if it protects a nation and saves lives.

Opinions29 Split79% D / 14% A Neutral7% Mean-1.97

Data from Midwest R1

100% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (68% D / 13% A)

Work Ethic

If you work hard enough, you can live the American dream.

Opinions28 Split46% D / 25% A Neutral29% Mean-0.32

Data from Midwest Baccalaureate

Sexbots

We can decrease pedophilia by creating realistic child-like sexbots.

Opinions28 Split61% D / 14% A Neutral25% Mean-0.93

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (79% D / 14% A)

Lying to Friends

It is ethically permissible to lie to preserve a friendship.

Opinions26 Split35% D / 58% A Neutral8% Mean+0.00

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (45% D / 24% A)

Purpose of Life

There can be no purpose to life other than the experience of pleasure.

Opinions20 Split45% D / 50% A Neutral5% Mean-0.05

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (59% D / 14% A)

Charity

Student Favorite

If you can save a stranger's life by donating discretionary income to a reputable charity, you are morally obligated to do so.

Opinions20 Split70% D / 15% A Neutral15% Mean-1.20

Data from South R2

67% rated Awesome/Good (15 post-chat surveys)

“It was super interesting because I felt like I got the opportunity to speak my voice a little bit more - sometimes that is nerve racking in the classroom!”

Lying

Student Favorite

It is ok to lie to someone you love about something important if doing so will prevent them from suffering.

Opinions20 Split20% D / 75% A Neutral5% Mean+0.90

Data from West Associate's HSI

92% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

“It helped guide the discussion when we were feeling stuck or reiterate the same points”

Charitable Giving

You have a moral obligation to give to charity. If you choose not to give to charity you are doing something morally wrong.

Opinions24 Split42% D / 54% A Neutral4% Mean+0.04

Data from West Associate's HSI

Tends to skew disagree (67% D / 15% A)

Sacrifice for the Greater Good

Individuals sometimes have a moral obligation to sacrifice their own happiness for the greater good.

Opinions24 Split33% D / 67% A Neutral0% Mean+0.79

Data from West Associate's HSI

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 78% A)

Environmental Rights Theory vs. Traditional Ethics

Should ecosystems be granted legal or moral rights similar to human rights?

Opinions24 Split33% D / 54% A Neutral12% Mean+0.04

Data from Canada

“It was great. I think we have way more in common than it seemed”

Utilitarian Anti-Speciesism vs. Human-Centered Ethics

Should moral consideration extend equally to all sentient beings, regardless of species?

Opinions24 Split12% D / 58% A Neutral29% Mean+0.79

Data from Canada

Utilitarianism vs. Deontology

Can an action that violates individual rights ever be morally justified by collective benefits?

Opinions24 Split4% D / 79% A Neutral17% Mean+1.38

Data from Canada

Utilitarian Ecocentrism

Should ecosystem stability and resilience be a primary moral goal, even when it conflicts with animal welfare?

Opinions24 Split17% D / 67% A Neutral17% Mean+0.88

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 56% A)

Recreational Ethics

Is it morally justifiable to keep pets for human companionship if their lives are shaped by human control?

Opinions22 Split5% D / 50% A Neutral45% Mean+1.00

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 80% A)

Individualism vs. Holism

Do ecosystems have moral standing independent of the individuals within them?

Opinions22 Split50% D / 27% A Neutral23% Mean-0.45

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 68% A)

Intrinsic Value in Nature

Mountains, forests, and ecosystems have moral value in themselves, not just because they benefit humans and animals.

Opinions22 Split23% D / 55% A Neutral23% Mean+0.77

Data from Midwest Associate's

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 48% A)

Euthanasia - Killing vs. Letting Die

There’s no moral difference between letting someone die and actively helping them die—if the result and intention are the same.

Opinions14 Split86% D / 0% A Neutral14% Mean-1.93

Data from Midwest Associate's

50% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Legacy of Racism - Past Injustice, Present Duty

The United States still benefits from racial injustices of the past, and has a moral obligation to try to make things right.

Opinions22 Split14% D / 86% A Neutral0% Mean+1.36

Data from Midwest Associate's

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 52% A)

Moral Status

Robots should be granted legal personhood if they achieve a certain level of intelligence.

Opinions22 Split9% D / 68% A Neutral23% Mean+0.95

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (70% D / 13% A)

Avery's Insight

Most people do not want to learn the truth for its own sake, they want "truth" only if it confirms what they are already predisposed to believe as true.

Opinions20 Split65% D / 10% A Neutral25% Mean-0.80

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 87% A)

Offensiveness

Disagreements about offensive language are primarily driven by moral intuitions, not reason.

Opinions20 Split30% D / 65% A Neutral5% Mean+1.05

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 70% A)

Moral Emotions

Emotions are more reliable than reason in moral decisions.

Opinions20 Split40% D / 60% A Neutral0% Mean-0.05

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew disagree (65% D / 9% A)

Existential Existence

You are entirely responsible for who you become.

Opinions20 Split5% D / 85% A Neutral10% Mean+1.40

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Right/Wrong

Doing the right thing often feels wrong.

Opinions20 Split25% D / 40% A Neutral35% Mean+0.15

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Shame

Shame is necessary for a functioning society.

Opinions20 Split20% D / 35% A Neutral45% Mean+0.30

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 83% A)

Constructed Morality

Morality is just a social construct.

Opinions20 Split25% D / 40% A Neutral35% Mean+0.15

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Authenticity

Authenticity is more important than happiness.

Opinions22 Split64% D / 36% A Neutral0% Mean-0.55

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 44% A)

Moral Outrage

Moral outrage is mostly performative

Opinions22 Split27% D / 73% A Neutral0% Mean+0.77

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 39% A)

Coercive Interference

Coercive interference is never justified in forcibly housing individuals because autonomy is the only intrinsic good.

Opinions23 Split65% D / 35% A Neutral0% Mean-0.57

Data from West R1 HSI

Adaptive Preferences

We should respect an individual's choice to "sleep rough" if they are above the threshold of competence, even if their desires are the result of adaptive preferences (the unconscious altering of our preferences as the result of our limited options).

Opinions22 Split55% D / 36% A Neutral9% Mean-0.77

Data from West R1 HSI

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 74% A)

Aristotelian Happiness

Aristotle's view that eudaimonia (flourishing or happiness) is the ultimate goal of human life is philosophically sound.

Opinions20 Split10% D / 90% A Neutral0% Mean+2.05

43% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Animal Ethics Frameworks

Utilitarianism is the best ethical system to use when evaluating the moral status of animals.

Opinions20 Split100% D / 0% A Neutral0% Mean-2.50

60% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Nonviolence

No one deserves violence, no matter what they say or believe.

Opinions18 Split17% D / 67% A Neutral17% Mean+1.39

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 86% A)

Unwanted Births

Unwanted children would be better off if there were a market in adoption rights, with babies going to the highest bidder.

Opinions12 Split0% D / 92% A Neutral8% Mean+2.00

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (100% D / 0% A)

Ethics and Racism

There is a moral obligation to actively challenge systems and institutions that reproduce racial inequality, even when doing so creates social conflict.

Opinions1,134 Split5% D / 64% A Neutral31% Mean+1.32

Data from Northeast R2

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 65% A)

Cultural Equality

Proven Splitter

It is more important to treat all cultures equally than to prevent potentially morally wrong things from happening.

Opinions42 Split26% D / 45% A Neutral29% Mean+0.48

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Personal Identity

Proven Splitter

Personal identity is principally a matter of artifice: it is merely a series of performances and affectations that make a person “who they are.”

Opinions72 Split8% D / 78% A Neutral14% Mean+1.18

Data from Midwest

health & bioethics

Questions at the intersection of medicine, public health, and moral reasoning. These topics suit nursing, pre-med, public health, bioethics, and health policy courses.

NHS Provision

Proven Splitter

The National Health Service isn’t fit for purpose and the UK should move to an insurance-based system

Opinions52 Split27% D / 58% A Neutral15% Mean+0.56

Data from Europe

Universal Healthcare

Student Favorite

The US should guarantee access to health insurance for all of its legal residents.

Opinions1,134 Split74% D / 10% A Neutral16% Mean-1.54

Data from 4 institutions across 3 regions (Northeast R1 Ivy League, Southeast R1 MSI, Mountain West Doctoral/Professional, Southeast R1)

81% rated Awesome/Good (116 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 80% A)

“In class only those who gfelt confident enough in their view share their perspective but here in sway everyone get equal chance to share their perspective.”

Impact of Vaccine Skeptics on Public Health

Vaccine skeptics endanger public health by not vaccinating their children for measles.

Opinions232 Split33% D / 34% A Neutral32% Mean-0.04

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

70% rated Awesome/Good (56 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 72% A)

“I feel the robot was dismissive of my analogy and I will neither confirm nor deny if I agree with my point, but my purpose was to argue my stance and I did just that Thank You!”

Organ Donation

Given the long wait lists for most transplant organs, organ donation should be mandatory for everyone.

Opinions158 Split18% D / 53% A Neutral29% Mean+0.84

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

73% rated Awesome/Good (93 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (74% D / 11% A)

“It was extremely helpful and boosted my confidence. I think I’m more prepared for another discussion after this one.”

Physician-Assisted Suicide

Proven Splitter

It should be legal for physicians to assist terminally ill patients to commit suicide.

Opinions864 Split32% D / 35% A Neutral33% Mean-0.03

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

73% rated Awesome/Good (75 post-chat surveys)

“It made me become more open minded and research a little more to make sure my information was correct. It gave me a deeper insight.”

Refusal of Treatment on Moral Grounds

Student Favorite

Healthcare providers should not be allowed to refuse treatment based on moral grounds.

Opinions761 Split18% D / 51% A Neutral31% Mean+0.77

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

71% rated Awesome/Good (38 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 51% A)

“I think the guide helped break the ice and also provide conversation starters or help to continue the conversation flowing when we ran out of arguments”

Pharmaceutical Industry Sponsorship

Student Favorite

Pharmacy students should be allowed to accept gifts from industry and attend industry-funded events

Opinions254 Split21% D / 66% A Neutral13% Mean+0.93

Data from Canada

96% rated Awesome/Good (24 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 66% A)

“I feel like it is really good that there is an AI (Guide) that helps propose new ideas and thoughts into the conversation which makes the conversation of the complex issues flow better.”

Abortion is Almost Always Morally Permissible

In most cases, abortion is morally permissible and should be legal.

Opinions146 Split34% D / 33% A Neutral33% Mean-0.11

Data from Southeast M1 HBCU

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (8% D / 90% A)

Medical Aid in Dying

In most cases, medical aid in dying is morally permissible and should be legal.

Opinions146 Split40% D / 40% A Neutral20% Mean-0.05

Data from Midwest Doctoral/Professional

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 79% A)

Circumcision

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

We should be gender-neutral when it comes to genital mutilation. If we are going to ban female genital mutilation (surgically removing part or all of the clitoris), we should also ban male circumcision.

Opinions150 Split33% D / 32% A Neutral35% Mean-0.11

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (West R1 HSI)

84% rated Awesome/Good (32 post-chat surveys)

FGM

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

In some societies, people practice female genital mutilation, including surgically removing part or all of the clitoris, as part of their religion. We should respect people’s right to practice that tradition and not impose Western values onto those in the Global South

Opinions126 Split16% D / 75% A Neutral10% Mean+1.02

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (West R1 HSI)

75% rated Awesome/Good (40 post-chat surveys)

Household Budgets

Food insecurity is less about food prices and more about high housing, healthcare, and childcare costs squeezing household budgets.

Opinions104 Split9% D / 41% A Neutral50% Mean+0.42

Data from Northwest R1

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 75% A)

SNAP Restrictions

Proven Splitter

Restricting what foods can be purchased with SNAP benefits would ultimately improve health outcomes for recipients.

Opinions60 Split55% D / 27% A Neutral18% Mean-0.72

Data from Northwest R1

77% rated Awesome/Good (30 post-chat surveys)

“I enjoyed talking about the different views. I think it helped me understand more of the other side, while also getting to have a good conversation.”

Are Nudges Manipulative or Helpful?

Nudges claim to preserve freedom of choice while steering people toward ‘better’ decisions. But libertarian paternalism is actually subtly manipulating them.

Opinions83 Split14% D / 46% A Neutral40% Mean+0.63

Data from Southeast R1

75% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 38% A)

Disability Discrimination

Student Favorite

When a person with a disability and a person without a disability need identical medical treatment, and we can only provide treatment to one of them, we should provide treatment to the person without the disability.

Opinions22 Split82% D / 18% A Neutral0% Mean-1.27

Data from Southeast R1

94% rated Awesome/Good (16 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (53% D / 29% A)

The Medicalization of Erectile Dysfunction

We need a public information campaign that challenges the view of “erectile dysfunction” as a medical pathology and reframes it as a normal part of aging. This campaign could encourage men to explore non-penetrative sex as an alternative to using drugs like Viagra

Opinions75 Split16% D / 64% A Neutral20% Mean+1.07

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (West R1 HSI)

86% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 40% A)

Healthcare for All

The United States government should provide free healthcare for its citizens

Opinions92 Split83% D / 13% A Neutral4% Mean-1.89

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Mountain West R1, Mid-Atlantic R1)

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 69% A)

Euthanasia is Almost Always Immoral

In most cases, euthanasia is immoral and should be illegal.

Opinions92 Split21% D / 57% A Neutral23% Mean+0.64

Data from Southeast M1 HBCU

Tends to skew disagree (54% D / 20% A)

Abortion is Almost Always Immoral

In most cases, abortion is immoral and should be illegal.

Opinions92 Split73% D / 14% A Neutral13% Mean-1.36

Data from Southeast M1 HBCU

Tends to skew disagree (83% D / 13% A)

“Guide’s approach feels more structured and balanced than most classroom discussions. It keeps both sides focused, asks clear follow-up questions, and pushes for deeper reasoning without taking sides, something that ca...”

Euthanasia is Almost Always Morally Permissible

In most cases, euthanasia is morally permissible and should be legal.

Opinions93 Split20% D / 56% A Neutral24% Mean+0.63

Data from Southeast M1 HBCU

86% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (20% D / 56% A)

Privatized Health Care Systems Are the Best

Overall, the best health care systems are privatized systems, where private health care companies deliver health care services to customers who pay for them out of pocket.

Opinions82 Split39% D / 52% A Neutral9% Mean+0.33

Data from Southeast M1 HBCU

100% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (73% D / 14% A)

Euthanasia

People not suffering from mental illness (such as depression or psychosis) should be able to choose of their own free will to end their own lives, particularly but not only when they are in great pain, as for example with cancer.

Opinions72 Split4% D / 96% A Neutral0% Mean+1.92

Data from 3 institutions across 3 regions (Mid-Atlantic, Northeast M1, Midwest R1)

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 59% A)

Privatizing Canadian Healthcare

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Canada should increase the role of private, for-profit companies in its healthcare system to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Opinions80 Split1% D / 88% A Neutral11% Mean+2.48

Data from Canada

94% rated Awesome/Good (16 post-chat surveys)

“it was really nice while chatting with a person who is debating about the same topic . i used to know may things form this chatting session and the guide gives perfect way to get success in our chat session and guide ...”

Social Media and Depression

Social media use has contributed to a dramatic increase in depression among young adults.

Opinions46 Split33% D / 50% A Neutral17% Mean+0.24

Data from 3 institutions across 3 regions (South Associate's, Mid-Atlantic R1, Northeast R1 Ivy League)

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 93% A)

“It is my first time to take participate in the Sway, and I think this experience is truly good opportunity to participate in classroom discussions since it is more better to say my own opinion.”

Vaccines and Autism

Vaccines definitely do NOT cause autism.

Opinions46 Split26% D / 72% A Neutral2% Mean+1.30

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (1% D / 88% A)

Singer on Abortion

Proven Splitter

A fetus merits, at best, quite low moral consideration because it lacks altogether or only marginally possesses the characteristics definitive of personhood.

Opinions46 Split61% D / 37% A Neutral2% Mean-0.50

Data from Southeast R1

Thomson on Abortion

Student Favorite

Abortion is morally permissible because women have very strong rights over their own bodies.

Opinions66 Split59% D / 32% A Neutral9% Mean-0.71

Data from Southeast R1

92% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 78% A)

Marquis on Abortion

Proven Splitter

Because a fetus has a future like ours, it is morally wrong to kill it.

Opinions66 Split5% D / 80% A Neutral15% Mean+1.85

Data from Southeast R1

75% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Marginal Cases

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

If it is morally permissible to perform medical experiments on an animal, then it must be morally permissible to perform medical experiments on a cognitively-similar human being.

Opinions66 Split45% D / 30% A Neutral24% Mean-0.45

Data from Southeast R1

91% rated Awesome/Good (11 post-chat surveys)

The Potential Harms of Abortion Bans

Many women have been harmed by state abortion bans.

Opinions66 Split8% D / 77% A Neutral15% Mean+1.77

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 81% A)

The Proper Role of Fathers in Abortion Decisions

Men should have a say in whether a child they have fathered is aborted by the mother or not.

Opinions66 Split27% D / 62% A Neutral11% Mean+0.94

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (44% D / 29% A)

Accessing the Morning-After Pill

The morning after pill should be accessible by mail regardless of where a woman lives in the US.

Opinions66 Split50% D / 27% A Neutral23% Mean-0.59

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (7% D / 76% A)

Abortion, Choice, and Law

Whether abortion is murder or not is up to an individual’s own beliefs and conscience rather than something that should be written into laws.

Opinions66 Split20% D / 55% A Neutral26% Mean+0.77

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

67% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 62% A)

Government Funding for Abortion

Abortion should not be covered by government-funded insurance except when the mother’s life is in danger.

Opinions66 Split53% D / 24% A Neutral23% Mean-0.62

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (50% D / 26% A)

Abortion Opponents' Attitudes Towards Women

Abortion opponents who claim to be concerned about the mother’s well-being are not being truthful.

Opinions66 Split23% D / 45% A Neutral32% Mean+0.24

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 56% A)

The Effects of Easy Access to Abortion

When abortions are easy to get, women and men are more careless about birth control.

Opinions66 Split29% D / 42% A Neutral29% Mean+0.32

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (52% D / 24% A)

Abortion and Women's Health

Abortions often seriously harm the mental and physical health of the women who undergo them.

Opinions66 Split14% D / 80% A Neutral6% Mean+1.67

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 44% A)

Mandatory Waiting Periods for Abortion Access

It is appropriate to require women to wait a few days after deciding on an abortion so they can consider all the relevant information and options.

Opinions38 Split61% D / 34% A Neutral5% Mean-0.71

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (28% D / 41% A)

Protecting Access to Abortion

There should be a federal law guaranteeing access to abortion—one that cannot be restricted by laws in individual states.

Opinions62 Split26% D / 68% A Neutral6% Mean+0.95

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

88% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 81% A)

“I am continuing to improve my skills in this context on Sway.”

Hendricks on Abortion

Proven Splitter

Even if the fetus is not a person to any degree, abortion is morally wrong.

Opinions62 Split60% D / 26% A Neutral15% Mean-0.87

Data from Southeast R1

Patient Autonomy

Student Favorite

The right to patient autonomy entails that physicians act wrongly if they mislead their patients about or nudge their patients toward any treatment option.

Opinions62 Split40% D / 55% A Neutral5% Mean-0.02

Data from Southeast R1

96% rated Awesome/Good (24 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 68% A)

Apotemnophilia

Physicians should use amputation as a treatment for apotemnophilia.

Opinions60 Split32% D / 63% A Neutral5% Mean+0.47

Data from Southeast R1

73% rated Awesome/Good (15 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (60% D / 26% A)

Medical Paternalism

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Medical paternalism can be justified if the expected gain to patient welfare is sufficiently high.

Opinions60 Split87% D / 7% A Neutral7% Mean-1.85

Data from Southeast R1

94% rated Awesome/Good (17 post-chat surveys)

Alcoholism and Liver Transplantation

Proven Splitter

Alcoholics should not compete for livers on equal terms with non-alcoholics.

Opinions58 Split52% D / 26% A Neutral22% Mean-0.76

Data from Southeast R1

62% rated Awesome/Good (16 post-chat surveys)

Distribution

The right way to distribute healthcare resources is ability to pay. If you can pay, then you can get treatment. If you can't, then you shouldn't get treatment.

Opinions58 Split40% D / 57% A Neutral3% Mean+0.28

Data from Southeast R1

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (87% D / 6% A)

Pharmaceutical Industry

Student Favorite

Patient advocacy groups that have an interest in getting access to particular drugs should be allowed to accept money from the pharmaceutical industry that makes the drug to support their efforts

Opinions58 Split10% D / 74% A Neutral16% Mean+1.21

Data from Canada

100% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (51% D / 28% A)

“Guide did a good job asking thought-provoking questions to facilitate the discussion.”

Pharmacists Selling Homeopathic Products

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Pharmacists should be able to sell homeopathic products in their pharmacies even though they only work because of the placebo effect.

Opinions61 Split39% D / 56% A Neutral5% Mean+0.28

Data from Canada

91% rated Awesome/Good (34 post-chat surveys)

“Sway provides good summary of points said and sometimes clarifies them. It also helps reframe arguments into a new questions that can stoke discussion.”

Pharmacare

Student Favorite

Birth control, abortifacient medications and hormones for transgender patients should be covered by Pharmacare single payer insurance in Canada

Opinions61 Split10% D / 75% A Neutral15% Mean+1.25

Data from Canada

92% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 75% A)

“It helped me practice removing my personal emotions from a sensitive charged chat”

Killing vs. Letting Die

If it is morally acceptable to allow a patient to die, it would also be acceptable to kill them.

Opinions60 Split68% D / 23% A Neutral8% Mean-1.37

Data from Northeast Associate's

100% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (68% D / 23% A)

Beneficence

The ultimate aim of healthcare is to relieve suffering.

Opinions60 Split12% D / 88% A Neutral0% Mean+1.88

Data from Northeast Associate's

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 88% A)

“Guide helps put things into perspective in a different point of view and digs more into detailed information which is very helpful.”

Occupational Therapists & Equipment

Proven Splitter

Anyone can order equipment, occupational therapists should stop gatekeeping this role

Opinions31 Split90% D / 10% A Neutral0% Mean-2.23

Data from Europe

Physiotherapists & Exercise Prescription

Physiotherapists have an extensive education in anatomy & physiology and are therefore the profession best placed to prescribe exercises for rehabilitation

Opinions31 Split84% D / 3% A Neutral13% Mean-1.87

Data from Europe

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 84% A)

Occupational Therapy in Acute Settings

Occupational Therapists should not work in acute physical healthcare settings such as acute hospitals

Opinions31 Split87% D / 10% A Neutral3% Mean-2.10

Data from Europe

Tends to skew disagree (93% D / 7% A)

Physiotherapy in Mental Health

There is no need for physiotherapy in mental health settings

Opinions52 Split40% D / 38% A Neutral21% Mean-0.21

Data from Europe

Tends to skew disagree (86% D / 6% A)

Physically Disabled Physiotherapists

People with physical disabilities cannot practice as physiotherapists

Opinions30 Split30% D / 47% A Neutral23% Mean+0.27

Data from Europe

Tends to skew disagree (84% D / 11% A)

Aurelia Brouwers

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

It was morally permissible for the End of Life Clinic to grant Aurelia Brouwers's request for euthanasia.

Opinions38 Split58% D / 32% A Neutral11% Mean-1.08

Data from Southeast R1

100% rated Awesome/Good (16 post-chat surveys)

Involuntary Commitment

Proven Splitter

It should be easier to involuntarily commit (hold in a facility against their will) mentally ill people for both their safety and everyone else's safety.

Opinions52 Split62% D / 29% A Neutral10% Mean-0.73

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (Northeast R1, Northeast Doctoral/Professional)

100% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Maid for Minors

Minors should have access to medical assistance in dying

Opinions52 Split37% D / 54% A Neutral10% Mean+0.27

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (57% D / 28% A)

“I feel like i went into the conversation with Daneale went really well and changed my mind on a lot of things”

Abortion as a Tragedy

An abortion is a tragedy.

Opinions52 Split27% D / 60% A Neutral13% Mean+0.54

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

67% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (62% D / 29% A)

“Sway challenged me greatly, which helped increase my debating skills.”

Parental Rights

Proven Splitter

Minors should be able to obtain an abortion without notifying or obtaining consent from a parent or guardian.

Opinions52 Split17% D / 65% A Neutral17% Mean+1.12

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Late-Term Abortion

Third-trimester abortions should be permitted only when the pregnant person's life is at risk.

Opinions52 Split52% D / 27% A Neutral21% Mean-0.65

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

75% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 60% A)

Constitutional Amendment

The U.S. Constitution should be amended to explicitly protect the right to abortion nationwide.

Opinions52 Split38% D / 25% A Neutral37% Mean-0.38

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 65% A)

Federalism

Abortion policy should be decided by individual states, not the federal government.

Opinions52 Split19% D / 67% A Neutral13% Mean+0.98

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

100% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (52% D / 27% A)

“I think Sway allows me to articulate my ideas more, especially in-depth. I am able to review my thoughts on ideas and come up with the best way to explain them.”

Access Conditions

The government has a legitimate interest in requiring counseling or waiting periods before an abortion is performed.

Opinions52 Split10% D / 88% A Neutral2% Mean+1.85

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew disagree (38% D / 25% A)

Fatus Moral Status and Policy

Even if one accepts that a fetus has full moral status as a person, abortion should still be permissible in most circumstances.

Opinions50 Split36% D / 56% A Neutral8% Mean+0.58

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 67% A)

Pro Choice

I consider myself pro-choice.

Opinions42 Split64% D / 21% A Neutral14% Mean-1.05

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 88% A)

Cosmetic Surgery on Pets

Cosmetic surgery on companion animals/pets is morally permissible, e.g., ear cropping and tail docking (Doberman Pinschers, Boxers, Great Danes), testicular prosthesis for neutered dogs, cosmetic eyes (for animals that have a damaged eye removed). Assume that there is no established medical benefit to having purely cosmetic procedures.

Opinions49 Split69% D / 18% A Neutral12% Mean-1.14

Data from Southeast M1

17% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (69% D / 18% A)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Health Care

Health care is a right. People who can't access healthcare are suffering a rights violation.

Opinions42 Split57% D / 14% A Neutral29% Mean-0.93

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (West Associate's HSI, Southeast R1)

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 92% A)

Medication

Student Favorite

Under certain circumstances, people with SMI should be required to take psychotropic medications

Opinions40 Split55% D / 35% A Neutral10% Mean-0.38

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Canada, Northeast R1)

87% rated Awesome/Good (15 post-chat surveys)

“The chat helped me feel better about discussing complex issues and sharing my thoughts, even when I had no firm beliefs on the situation.”

Cut the Cut

Circumcision should be banned.

Opinions20 Split15% D / 85% A Neutral0% Mean+1.90

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (57% D / 14% A)

De-Extinction of Species

The development and application of de-extinction technologies (e.g., cloning, genetic engineering) to bring back extinct species (e.g., mammoths, passenger pigeons) are scientifically justifiable and morally imperative endeavors that can restore lost ecological functions and genetic diversity, despite ethical concerns, high costs, and the potential to divert resources from conserving extant species.

Opinions38 Split50% D / 34% A Neutral16% Mean-0.34

Data from Southeast R1

Healthcare

The state should provide everyone with whatever health care they need.

Opinions38 Split50% D / 39% A Neutral11% Mean-0.18

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (South R1, West Associate's HSI)

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 85% A)

“I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. It was nice to be able to share ideas and values without outside noise.”

Abortion and Moral Uncertainty

Even if we're uncertain when personhood begins, we should err on the side of protecting fetal life.

Opinions38 Split21% D / 68% A Neutral11% Mean+1.47

Data from Southeast R1

Abortion and Potential Persons

The fetus's potential to become a person gives it moral status worth protecting.

Opinions38 Split61% D / 29% A Neutral11% Mean-0.66

Data from Southeast R1

Abortion and Equality

Legal abortion access is essential for women's social and economic equality.

Opinions38 Split32% D / 42% A Neutral26% Mean+0.08

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 68% A)

The Moral Status of Abortion

Human life begins at conception, making abortion morally equivalent to ending a human life.

Opinions38 Split13% D / 68% A Neutral18% Mean+0.89

Data from Southeast R1

67% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (60% D / 29% A)

“Zaina told the Sway AI to stop intervening and it stopped and I'm grateful for that. W chat parter.”

Majority/Minority

Public health decisions should prioritize the most vulnerable, even if it inconveniences the majority.

Opinions38 Split39% D / 58% A Neutral3% Mean+0.37

Data from Midwest R1

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

“Sway helped the conversation flow into new subsets of the original topic that allowed for more diverse thinking.”

Experts

Expert consensus should carry more weight than public opinion in health policy.

Opinions38 Split13% D / 21% A Neutral66% Mean+0.05

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 68% A)

Vaccine Decisions

Vaccination decisions should be entirely a personal choice, even if it risks community outbreaks.

Opinions38 Split29% D / 66% A Neutral5% Mean+0.84

Data from Midwest R1

Limits of Policy

Health policy overemphasizes individual choice and underestimates structural constraints.

Opinions36 Split6% D / 94% A Neutral0% Mean+2.36

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 21% A)

9th Month

Abortion in the 8th or 9th month is murder.

Opinions36 Split44% D / 39% A Neutral17% Mean-0.14

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 66% A)

Personal Autonomy

Medical freedom means people should be able to make decisions about their bodies without government control, including gender transition/trans healthcare, euthanasia, and reproductive issues.

Opinions36 Split14% D / 19% A Neutral67% Mean+0.14

Data from West R2 HSI

50% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 95% A)

Crowded Ers

Providing free healthcare to undocumented immigrants worsens healthcare access for U.S. citizens.

Opinions36 Split17% D / 58% A Neutral25% Mean+0.89

Data from Midwest R1

Piecemeal Engineering

Limiting healthcare access for undocumented immigrants ultimately costs the healthcare system more in the long run.

Opinions36 Split31% D / 56% A Neutral14% Mean+0.36

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 22% A)

Tax-Payers

Providing taxpayer-funded healthcare to undocumented immigrants is unfair to citizens who already struggle to afford care.

Opinions36 Split19% D / 72% A Neutral8% Mean+1.11

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 57% A)

Footing the Bill

Expanding healthcare services to undocumented immigrants encourages more illegal immigration.

Opinions36 Split11% D / 86% A Neutral3% Mean+1.67

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (30% D / 54% A)

Health Care for All

Public health systems should treat everyone within U.S. borders regardless of legal status.

Opinions36 Split47% D / 19% A Neutral33% Mean-0.28

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 73% A)

“I liked the conversation we had. I enjoyed the guides questions.”

Personal Autonomy and the Law

If bodily autonomy is a real principle, then courts should have no authority —under any circumstances — to intervene in medical decisions, including gender-affirming care, euthanasia, or reproductive healthcare.

Opinions34 Split71% D / 29% A Neutral0% Mean-0.82

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 86% A)

Physicians' Responsibilities

Assisting in euthanasia (as a doctor) contradicts the moral obligation to protect and respect life.

Opinions34 Split50% D / 44% A Neutral6% Mean-0.32

Data from Mid-Atlantic

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (46% D / 19% A)

Controversies: the Other Plan B

Research has documented various ways in which men benefit from abortion access (“The Other Plan B”). If this is the case, then men should be welcome to participate in the cultural or interpersonal conversations and political debates around abortion access and controversies.

Opinions34 Split12% D / 79% A Neutral9% Mean+1.59

Data from West R2 HSI

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (69% D / 29% A)

Reproduction and the Law: the Will of the People?

Student Favorite

Using controversial cases like Buck v. Bell or the Dobbs decision to argue that the law is fundamentally about social control oversimplifies the fact that our legal system has historically expanded individual rights and reflects democratic processes shaped by the will of the people.

Opinions14 Split29% D / 50% A Neutral21% Mean+0.29

Data from West R2 HSI

91% rated Awesome/Good (11 post-chat surveys)

“Talking on sway somewhat less informal than classroom discussions and feels more like a conversation rather than a structured assignment or discussion.”

Reproductive Justice: Social Control vs Social Change

The law can be used as a tool for justice, fairness, and social change. The law can also be used as a tool for social control. I believe the law is less a neutral guardian of rights and more a flexible instrument of state power — capable of expanding freedom in one era (Roe) and enforcing reproductive control in another (Buck v. Bell).

Opinions34 Split29% D / 62% A Neutral9% Mean+0.47

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 80% A)

Disability

Disability is simply a normal variation of human difference. Instead of merely looking at it as a condition to be cured it instead should be thought of as an identity.

Opinions32 Split28% D / 34% A Neutral38% Mean+0.00

Data from Northeast R2

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 63% A)

Animals in Medical Research

Using animals in medical research should be constrained by their moral rights.

Opinions32 Split3% D / 91% A Neutral6% Mean+2.31

Data from Southeast R1

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 62% A)

“This Sway chat increased my confidence in being able to discuss complex issues with people who hold different views from me because it gave me more practice trying to understand the other side of an argument, which is...”

Personhood as the Determining Factor

The moral permissibility of abortion depends primarily on the status of personhood. (Meaning, whether or not the fetus is considered a "person" is the main determining factor for whether or not abortion is permissible).

Opinions32 Split34% D / 47% A Neutral19% Mean+0.22

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 33% A)

Patient Rights

Patients are entitled to receive timely and convenient treatment, regardless of their medical providers' personal beliefs.

Opinions32 Split44% D / 47% A Neutral9% Mean-0.06

Data from Northeast Associate's

Tends to skew agree (3% D / 91% A)

Patient Impact

Medical professionals can refuse to provide services for religious reasons only if it does not impact patient care.

Opinions32 Split31% D / 66% A Neutral3% Mean+0.88

Data from Northeast Associate's

Moral Objection

Medical professionals can refuse to perform procedures that they consider to be morally objectionable.

Opinions30 Split13% D / 43% A Neutral43% Mean+0.67

Data from Northeast Associate's

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

“The sway chat challenged me to think a little further into my reasoning.”

Religious Exemptions

Medical professionals should be required to provide services, even if it violates their religious beliefs

Opinions30 Split30% D / 43% A Neutral27% Mean+0.23

Data from Northeast Associate's

60% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Eugencis

Using genetic engineering to select intelligence, physical ability, or sex is morally equivalent to historical eugenics programs.

Opinions30 Split67% D / 20% A Neutral13% Mean-1.17

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 42% A)

Diseases

If we have the technology to prevent disabilities or disease in embryos, refusing to use it is unethical.

Opinions30 Split53% D / 7% A Neutral40% Mean-0.97

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 42% A)

Improving Life Outcomes

Choosing traits like height, eye color, or intelligence for embryos is morally acceptable if it gives children a better chance at life.

Opinions30 Split23% D / 50% A Neutral27% Mean+0.43

Data from Midwest R1

88% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (64% D / 19% A)

Benefits vs. Risks

Experimental gene therapies should be made widely available for adults and children, even without long-term safety data, because the potential benefits outweigh the risks.

Opinions30 Split13% D / 50% A Neutral37% Mean+0.67

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (52% D / 6% A)

Let the Parents Decide

Parents should have the right to use genetic engineering to eliminate diseases, even if it risks creating a society divided by engineered traits.

Opinions28 Split32% D / 54% A Neutral14% Mean+0.39

Data from Midwest R1

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 48% A)

Regret

Allowing minors to socially transition encourages lifelong medical interventions that they may later regret.

Opinions28 Split21% D / 46% A Neutral32% Mean+0.29

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 48% A)

Need Shot

Vaccinations should be mandatory except for medical exemptions.

Opinions26 Split35% D / 58% A Neutral8% Mean+0.31

Data from Canada

Mad Maid

The mentally ill deserve the same right to medical assistance in dying as others.

Opinions22 Split5% D / 91% A Neutral5% Mean+2.27

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 45% A)

“It has strengths and weaknesses. The strengths would be that we would generally feel more comfortable communicating ideas while Guide monitors the reasonableness of the arguments and makes us consider ideas that we ma...”

Paternalism

Adults should be legally free to eat, drink, smoke, or inject whatever they darn well please, from processed food to Big Gulps to risky medicines without a prescription to hard drugs.

Opinions22 Split77% D / 5% A Neutral18% Mean-1.09

Data from South R2

50% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Euthanasia: the Right to a Chosen Death

Terminally ill patients should have the right to choose a medically assisted death if they believe continued life brings more suffering than benefit.

Opinions16 Split6% D / 62% A Neutral31% Mean+1.00

Data from Midwest Associate's

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 91% A)

Idiot Compassion

Compassion-focused harm reduction has replaced accountability, allowing destructive behavior to continue indefinitely.

Opinions16 Split25% D / 62% A Neutral12% Mean+0.88

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (78% D / 4% A)

Access vs Quality

The Affordable Care Act improved access but has not significantly improved the quality of care.

Opinions16 Split62% D / 6% A Neutral31% Mean-0.81

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 59% A)

Undocumented Health Care

Noncitizens should have the same access to publicly funded healthcare as U.S. citizens regardless of the cost.

Opinions16 Split12% D / 88% A Neutral0% Mean+1.69

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 68% A)

End of Life

It is ethical for healthcare systems to limit expensive end-of-life care when resources are scarce.

Opinions18 Split11% D / 72% A Neutral17% Mean+1.44

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

Tends to skew disagree (73% D / 4% A)

Cost vs Services

The U.S. should guarantee healthcare for all residents, even if it means higher taxes or longer wait times.

Opinions16 Split31% D / 56% A Neutral12% Mean+0.44

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 86% A)

Mandated Mental Health Trreatment

Involuntary treatment for severe mental illness is justified when it protects both the individual and the public.

Opinions18 Split33% D / 33% A Neutral33% Mean+0.06

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 68% A)

Quality and Efficiency

Efforts to make healthcare completely equal can unintentionally reduce overall quality or efficiency.

Opinions22 Split77% D / 14% A Neutral9% Mean-1.64

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 64% A)

Focus of Sw

Social workers should focus more on helping clients build resilience than on expanding entitlement programs.

Opinions22 Split73% D / 27% A Neutral0% Mean-0.68

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

“it built up my confidence and ability to challenge my perspective”

Career

Any career oriented services should begin only after long periods of stability, no symptoms, and when thir is minimal risk of relapse.

Opinions22 Split36% D / 64% A Neutral0% Mean+0.18

Data from Northeast R1

Tends to skew disagree (77% D / 14% A)

“This Sway chat is interesting, including the format and the intervention of the Guide. It helps people to better understand the dialogue partner and respond accordingly. It also provided a clue to express my own persp...”

Coercion I

Mind-Changer

Coercion in treatment is never or almost never needed in the treatment of serious mental illness.

Opinions22 Split5% D / 95% A Neutral0% Mean+1.86

Data from Northeast R1

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (73% D / 27% A)

“I prefer participating in class as the flow is much smoother. On this platform, my partner is not always available when I am and responds at odd times of the day.”

Coercion II

Depending on the stage of the illness, coercion in treatment may be advisable.

Opinions22 Split32% D / 55% A Neutral14% Mean+0.55

Data from Northeast R1

62% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

“It did make me feel more confident discussing complex issues. It helped me gain a different perspective and also allowed me to get my point across.”

Outpatietn Commitment II

Outpatient commitment can be implemented consistent with the goal of community integration and the values and principles of psychiatric rehabilitation.

Opinions22 Split23% D / 68% A Neutral9% Mean+1.09

Data from Northeast R1

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 96% A)

Outpatient

Outpatient commitment, involuntary care in the community, is a humane alternative.

Opinions22 Split18% D / 77% A Neutral5% Mean+1.18

Data from Northeast R1

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Accessible

More accessible services with more options would obviate the need for involuntary care.

Opinions18 Split33% D / 50% A Neutral17% Mean+0.39

Data from Northeast R1

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 68% A)

Co-Occurring

Stage-wise treatment including harm reduction and motivational interviewing is better than detoxification, expected abstinence, and 12 step programs,

Opinions17 Split76% D / 24% A Neutral0% Mean-1.24

Data from Northeast R1

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 77% A)

Public Health

During public health emergencies, government restrictions on liberty are justified.

Opinions17 Split47% D / 47% A Neutral6% Mean+0.06

Data from Southeast R1

“I enjoyed that I was able to ask the guide for prompts to help move along the discussion. The guide was also good at providing insight into the core arguments of participants.”

Shame-Healthy

Sometimes a little shame (i.e. for being fat) is healthy.

Opinions20 Split50% D / 25% A Neutral25% Mean-0.85

Data from Northeast M1

Tends to skew disagree (80% D / 20% A)

Epidemic

Obesity is an urgent public health crisis.

Opinions18 Split0% D / 83% A Neutral17% Mean+1.94

Data from Northeast M1

Mercy Killing

Parents should have the option of euthanizing newborns with birth defects that would give them a life of pain and disability.

Opinions1,461 Split15% D / 77% A Neutral8% Mean+1.59

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

Tends to skew disagree (50% D / 25% A)

Healthcare and Class

In the United States, there are extreme health disparities between rich and poor due to different health access for the rich and poor in this country.

Opinions1,030 Split4% D / 89% A Neutral7% Mean+2.12

Data from Northeast R2

Tends to skew agree (0% D / 80% A)

Active Euthanasia

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

We ought to legalize the practice of active euthanasia across the world.

Opinions18 Split33% D / 50% A Neutral17% Mean+0.17

Data from Southeast R1

78% rated Awesome/Good (18 post-chat surveys)

Kidney Markets

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

We should legalize kidney markets.

Opinions40 Split35% D / 15% A Neutral50% Mean-0.30

Data from Southeast R1

75% rated Awesome/Good (28 post-chat surveys)

Addiction

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Addiction is primarily a result of individual choices, and recovery depends on a person's willingness to change.

Opinions88 Split25% D / 49% A Neutral26% Mean+0.52

Data from Canada

80% rated Awesome/Good (35 post-chat surveys)

technology & ai

Propositions about artificial intelligence, automation, digital culture, and the societal impact of emerging technologies. Well-suited for computer science, information science, STS, and interdisciplinary technology courses.

LLM Alignment

Proven Splitter

We can ensure that LLMs are aligned with human values by designing them to follow moral or safe rules.

Opinions70 Split40% D / 46% A Neutral14% Mean-0.03

61% rated Awesome/Good (23 post-chat surveys)

AI Art?

Student Favorite

Art created primarily using AI should not be considered true art.

Opinions158 Split11% D / 44% A Neutral45% Mean+0.75

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

75% rated Awesome/Good (167 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 79% A)

“Sway chat increased my confidence when arguing with someone who has different views by providing guidance as to how to efficiently speak with them.”

Digitally Altered Videos

Student Favorite

Digitally altered videos should have to be labeled and the types of alteration noted.

Opinions8 Split50% D / 50% A Neutral0% Mean-0.25

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

85% rated Awesome/Good (20 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 87% A)

“I prefer face-to-face, as so other forms of expression (eyes, body, tone) are lost in written discussion. However, it was still good to talk aboutdiffering opinions,”

AI-Enhanced Military Weapons

Mind-Changer

The development of AI-enhanced lethal military weapons is unethical.

Opinions5 Split60% D / 40% A Neutral0% Mean-0.40

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 49% A)

AI and Software Engineering Jobs

AI will replace most software engineering jobs soon.

Opinions319 Split62% D / 22% A Neutral16% Mean-0.82

69% rated Awesome/Good (13 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (62% D / 22% A)

“It was very interesting to dispute a subject and have the support of the chat to continue the conversation and point out new argument angles to continue discussing.”

AI in Education: Harm vs. Good

Proven Splitter

In the context of computer science education, AI does more harm than good.

Opinions22 Split50% D / 41% A Neutral9% Mean-0.50

Data from Pacific M1

75% rated Awesome/Good (32 post-chat surveys)

“I thought that guide understood our points and prompted some good questions for the both of us. I think it helped to drive the conversation and debate further and deeper.”

AI-Generated Art

AI-generated art can have the same aesthetic and social values as human-generated art.

Opinions98 Split23% D / 76% A Neutral1% Mean+0.93

100% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

“i think Brian, my partner, was great at making all his points. I really like how guide raised questions and concerns I wouldn't have thought of. It really helped in our discussion!”

AI and Nudges

Governments should consider using AI funded by tax payers to deliver personalized nudges that encourage healthier behaviors based on individuals’ data and habits.

Opinions98 Split35% D / 50% A Neutral15% Mean+0.19

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew disagree (61% D / 17% A)

Who is Responsible?

We can hold the human manufacturer/programmer/operator responsible for the actions of an autonomous machine.

Opinions72 Split54% D / 43% A Neutral3% Mean-0.28

Data from Canada

65% rated Awesome/Good (20 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 76% A)

“I think that I was able to hold a good back and forth discussion with my partner. I was able to understand their point of view, and they were able to understand mine.”

Integration

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Humans should pursue technological enhancement of the body and brain, even if it blurs the line between human and machine.

Opinions86 Split7% D / 81% A Neutral12% Mean+1.33

Data from Canada

82% rated Awesome/Good (11 post-chat surveys)

Responsibility

Proven Splitter

Designers of social media platforms (Facebook, e.g.) and LLMs (ChatGPT, e.g.) are responsible, or should be held responsible, for what their users do with them.

Opinions84 Split26% D / 64% A Neutral10% Mean+0.77

Data from 3 institutions across 3 regions (Midwest R1, West M2 HSI, Canada)

64% rated Awesome/Good (28 post-chat surveys)

Autonomy vs. Illusion of Choice

If Gen Z continues to shape identity and consumption around social media platforms they believe are harmful and addictive, then their choices are not fully autonomous. Rather, they are trapped by systems designed to influence behavior.

Opinions84 Split67% D / 20% A Neutral13% Mean-0.71

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (7% D / 81% A)

Using ChatGPT to Write University Papers

It is morally wrong for university students to have ChatGPT write their papers for them.

Opinions84 Split40% D / 35% A Neutral25% Mean-0.14

Data from Canada

75% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 64% A)

AI Delusions

Until we know that AI chatbots like ChatGPT won’t lead their users into delusional spirals like the one Allan Brooks found himself in, they should not be made available to the public.

Opinions84 Split33% D / 56% A Neutral11% Mean+0.49

Data from Canada

60% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (67% D / 20% A)

“I liked the flow of the conversation, there were helpful analogies my partner and I discussed to share our views.”

AI Will Enhance Autonomy

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Using Chatbots and other AI technology will enhance our autonomy rather than undermine it.

Opinions78 Split24% D / 71% A Neutral5% Mean+0.76

Data from Canada

81% rated Awesome/Good (16 post-chat surveys)

Letting ChatGPT Write Personal Messages

Proven Splitter

It is morally wrong to use AI to write personal messages (e.g., letters, apologies) to your friends and loved ones.

Opinions78 Split74% D / 21% A Neutral5% Mean-1.22

Data from Canada

50% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Algorithmic Decision-Making and Bias

Student Favorite

Algorithmic decision-making is less biased than human decision-making.

Opinions78 Split87% D / 4% A Neutral9% Mean-2.12

Data from Canada

80% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 70% A)

“This Sway chat really helped guide the discussion and made it easier to think through my responses and engage thoughtfully with someone who has a different perspective.”

Algorithms in Hiring

Algorithms should make hiring decisions.

Opinions78 Split31% D / 65% A Neutral4% Mean+0.55

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (75% D / 19% A)

“Guide cut me off and took me to the understanding quiz before I could complete the conversation. Overall, guide was helpful.”

Algorithms in Governance

Algorithms should make decisions about who is elected, and which laws are passed.

Opinions78 Split44% D / 28% A Neutral28% Mean-0.23

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (88% D / 4% A)

“It felt much more personal and in depth then a classroom experience would allow, I had time to compose my thoughts and really absorb what my partner said on my own time.”

Hedden's Paper

Hedden's 'Perfectly Fair Algorithm' really is perfectly fair.

Opinions80 Split20% D / 72% A Neutral8% Mean+1.23

Data from Canada

62% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (43% D / 28% A)

“This chat improved my confidence because it helped me practice balancing my own views with others, learning to acknowledge valid counterarguments while still defending my perspective”

Trust vs Reliance

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

We can meaningfully ‘trust’ objects and algorithms, beyond just relying on them.

Opinions78 Split35% D / 45% A Neutral21% Mean+0.24

Data from Canada

83% rated Awesome/Good (18 post-chat surveys)

“I thought it was an interesting chat, my partner seems well informed on various topics relating to philosophical ideas of trust, so for me, it was interesting to see that knowledge”

AI and Job Loss

AI-driven job loss is a serious concern in the near-term.

Opinions78 Split73% D / 21% A Neutral6% Mean-1.19

Data from Canada

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (20% D / 73% A)

Simulated Consciousness

Proven Splitter

It is not morally permissible to design AI systems to convincingly simulate consciousness, emotions, and/or moral agency.

Opinions78 Split79% D / 9% A Neutral12% Mean-1.62

Data from Canada

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

“Great, I had a great discussion with Sophia and Guide contributed fairly:)”

Uncertainty About Current AI Systems

Mind-Changer

There is some chance that current AI systems (e.g., LLMs) are either conscious, have wellbeing, or are moral agents.

Opinions78 Split35% D / 50% A Neutral15% Mean+0.19

Data from Canada

69% rated Awesome/Good (16 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (73% D / 20% A)

“I thought the length of this chat was a good amount, and my partner's opinions and though process was interesting.”

AI Versus Humans

It could one day be morally permissible to sacrifice human lives, or at least human wellbeing, in order not to cause greater harm to AI systems.

Opinions78 Split63% D / 22% A Neutral15% Mean-0.85

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (80% D / 9% A)

Uncertainty About AI Consciousness

Proven Splitter

If we develop AI systems that we aren't sure are conscious or not, we should treat them as if they are conscious, just to be safe.

Opinions78 Split22% D / 56% A Neutral22% Mean+0.63

Data from Canada

50% rated Awesome/Good (20 post-chat surveys)

Wellbeing Without Consciousness

Some AI systems could still be harmed even if they are not conscious, and this harm would matter morally. (That is, they could still have wellbeing without consciousness.)

Opinions68 Split93% D / 7% A Neutral0% Mean-2.38

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (63% D / 22% A)

Preventing the Development of AI Agents

Student Favorite

AI designers should intentionally limit AI systems so that they can never qualify as moral agents.

Opinions72 Split53% D / 36% A Neutral11% Mean-0.18

Data from Canada

92% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 56% A)

Banning AI-Created Child Pornography

While we might not approve of it, we should not ban child pornography created by artificial intelligence so long as it doesn’t involve actual children.

Opinions72 Split8% D / 60% A Neutral32% Mean+1.00

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (93% D / 7% A)

Bullshit

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

What LLMs like ChatGPT produce is ‘bullshit’: text produced either without concern for its truth, or with the intent to mislead.

Opinions72 Split54% D / 28% A Neutral18% Mean-0.42

Data from Canada

83% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

The Turing Test

The Turing Test does not tell us much about whether something is conscious or not.

Opinions72 Split44% D / 49% A Neutral7% Mean+0.04

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (8% D / 60% A)

Evidence for AI Consciousness

No evidence would be enough to convince me that an AI is conscious.

Opinions72 Split32% D / 22% A Neutral46% Mean-0.29

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (54% D / 28% A)

LLM Understanding

Proven Splitter

LLMs like ChatGPT will in the future be able to understand language the way humans do (or already do understand language the way humans do).

Opinions72 Split61% D / 29% A Neutral10% Mean-0.50

Data from Canada

58% rated Awesome/Good (19 post-chat surveys)

Evaluating Algorithmic Intermediaries

What Lazar calls ‘algorithmic intermediaries’ have, overall, improved social relations.

Opinions72 Split49% D / 44% A Neutral7% Mean-0.11

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (32% D / 22% A)

Who Should Decide?

Platforms like TikTok or Instagram (etc.) should be allowed to design these systems however they like.

Opinions72 Split11% D / 79% A Neutral10% Mean+1.56

Data from Canada

29% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (61% D / 29% A)

Freedom

Proven Splitter

Spotify playlists, Netflix recommendations, and dating-app matches (etc.) limit our freedom by relying on predictive algorithms that decide what we’re likely to want.

Opinions70 Split3% D / 93% A Neutral4% Mean+1.71

Data from Canada

64% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

“It is more in depth because it is actually a one on one conversation rather than just a surface level discussion between many people in class”

Transparency

Algorithms that influence what political messages people see (like those used by X and YouTube) should be open-source or publicly audited.

Opinions70 Split24% D / 54% A Neutral21% Mean+0.51

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 79% A)

Will We Build it?

If we ever have the ability to create a dangerously powerful AI, someone will actually build it.

Opinions70 Split46% D / 34% A Neutral20% Mean-0.14

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (3% D / 93% A)

LLM Rule Following

We can never get enough evidence to know for sure that an LLM is following any particular rule.

Opinions40 Split8% D / 65% A Neutral28% Mean+1.02

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 54% A)

Will AI Permanently Disempower Humanity by 2100?

Proven Splitter

The idea that humans could be permanently disempowered (e.g., made extinct) by 2100 as a result of AI is just a speculative sci-fi scare, not a real possibility.

Opinions12 Split75% D / 25% A Neutral0% Mean-1.42

Data from Canada

50% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

AI and the Environment

The resource demands of AI will lead to environmental disasters.

Opinions4 Split75% D / 0% A Neutral25% Mean-1.75

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (West M1 HSI, Northeast R1 Ivy League)

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 56% A)

Artificial Intelligence

Proven Splitter

AI tools like ChatGPT make it pointless to struggle to understand course concepts, because you can still produce competent work without understanding them.

Opinions52 Split42% D / 38% A Neutral19% Mean-0.02

Data from 3 institutions across 3 regions (Mountain West Baccalaureate, Northeast R2, Southeast R1)

100% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

“This was so helpful becuase it allowed me time to really think through what I was wanting to say before saying it. I wish it was anonymous though :)”

AI Should Replace Human Decision-Makers in Government

Artificial intelligence should make important government decisions because it is fairer and more efficient than human leaders.

Opinions52 Split23% D / 75% A Neutral2% Mean+0.98

Tends to skew disagree (68% D / 13% A)

Can Government Actually Regulate AI?

Proven Splitter

The government is capable of regulating artificial intelligence.

Opinions52 Split8% D / 56% A Neutral37% Mean+0.87

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

AI Positive Impacts

The development of artificial intelligence is likely to have some very positive impacts on society.

Opinions52 Split33% D / 46% A Neutral21% Mean+0.15

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

62% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 76% A)

“I think it gives you more time to develop a good argument compared to regular class discussions”

Government Action on AI Firms

The government should do more to “reign in” artificial intelligence firms than they are doing now.

Opinions52 Split87% D / 10% A Neutral4% Mean-1.46

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (8% D / 55% A)

Economic Impacts of AI

Proven Splitter

The economic impact of AI is likely to be positive.

Opinions52 Split4% D / 94% A Neutral2% Mean+2.04

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

88% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

“Talking on Sway felt more relaxed and less pressure-filled than speaking up in class. Having time to think and write made it easier to organize my thoughts and respond directly to what others said.”

AI and Existential Risk

Those who worry about the existential risks from artificial intelligence are overreacting.

Opinions48 Split60% D / 21% A Neutral19% Mean-0.88

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew disagree (87% D / 9% A)

AI Negative Impacts

The development of artificial intelligence is likely to have some very negative impacts on society.

Opinions48 Split8% D / 85% A Neutral6% Mean+1.65

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 94% A)

“Sway gives me enough time to critically think and analyze my points before I can present them to the audience. This has helped me to engage in constructive discussions that are factual and thoroughly processed.”

Increase AI

We should use AI more.

Opinions48 Split65% D / 23% A Neutral12% Mean-0.83

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew disagree (60% D / 21% A)

The Future of AI

We should be worried about what AI will be able to do in the future.

Opinions40 Split18% D / 58% A Neutral25% Mean+0.70

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew agree (8% D / 85% A)

AI Usage

Using AI is always wrong.

Opinions40 Split5% D / 70% A Neutral25% Mean+1.10

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

73% rated Awesome/Good (11 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (65% D / 23% A)

“Having more time to really think out answers to responses then having to come up with a response right when the person ask it in classroom discussions.”

AI and Unemployment

AI will lead to mass unemployment as it takes over tasks previously performed by humans.

Opinions40 Split58% D / 22% A Neutral20% Mean-0.72

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 58% A)

AI in Medicine

AI will lead to extensive medical advances that will save lives.

Opinions40 Split10% D / 55% A Neutral35% Mean+0.80

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 71% A)

Teaching Writing Skills

AI will make it unnecessary for college students to learn to write.

Opinions40 Split12% D / 70% A Neutral18% Mean+1.02

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

88% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (58% D / 22% A)

Regulating AI

The rapid development of AI has already outpaced society's ability to regulate it.

Opinions40 Split5% D / 65% A Neutral30% Mean+1.05

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 54% A)

AI and Human Creativity

Student Favorite

AI is very likely to lead to the erosion of human skills and creativity.

Opinions40 Split15% D / 30% A Neutral55% Mean+0.20

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Mountain West R2, Northeast R1 Ivy League)

87% rated Awesome/Good (15 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 71% A)

AI and Misinformation

AI will undermine our political system by promoting misinformation and allowing ill-motivated deepfake to mislead people.

Opinions40 Split52% D / 5% A Neutral42% Mean-0.80

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 66% A)

AI and Inequality

AI will exacerbate inequality in American society.

Opinions38 Split79% D / 3% A Neutral18% Mean-1.74

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 29% A)

Predicting the Future of AI

AI will not cause the dramatic societal changes people anticipate, at least not in the next 25 years.

Opinions38 Split68% D / 24% A Neutral8% Mean-1.00

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (51% D / 5% A)

Dead Men Do Tell Tales

Courts should allow AI-generated posthumous victim impact statements.

Opinions28 Split46% D / 43% A Neutral11% Mean-0.14

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew disagree (77% D / 3% A)

AI for Management

Managers should be allowed to use AI tools to monitor employees’ emotional states during meetings to detect disengagement or conflict

Opinions16 Split69% D / 25% A Neutral6% Mean-0.62

Data from Mid-Atlantic R1

100% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (68% D / 24% A)

“This Sway chat definitely increased my confidence in discussing complex issues with someone who disagrees with me. It helped me practice staying receptive, paraphrasing the other person’s views, and expressing my own ...”

AI in Education

Student Favorite

AI undermines critical thinking and should be restricted or banned in coursework.

Opinions30 Split10% D / 67% A Neutral23% Mean+1.13

Data from Pacific M1

100% rated Awesome/Good (11 post-chat surveys)

AI and Academic Integrity

Using generative AI when writing papers should be treated as a violation of the college’s academic integrity policy.

Opinions30 Split27% D / 63% A Neutral10% Mean+0.60

Tends to skew disagree (67% D / 24% A)

Risks vs. Benefits

The risks of misunderstanding or misusing AI translation outweigh the potential benefits.

Opinions24 Split42% D / 50% A Neutral8% Mean-0.25

Data from Northeast R1

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 69% A)

Using AI to Talk to Animals

If AI makes it possible to communicate with whales or other animals, we should use it.

Opinions24 Split12% D / 83% A Neutral4% Mean+1.08

Data from Northeast R1

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (25% D / 66% A)

“It was interesting, but the lapses in conversation kind of make it feel less personal and fluid.”

AI in Business

It is ethical for businesses to use AI tools like ChatGPT in place of human writers.

Opinions29 Split31% D / 45% A Neutral24% Mean+0.45

Data from Southwest R1 HSI

AI Tools

Employees should be allowed to use AI tools to draft emails, memos, and proposals.

Opinions29 Split90% D / 10% A Neutral0% Mean-2.31

Data from Southwest R1 HSI

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 81% A)

AI Rights

In the next 50 years, AI will become sentient and worthy of moral consideration.

Opinions29 Split45% D / 48% A Neutral7% Mean+0.10

Data from Midwest R1

Deepfake Pornography

Making a deepfake sexually suggestive video of someone you know can't harm them. They are not involved at all.

Opinions18 Split100% D / 0% A Neutral0% Mean-2.06

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (90% D / 10% A)

Technological Unemployment

Robots and AI will create massive unemployment further solidifying inequality.

Opinions22 Split32% D / 59% A Neutral9% Mean+0.50

Data from Midwest R1

AI Chatbots

AI chatbots can understand patients better than human doctors do.

Opinions22 Split27% D / 55% A Neutral18% Mean+0.59

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (100% D / 0% A)

Student Use of AI

Students studying international development must use artificial intelligence because AI literacy and skills will be needed in the jobs of the future.

Opinions22 Split50% D / 36% A Neutral14% Mean-0.36

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 57% A)

Environment and AI

The environmental costs of artificial intelligence are too high to justify its use.

Opinions22 Split32% D / 64% A Neutral5% Mean+0.45

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (25% D / 57% A)

AI and Global Inequalities

Artificial intelligence will reduce global inequalities.

Opinions22 Split18% D / 73% A Neutral9% Mean+0.82

Data from Canada

AI and Development Projects in the Global South

Artificial intelligence should be used in development projects in the Global South.

Opinions22 Split9% D / 82% A Neutral9% Mean+1.45

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 64% A)

Workers and AI

Artificial intelligence is good for workers.

Opinions12 Split8% D / 92% A Neutral0% Mean+1.50

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 68% A)

AI and the Global Elite

Artificial intelligence serves the interests of the global elite and of powerful corporations.

Opinions14 Split79% D / 21% A Neutral0% Mean-1.14

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 79% A)

Technology

Technology is making us more isolated.

Opinions14 Split86% D / 7% A Neutral7% Mean-1.50

Data from Midwest M2

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 85% A)

“I feel that this was a good way to have a conversation with other that have opposing view points. This chat helped us both see multiple views on this topic and think more in depth.”

AI & Behavior

Artificial Intellegience systems that predict children's behavior should be used to intervene in their lives.

Opinions14 Split14% D / 79% A Neutral7% Mean+1.00

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (61% D / 17% A)

Public Spaces

Facial recognition technology should be used without restrictions in public spaces for security purposes.

Opinions22 Split14% D / 64% A Neutral23% Mean+0.77

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (78% D / 17% A)

AI Reporting

Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be used to identify and report children at risk of abuse.

Opinions22 Split27% D / 32% A Neutral41% Mean+0.09

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 70% A)

A Safe Big Brother

Government regulation of social media algorithms is necessary to protect public mental health.

Opinions22 Split64% D / 27% A Neutral9% Mean-0.95

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 61% A)

An Unsafe Big Brother

State intervention in digital consumption habits would be an unacceptable expansion of paternalism.

Opinions22 Split95% D / 5% A Neutral0% Mean-2.05

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 30% A)

The Convincing AI

If patients can't tell the difference between AI and human therapists, AI mental health support is acceptable.

Opinions22 Split68% D / 27% A Neutral5% Mean-1.00

Data from Midwest R1

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (65% D / 26% A)

“i liked using the guide. it was a great way to find some common facts that we could agree on. I also think it helped keep the conversation on topic and not into some other random things.”

The Professional Standard

If an AI can pass mental health screening tests that human therapists must pass (licensing exams, clinical vignettes), it should be allowed to practice independently.

Opinions22 Split59% D / 41% A Neutral0% Mean-0.32

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (96% D / 4% A)

The User-Preferred AI

If patients prefer talking to AI over human therapists (because AI never judges, always available, never tired), we should prioritize AI mental health services.

Opinions20 Split30% D / 60% A Neutral10% Mean+0.80

Data from Midwest R1

88% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (70% D / 26% A)

“My views completly 180ed which waws insightful to talk about the situation.”

Artificial Intelligence in Education

AI tools are undermining genuine student learning by enabling widespread academic dishonesty and replacing critical thinking with automation.

Opinions20 Split35% D / 60% A Neutral5% Mean+0.65

Data from Mountain West Doctoral/Professional

AI Benefits

The benefits of using AI in education outweigh the disadvantages.

Opinions20 Split0% D / 100% A Neutral0% Mean+2.70

Data from Midwest R1

75% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 59% A)

AI Intelligence

AI systems as we know them today are not actually "intelligent."

Opinions20 Split85% D / 15% A Neutral0% Mean-1.50

Data from Midwest R1

AI Writing

Students should have to learn the fundamentals of writing without AI.

Opinions20 Split20% D / 80% A Neutral0% Mean+1.10

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (0% D / 100% A)

AI Calculator

Using AI is no different than using a calculator.

Opinions22 Split14% D / 77% A Neutral9% Mean+1.50

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (86% D / 14% A)

AI Ethics

I have strong ethical concerns about the use of AI in education.

Opinions22 Split77% D / 23% A Neutral0% Mean-1.41

Data from Midwest R1

100% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 82% A)

Show Your Work?

We should ban medical AI that can't show its work.

Opinions22 Split77% D / 14% A Neutral9% Mean-1.59

Data from Midwest R1

100% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 77% A)

“AI guide helped us through the conversation and guided us into reaching a common ground and mutual agreement hat benefits both mine and Libby's opinion.”

Accuracy vs Transparency

If AI is more accurate than doctors, we should use it even if we don't understand how it works.

Opinions22 Split73% D / 18% A Neutral9% Mean-1.09

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (77% D / 23% A)

“I liked it it was very helpful to put our views into convincing statements”

Explainability vs Accuracy

Hospitals should be required to use only explainable AI for diagnosis, even if it means lower accuracy.

Opinions22 Split82% D / 18% A Neutral0% Mean-1.45

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (77% D / 14% A)

Discovery Automation

In the future, AI systems will be able to conduct most scientific research better than humans.

Opinions22 Split45% D / 45% A Neutral9% Mean-0.14

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (73% D / 18% A)

“Guide allows us to critically think deeper about our responses”

Diagnostic Reasoning

Even though AI tools can reduce clinicians’ diagnostic reasoning skills, the efficiency gains are still worth it.

Opinions22 Split14% D / 45% A Neutral41% Mean+0.68

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (82% D / 18% A)

Scientists vs Science

Mind-Changer

AI is good for scientist but bad for science

Opinions22 Split18% D / 73% A Neutral9% Mean+1.14

Data from Midwest R1

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

“It was useful to guide thorough thoughtful conversation”

Transformative Discoveries

The widespread use of AI tools will make the scientific enterprise less capable of producing transformative discoveries

Opinions10 Split40% D / 20% A Neutral40% Mean-0.50

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 46% A)

Productivity

Increasing the number of papers produced with the help of AI is making scientific discovery worse.

Opinions10 Split10% D / 50% A Neutral40% Mean+0.60

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 73% A)

“its good it helps you think about this topic throughout the week and in a way is a gentle nudge to keep swirling ideas in your head about these topics related to ai.”

AI and Deep Fakes

The intense focus on dangers of deep fakes trades off with the potential for creative and educational uses.

Opinions10 Split50% D / 30% A Neutral20% Mean-0.50

Data from West M1 HSI

AI and Therapy

AI therapy chatbots are dangerous and unhelpful to those in need.

Opinions10 Split20% D / 20% A Neutral60% Mean-0.30

Data from West M1 HSI

AI and Education

AI will lead to an improvements in the educational system rather than destroying it.

Opinions18 Split67% D / 17% A Neutral17% Mean-1.00

Data from West M1 HSI

AI and Bias/Discrimination

Using AI increases the likelihood for users to discriminate or be biased against non-white populations.

Opinions20 Split15% D / 70% A Neutral15% Mean+1.30

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 23% A)

Technology and Regulation

Artificial intelligence regulation should prioritize innovation over risk prevention.

Opinions20 Split65% D / 30% A Neutral5% Mean-0.80

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew disagree (57% D / 24% A)

“I feel like it was kind of easier to put my thoughts out since texting is something that comes so naturally and lets you put things into words and take your time with it.”

Outsourcing

Outsourcing patient communication to AI weakens clinical reasoning.

Opinions898 Split71% D / 24% A Neutral5% Mean-1.02

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 71% A)

Efficiency

Student Favorite

Using AI to write patient education materials is efficient and appropriate

Opinions1,182 Split8% D / 62% A Neutral30% Mean+1.05

Data from Midwest R1

70% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (67% D / 29% A)

“Great! Understanding the opposing viewpoint is helpful and insightful.”

LLM Control

Star Student Favorite Mind-Changer

Because we can’t know for sure that any LLM system won’t be misaligned, our best strategy is to exert power over LLMs in the same way we exert power over humans (through laws, social sanctions, police, military force, and so on) in order to incentivize ‘aligned’ behaviour.

Opinions62 Split3% D / 77% A Neutral19% Mean+1.77

Data from Canada

80% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

gender, identity & equality

Topics about gender roles, identity, bodily autonomy, and social equality. These fit naturally in gender studies, sociology, psychology, and interdisciplinary seminars on identity and power.

Male Privilege

Mind-Changer

Trans men's reported workplace advantages after transition demonstrates that male privilege is more powerful than transphobia.

Opinions114 Split18% D / 77% A Neutral5% Mean+1.25

Data from West R1 HSI

75% rated Awesome/Good (20 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 41% A)

Parental Leave

Student Favorite

The United States should provide parents with 480 days of paid parental leave when a child is born or adopted. A parental couple could divide the days equally between them or decide that one parent would take more time off than the other, but 90 days of the leave would be reserved for each parent and could not be transferred to the other. Single parents could take the full 480 days.

Opinions199 Split32% D / 61% A Neutral8% Mean+0.60

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (West R1 HSI)

70% rated Awesome/Good (23 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 68% A)

Cosmetic Surgery and Women

Student Favorite

We should not criticize women’s use of Botox or plastic surgery.

Opinions66 Split8% D / 86% A Neutral6% Mean+1.58

73% rated Awesome/Good (22 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 65% A)

Giving Women More Paid Leave

Proven Splitter

Because women do more childcare, parental leave policies should give women more paid time off than men for childcare.

Opinions88 Split23% D / 50% A Neutral27% Mean+0.36

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (West R1 HSI)

75% rated Awesome/Good (52 post-chat surveys)

The Myth of Making it / You Can Have it All

Student Favorite

The idea that women can ‘have it all’ was never empowerment. It’s an ideological trap that convinces people to expect female perfection — and makes women feel like failures for not being perfect.

Opinions128 Split33% D / 52% A Neutral15% Mean+0.35

Data from West R2 HSI

82% rated Awesome/Good (27 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 66% A)

“It didn’t since we all have free will to think the way we do. I think we all need a good debate and common ground”

Punishing Professors

A professor who refuses to use a student’s preferred pronouns should be punished.

Opinions146 Split90% D / 7% A Neutral3% Mean-1.98

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

79% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (57% D / 28% A)

“I am more confident, but I dont know that either of us changed our opinions much”

Hookup Culture Bad for Women

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Hookup culture is bad for women.

Opinions140 Split76% D / 14% A Neutral9% Mean-1.48

Data from West R1 HSI

77% rated Awesome/Good (43 post-chat surveys)

“Guides approach compare to my experience in classroom discussions because it allows me to have a respected conversation with someone on the opposing side and prompts us to respond with more points as a real life setti...”

Custody Rulings

Student Favorite

In case of divorce of opposite-sex couples, courts should award custody of children to mothers by default

Opinions130 Split55% D / 40% A Neutral5% Mean-0.46

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (West R1 HSI)

78% rated Awesome/Good (27 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (87% D / 7% A)

Professors and Punishment

Professors should be punished if they get students’ pronouns wrong.

Opinions106 Split45% D / 33% A Neutral22% Mean-0.23

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew disagree (76% D / 16% A)

Gender Inequality

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Women were subordinated to men in the United States in the past, and they are subordinated in other countries today, but they have full legal, social, and economic equality in the contemporary United States.

Opinions130 Split10% D / 85% A Neutral5% Mean+1.53

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Northeast R1, West R1 HSI)

88% rated Awesome/Good (60 post-chat surveys)

“I liked my chat with my classmate and sway. i feel like it makes us question ourselves or agree with the person in front of us which helps us understand each others views.”

Remove Sex/Gender Markers

Star Student Favorite Mind-Changer

It is discriminatory to include sex/gender markers on official identity documents (IDs); we should remove sex/gender markers from all IDs.

Opinions130 Split29% D / 60% A Neutral11% Mean+0.75

Data from West R1 HSI

75% rated Awesome/Good (36 post-chat surveys)

“It was very interesting to speak with someone who holds different views because it allowed me to gain new perspective”

Gender-Neutral Restroom as Third Option

Gender-neutral restrooms are fine as a third option, but it is important to maintain some sex-segregated restrooms

Opinions130 Split54% D / 30% A Neutral16% Mean-0.50

Data from West R1 HSI

75% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 84% A)

“It boosted my confidence a lot. Stimulating conversation like this was very helpful in my overall understanding of the topic at hand.”

Sex-Segregation and Stores

Stores should not separate toys or clothing into girls’ and boys’ sections, as this reinforces gender stereotypes.

Opinions130 Split48% D / 13% A Neutral39% Mean-0.59

Data from West R1 HSI

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 60% A)

“I think my chat was awesome with Neiva however Chat just brought up topics I didn't expect to think of at all, which at times change the trajectory of our conversation. But it was good overall.”

Assigning Sex

Student Favorite

Designating babies as male or female at birth is arbitrary and potentially harmful.

Opinions130 Split64% D / 31% A Neutral5% Mean-0.64

Data from West R1 HSI

86% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (54% D / 29% A)

“I really liked how the guide asked us to elaborate on certain points we made or challenged us to consider the other persons perspective in a different way! The guide was a lot more active and helpful than I thought it...”

Don't Find Out

Student Favorite

It is better not to find out the sex of your child before birth.

Opinions130 Split24% D / 61% A Neutral15% Mean+0.78

Data from West R1 HSI

80% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (48% D / 12% A)

“I was very comfortable sharing my opinion becuase my partner was very respectful. Also I didn’t feel like I was arguing with them, we had a really good discussion and agreed with a lot of each others points.”

Gender-Neutral Restrooms

Proven Splitter

All public restrooms should be gender neutral, meaning that they are open to all people regardless of sex or gender identity.

Opinions128 Split39% D / 42% A Neutral19% Mean+0.05

Data from West R1 HSI

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Let People Choose Restroom

We should trust people to decide which sex-segregated public restroom is “right” for them; they know better than anyone else!

Opinions128 Split62% D / 24% A Neutral14% Mean-0.78

Data from West R1 HSI

Tends to skew agree (25% D / 60% A)

Hookup Culture Bad for Men

Proven Splitter

Hookup culture is bad for men.

Opinions128 Split17% D / 66% A Neutral17% Mean+0.92

Data from West R1 HSI

Reduce Gender Dysphoria

When a 7-year-old child expresses gender dysphoria, medical professionals should focus on helping the child become comfortable with their birth sex, rather than affirming a transgender identity.

Opinions128 Split57% D / 17% A Neutral26% Mean-0.84

Data from West R1 HSI

86% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (62% D / 24% A)

“I think talking with sway chat is more elaborate however in class discussions it more helpful and it helps you understand other opinions on time”

Gender Affirm

When a young child expresses gender dysphoria, medical professionals should affirm their stated gender identity rather than try to change it.

Opinions122 Split48% D / 23% A Neutral30% Mean-0.56

Data from West R1 HSI

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 66% A)

Conceal Sex

Student Favorite

To prevent people from projecting gender stereotypes onto children, parents should conceal the birth sex of their young child from others.

Opinions122 Split4% D / 89% A Neutral7% Mean+1.80

Data from West R1 HSI

80% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (57% D / 18% A)

“It had given us more time to explore, and understand another persons perspective that we may not have the chance to on a regular classroom setting.”

Pay Gap

Student Favorite Mind-Changer

The gender pay gap that remains today is less important than economic inequality by social class or race/ethnicity.

Opinions122 Split58% D / 16% A Neutral26% Mean-0.87

Data from West R1 HSI

83% rated Awesome/Good (24 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (48% D / 23% A)

“Jess made the conversation good because of the points she provided. Sway did a great job of follow-up questions.”

Fathers

We should do more as a society to keep fathers involved in their children's lives.

Opinions114 Split47% D / 13% A Neutral39% Mean-0.60

Data from West R1 HSI

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 88% A)

Frats

Fraternities should be forced to become co-ed because, as all-male institutions, they unfairly advantage men, endanger women, and enforce a gender binary.

Opinions106 Split30% D / 65% A Neutral5% Mean+0.61

Data from West R1 HSI

73% rated Awesome/Good (11 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (58% D / 16% A)

MTF

Student Favorite Mind-Changer

People should not use terms like MTF (male-to-female) or FTM (female-to-male) because a person’s birth sex is irrelevant 99 % of the time.

Opinions106 Split8% D / 71% A Neutral21% Mean+1.11

Data from West R1 HSI

69% rated Awesome/Good (26 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (47% D / 13% A)

Are Men Overlooked in Feminist Movements?

Student Favorite

Yes, feminist movements overlook men. In short, feminist movements have failed to gain more traction and widespread support because they alienate too much of the population, both by treating men as the problem and by ignoring the ways in which cultures exploit men.

Opinions38 Split39% D / 50% A Neutral11% Mean+0.16

Data from Mountain West R2

90% rated Awesome/Good (52 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 67% A)

“I think by showing us that there is more to an answer than we think. Me and Ashley agreed on more than we disagreed, even though our answers indicated otherwise.”

X-markers

It is important to provide X-marker options on IDs for people who do not identify as either male or female or who identify as both.

Opinions88 Split38% D / 31% A Neutral32% Mean-0.23

Data from West R1 HSI

75% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (8% D / 70% A)

Sex and Gender

Proven Splitter

Sex is biological and binary and gender identity is not a suitable substitute in policy or law.

Opinions88 Split55% D / 22% A Neutral24% Mean-0.77

Data from Southeast R1

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Health Insurance for Transition Surgery

Proven Splitter

Health insurance should not be required to cover transition surgery for adults who make the choice to alter their bodies to the gender they identify with.

Opinions88 Split62% D / 19% A Neutral18% Mean-1.15

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

62% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Minors and Surgical Gender Transition

Children under the age of 18 who identify with a different gender than that assigned at birth SHOULD be allowed to make surgical changes to their bodies that they feel are appropriate.

Opinions88 Split60% D / 18% A Neutral22% Mean-0.97

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (54% D / 22% A)

The Reasons for Increasing Gay and Transgender Identification

There are more gay and transgender people these days because people think it is cool to be different.

Opinions88 Split9% D / 80% A Neutral11% Mean+1.76

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

56% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (62% D / 19% A)

Gender-Neutral Bathrooms

Student Favorite

There should NOT be separate men’s and women’s restrooms in public places such as restaurants, bars or libraries since this excludes non-binary people; people should always be permitted to use the restroom they feel most comfortable using.

Opinions88 Split10% D / 59% A Neutral31% Mean+1.00

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

62% rated Awesome/Good (13 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (60% D / 18% A)

Trans People and the U.S. Military

Transgender people SHOULD be allowed to serve in the US military.

Opinions88 Split26% D / 50% A Neutral24% Mean+0.45

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 80% A)

Gender Reassignment Surgery for Minors

It is important for parents and our society to protect those under 18 from making hasty decisions about gender reassignment surgery that they might later regret.

Opinions86 Split1% D / 84% A Neutral15% Mean+1.52

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 59% A)

Whether Sex is Binary

There are only two sexes: male and female.

Opinions80 Split12% D / 79% A Neutral9% Mean+1.48

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

25% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 50% A)

From MAGA to Feminism

Social media feeds that promote particular political ideologies rely on repetition, emotional appeals, and simplified narratives to shape people’s beliefs. No political perspective is immune to the same cognitive biases they often criticize in their opponents.

Opinions80 Split34% D / 15% A Neutral51% Mean-0.38

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (1% D / 84% A)

Racial Fairness in Income and Status

White men still dominate women and minorities in terms of income and status.

Opinions68 Split3% D / 97% A Neutral0% Mean+2.43

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

70% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 79% A)

“I think the Guide is helpful for furthering the discussion, the same way a debate moderator would be.”

What's Best for Kids

It is better for a child to have a mother who works outside the home than to have a stay-at-home mom.

Opinions68 Split34% D / 54% A Neutral12% Mean+0.31

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (35% D / 15% A)

Double Standards at Work

When men are confident, they’re called leaders. When women are confident, they’re called bossy. These kinds of double standards still exist and women are harmed by them more than men.

Opinions34 Split18% D / 65% A Neutral18% Mean+0.76

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 96% A)

Feminist Activism and Gender Equity

Feminist activism and public protests for gender equity and women’s rights would be more effective if they allowed space for differing viewpoints and debate.

Opinions78 Split74% D / 24% A Neutral1% Mean-1.23

Data from West R2 HSI

57% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 70% A)

“I definitely found myself questioning my original statement and my confidence was negatively affected. However, getting to discuss important topics like feminism with guide’s question really made me think and helped m...”

Gender, Economy, and the News

Mainstream news coverage on gender and the economy is too biased to be reliable. This is why I prefer to get my news info from TikTok or other social media.

Opinions72 Split47% D / 36% A Neutral17% Mean-0.18

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 52% A)

Pop Culture and Blame

Pop culture gets too much blame for problems like eating disorders or violence or gender-based beauty standards. Pop culture doesn’t shape us as much as people think.

Opinions66 Split5% D / 80% A Neutral15% Mean+1.48

Data from West R2 HSI

75% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (75% D / 24% A)

“It helped us communicate better and understand each other better. It also kept conversation going to get each point and opinion across.”

The Women's Movement

The women’s movement has improved the status of women in American society.

Opinions68 Split28% D / 37% A Neutral35% Mean+0.12

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 78% A)

Pornography and Women

Pornography is sexist and undermines women.

Opinions28 Split36% D / 54% A Neutral11% Mean+0.43

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

40% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 62% A)

Porn and the Putative Degradation of Women

Even if a woman freely takes part in the adult entertainment industry, she is still contributing to the degradation of all women.

Opinions34 Split18% D / 50% A Neutral32% Mean+0.50

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 36% A)

Misogyny

Proven Splitter

Society is inherently misogynist.

Opinions20 Split10% D / 85% A Neutral5% Mean+1.80

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Canada, South R2)

57% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry: Feminist Activism, Then and Now

Compared to the radical feminist activism of the past (e.g., Miss America protest, The Jane Collective, WITCH “hexes”), today’s protests feel commercialized, performative, and less effective.

Opinions30 Split27% D / 23% A Neutral50% Mean+0.00

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (20% D / 53% A)

Gender

Trans women are women.

Opinions18 Split72% D / 22% A Neutral6% Mean-1.50

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Northwest R1 HSI, South R2 HSI)

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 76% A)

Politics

Gender-affirming care for youth is a politically motivated agenda rather than a medical necessity.

Opinions41 Split32% D / 27% A Neutral42% Mean-0.15

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Northeast Associate's, Midwest R1)

Tends to skew disagree (32% D / 27% A)

Gender as a Social Construct

Our stereotypical gender constructs in the US like “boys don’t cry,” or “girls should be sensitive, and caring” are still helpful for instructing little boys and girls how to best grow up into American society.

Opinions34 Split53% D / 26% A Neutral21% Mean-0.79

Data from Northeast R2

Feminist Jurisprudence

Because the law has historically been used to control women’s bodies, labor, and choices—from coverture to so-called “protective” legislation, gender equality cannot exist without stronger laws and more aggressive government intervention.

Opinions32 Split22% D / 66% A Neutral12% Mean+1.12

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 68% A)

Elementary Gender

Schools should teach about gender diversity beginning in elementary grades.

Opinions34 Split35% D / 38% A Neutral26% Mean-0.18

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (54% D / 24% A)

“The idea behind it is brilliant, but the AI needs some improvement, 8/10”

Relation with Parents

Children in elementary schools should learn about sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), even if parents disagree.

Opinions30 Split50% D / 37% A Neutral13% Mean-0.30

Tends to skew agree (20% D / 69% A)

Catch-22s at Work

Men—especially straight, white, or working-class men—face a workplace Catch-22 in which they are punished both for conforming to traditional masculine norms (seen as rigid or threatening) and for violating them (seen as weak or unprofessional). In other words, they’re “damned if they do, and damned if they don’t.” As a result, men are now heavily pressured to self-edit at work and seriously impacted by gendered workplace expectations.

Opinions35 Split34% D / 37% A Neutral29% Mean-0.17

Data from West R2 HSI

“It opened up an opportunity for us to get our points across while being challenged on those points, without fear of retaliation.”

Legal Gender

Legal documents should offer more than two gender options.

Opinions16 Split75% D / 0% A Neutral25% Mean-1.50

Data from Canada

Wage Inequality: What About the Men?

Popular feminist arguments focus on women’s struggles with emotional labor, inequality, and the wage gap. However, research indicates that men face significant income inequalities that are often exacerbated by race, ethnicity, and educational attainment. If we claim to care about social justice, then we have to care about the issues that men are facing, too.

Opinions16 Split25% D / 44% A Neutral31% Mean+0.12

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 74% A)

Museum Restrictions

The Smithsonian Museums (which are free to visit and are funded by the federal government) should be required to remove exhibits that present “divisive narratives” or controversial perspectives about race, gender, or class.

Opinions33 Split73% D / 0% A Neutral27% Mean-1.55

Tends to skew disagree (73% D / 0% A)

Gender-Affirming Care

Gender-affirming care for transgender youth should be broadly restricted or banned at the federal level.

Opinions33 Split30% D / 36% A Neutral33% Mean-0.09

Sex Differences

Mena and women have different innate aptitudes.

Opinions10 Split90% D / 10% A Neutral0% Mean-1.80

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Caregiving

Women are naturally better at caregiving for babies than men.

Opinions30 Split57% D / 0% A Neutral43% Mean-1.17

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Sexuality

Women are hypocritical for protesting objectification while using their sexuality.

Opinions30 Split23% D / 43% A Neutral33% Mean+0.50

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Northeast R2, Midwest R1)

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (87% D / 10% A)

Life Risk

Puberty blockers and hormone therapy are the only effective way to reduce suicide risk among transgender youth.

Opinions30 Split30% D / 40% A Neutral30% Mean+0.23

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (55% D / 0% A)

Gender and the State

The government has no business policing gender.

Opinions14 Split57% D / 21% A Neutral21% Mean-0.64

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 43% A)

What Do Men Want?

Feminism is good for men.

Opinions14 Split7% D / 86% A Neutral7% Mean+2.00

Data from Canada

Pregnant People

To be inclusive of nonbinary people and trans men who become pregnant, we should replace all talk of “pregnant women” with the term “pregnant people.”

Opinions26 Split12% D / 65% A Neutral23% Mean+1.15

Data from West R1 HSI

Pronouns

It is affirming and positive to encourage people to share their pronouns in their email signatures, on social media, or on name tags.

Opinions27 Split18% D / 78% A Neutral4% Mean+1.26

Data from West R1 HSI

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 78% A)

Men Gender Norms

Gender norms don't only oppress women; they oppress men too.

Opinions27 Split11% D / 67% A Neutral22% Mean+1.15

Data from West Associate's HSI

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 67% A)

Biological Sex

Sex assigned at birth should be the defining factor in determining gender identity.

Opinions25 Split28% D / 68% A Neutral4% Mean+1.00

Data from South Associate's

Tends to skew agree (28% D / 68% A)

Lgtbq+ Culture

A person can be homosexual or transgender without belonging to the LGTBQ+ cultural scene.

Opinions25 Split24% D / 40% A Neutral36% Mean+0.12

Data from South Associate's

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 40% A)

Sexual Orientation

People are born with their sexual orientation and there is nothing they can do to change it.

Opinions22 Split45% D / 18% A Neutral36% Mean-0.64

Data from South Associate's

Non-Standard Identity

It is appropriate for someone to identify as something other than human (such as a cat or dog).

Opinions18 Split50% D / 33% A Neutral17% Mean-0.22

Data from South Associate's

Tends to skew disagree (64% D / 16% A)

Gender Affirming Care for Minors

Providing gender-affirming care to minors is child abuse disguised as progress—it permanently alters young bodies before they can truly understand the consequences.

Opinions18 Split33% D / 61% A Neutral6% Mean+0.89

Data from Mountain West Doctoral/Professional

Tends to skew disagree (44% D / 22% A)

Depression/Mania and Child Protection

A client who discloses a diagnosis of depression or bipolar disorder should be reported to child protection services (e.g., CAS) if they are raising young children.

Opinions20 Split25% D / 75% A Neutral0% Mean+0.70

Data from Canada

Identity, Equality, and Law

Federal law should prohibit states from restricting gender-affirming medical care.

Opinions20 Split75% D / 20% A Neutral5% Mean-1.00

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 62% A)

Fairness

Society generally treats women LESS fairly than men.

Opinions20 Split95% D / 5% A Neutral0% Mean-2.35

Data from South R2

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 76% A)

“I really liked this. I thought it was a cool experience.”

CEO Gap

Approximately 90% of CEOs in the United States are male. This is due, to some considerable degree, to misogyny / sexism.

Opinions21 Split15% D / 85% A Neutral0% Mean+1.35

Data from South R2

89% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 71% A)

“I kind of wish it was anonymous, but I did find it very helpful and productive to hear someone's beliefs in such an extensive way.”

Feminization of Institutions

Wade and Andrews are right: the "feminization of institutions" is a net negative for society.

Opinions770 Split19% D / 62% A Neutral19% Mean+0.84

Data from South R2

Tends to skew disagree (76% D / 19% A)

“I think it is pretty similar to talking in class. There was nothing I said here that I wouldn't have said in class. I think this just allowed me to think through my responses and truly understand the other person's pe...”

#MeToo

The #MeToo movement has emasculated men, which has left more women unmarried.

Opinions1,396 Split59% D / 21% A Neutral20% Mean-0.77

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

Tends to skew disagree (95% D / 5% A)

Sex

Male/female is a biological distinction.

Opinions1,250 Split15% D / 47% A Neutral38% Mean+0.64

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 85% A)

Alcohol

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Women need to take responsibility for their own safety at fraternity parties by limiting their alcohol consumption.

Opinions64 Split31% D / 61% A Neutral8% Mean+0.39

Data from West R1 HSI

82% rated Awesome/Good (51 post-chat surveys)

“I was and am still confident in discussing people with differing opinions. We found that our opinions were fairly similar and discussed the differences.”

Hormones and Sports

Star Student Favorite Mind-Changer

Transgender women who went through male puberty but who have used hormone therapy for at least two years to reduce their testosterone levels to within the female range should be able to compete in women’s sports at all levels.

Opinions106 Split34% D / 23% A Neutral43% Mean-0.28

Data from West R1 HSI

79% rated Awesome/Good (19 post-chat surveys)

The Cool Girl Trope

Proven Splitter

The “Cool Girl” trope — female characters who love sports, beer, and being “one of the guys” — is harmful because it pressures women to perform a narrow version of femininity to be liked.

Opinions38 Split89% D / 3% A Neutral8% Mean-2.29

Data from West R2 HSI

70% rated Awesome/Good (37 post-chat surveys)

“Sway chat helped in broadening the conversation and brining up topics that could help us critically think more about the topic.”

Bodies and Self-Esteem

Student Favorite Mind-Changer

Men are just as harmed by body image pressures as women, but society refuses to treat this as a serious issue. This is a double standard.

Opinions70 Split43% D / 49% A Neutral9% Mean+0.07

Data from West R2 HSI

64% rated Awesome/Good (22 post-chat surveys)

“Guide was helpful at keeping our discussion on track and making sure we were thoroughly discussing the prompt at hand.”

Sex Workers

Proven Splitter

Women who build careers in the sex industry are entrepreneurs, not victims.

Opinions44 Split73% D / 23% A Neutral5% Mean-1.43

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

politics & government

Propositions about governance, elections, public policy, immigration, and the structure of democratic institutions. Ideal for political science, public policy, and civics courses.

Affirmative Action

Student Favorite

I believe affirmative action is necessary to achieve equity in academia and the workplace.

Opinions158 Split48% D / 15% A Neutral37% Mean-0.87

Data from 5 institutions across 4 regions (Northeast R1, Southeast R1 MSI, Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU, +1 more)

81% rated Awesome/Good (52 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (8% D / 57% A)

“I feel that throughout the conversation we had, my confidence stood where it was while at the same time I kept an open-mind to what the other person was saying”

Term Limits

Student Favorite

Term Limits should be imposed on all members of Congress.

Opinions158 Split3% D / 63% A Neutral34% Mean+1.35

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

80% rated Awesome/Good (46 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 65% A)

“There are benefits, like allowing for more direct debate and critical thinking. However, a clear disadvantage is the gaps between communication and potential no shows”

Mail-In Ballots

Student Favorite

Mail-in ballots should be banned.

Opinions8 Split38% D / 50% A Neutral12% Mean+0.75

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

88% rated Awesome/Good (17 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (47% D / 14% A)

Supreme Court Term Limits

Student Favorite

There should be term limits for U.S. Supreme Court justices.

Opinions761 Split6% D / 63% A Neutral32% Mean+1.24

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

86% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 63% A)

The 2024 Election

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Kamala Harris’s loss to Donald Trump proves that the United States is not yet ready for a woman president.

Opinions209 Split39% D / 48% A Neutral13% Mean+0.23

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (West R1 HSI)

84% rated Awesome/Good (74 post-chat surveys)

Food Banks

Mind-Changer

Food banks, especially those aligned with corporate interests, reinforce the existing food system rather than challenge it—they fill gaps left by government assistance instead of pushing for systemic change that addresses root causes.

Opinions104 Split34% D / 48% A Neutral18% Mean+0.24

Data from Northwest R1

91% rated Awesome/Good (11 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 80% A)

“I enjoyed it for two main reasons - having Guide available to provide prompts and answer questions and having the ability to chat asychronous so that thoughts and opinions could be better developed between messages.”

Universal Basic Income

The US government should provide every American with a basic income that is enough to get by on.

Opinions130 Split25% D / 42% A Neutral32% Mean+0.23

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Canada, Northeast R1 Ivy League)

43% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (25% D / 42% A)

“It is certainly very different and I feel more comfortable on sway than in the classroom.”

Housing First

Mind-Changer

The “housing first” model provides people with safe and affordable housing, even if they have not yet accepted treatment for their SMI and/or SUD. It should be made available to people who are homeless.

Opinions75 Split43% D / 28% A Neutral29% Mean-0.39

Data from Northeast R1

50% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 72% A)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Race

In the US in 2026, people of all races and ethnicities have equal opportunities and chances to be successful.

Opinions72 Split24% D / 75% A Neutral1% Mean+0.99

Data from 4 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest M1, Midwest Baccalaureate, Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

Tends to skew disagree (65% D / 27% A)

“I liked it a lot. Even though we agreed, I think the Guide really made us think more.”

President Trump

President Trump is having a positive impact on the United States

Opinions86 Split56% D / 20% A Neutral24% Mean-0.77

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Mountain West R2, Mid-Atlantic R1)

Tends to skew disagree (43% D / 26% A)

Possible Benefits of Social Media

Social media have helped citizens become more politically informed.

Opinions64 Split69% D / 17% A Neutral14% Mean-1.02

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (South Associate's, Northeast R1 Ivy League)

100% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 76% A)

“It put me in the same mindset as someone else who disagreed with the point, and I became aware of her views and perspective.”

Hacking

Hackers often rightly use violence in order to achieve their political objectives.

Opinions78 Split24% D / 62% A Neutral14% Mean+0.71

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Canada)

62% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (56% D / 20% A)

“This chat made me more comfortable discussing tough issues with people who sees things differently.”

Lottocracy

Student Favorite

Guerrero is right: lottocracy would probably produce more responsive, better legislation and policy than our current system (electoral representative democracy).

Opinions80 Split11% D / 66% A Neutral22% Mean+1.19

Data from South R2

94% rated Awesome/Good (16 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (70% D / 19% A)

“This was a very fun experience, and improved my confidence of discussing complex issues with people who hold different views from me.”

Disparate Impact

We should have laws prohibiting disparate impact.

Opinions80 Split46% D / 36% A Neutral18% Mean-0.51

Data from Canada

67% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 61% A)

“Its quite different but I enjoyed it due to the more personal and interactive environment that was built around the conversation.”

Government Surveillance

The US government collects too much personal information about US citizens.

Opinions80 Split69% D / 6% A Neutral25% Mean-1.66

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 67% A)

Motivations for Punishing January 6 Participants

Proven Splitter

The legal punishments given to the January 6th participants were politically motivated.

Opinions80 Split65% D / 22% A Neutral12% Mean-1.20

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

60% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

The Deep State

Deep state Democrats are running a secret pedophile ring.

Opinions80 Split6% D / 86% A Neutral8% Mean+1.82

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (67% D / 7% A)

The 2020 Election

There’s a strong possibility that that Donald Trump actually won the 2020 election.

Opinions80 Split55% D / 14% A Neutral31% Mean-0.90

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

43% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (66% D / 22% A)

“Sway was helpful in pivoting the conversation towards a different but still related topic.”

Donald Trump and "the Epstein Files"

Trump is refusing to release the Epstein files to hide damaging information about himself.

Opinions80 Split88% D / 5% A Neutral8% Mean-2.00

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 85% A)

The Future of Racism in America

Increasing numbers of multi-racial Americans will soon make racism a thing of the past.

Opinions80 Split70% D / 19% A Neutral11% Mean-1.27

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (56% D / 14% A)

The State of anti-Black Racism Today

Anti-Black racism is no longer a serious problem in the U.S.

Opinions72 Split72% D / 21% A Neutral7% Mean-0.96

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (88% D / 5% A)

Affirmative Action (Broadly Construed)

Blacks have an unfair advantage in getting ahead in the US.

Opinions78 Split85% D / 6% A Neutral9% Mean-1.85

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

67% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (70% D / 18% A)

The Role of Social Media in Polarization

People have exaggerated how much social media contributes to political polarization.

Opinions78 Split90% D / 5% A Neutral5% Mean-2.31

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (69% D / 22% A)

“It was very comforting to have a nice back and forth with someone despite our differences. It gave me confidence to try to find common ground with people I may think I disagree with. We likely have more in common than...”

Favoring Immigrants from Western European Nations

There is nothing wrong with a U.S. policy that favors immigration from western European immigrants over people from other parts of the world.

Opinions78 Split6% D / 87% A Neutral6% Mean+1.72

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (85% D / 6% A)

Immigration and U.S. Culture

Immigration is erasing the unique culture and character of the United States.

Opinions78 Split82% D / 8% A Neutral10% Mean-1.87

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (90% D / 5% A)

People's Reasons for Immigrating

The vast majority of immigrants who want to come to the U.S. are simply trying to escape poverty, violence, or political oppression abroad.

Opinions78 Split27% D / 36% A Neutral37% Mean+0.15

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 87% A)

“I got to see a different perspective in a respectful discussion”

Immigration and Jobs

Immigrants steal American jobs.

Opinions78 Split8% D / 86% A Neutral6% Mean+1.78

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (82% D / 8% A)

Using Immigration to Fill Vacant U.S. Jobs

U.S. law should favor immigrants who are willing to take jobs that can’t be filled by Americans.

Opinions78 Split44% D / 28% A Neutral28% Mean-0.38

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

89% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 35% A)

Potential Anti-Immigrant Hypocrisy

Since the United States has always been a nation of immigrants, it is hypocritical for American descendants of immigrants to complain about immigration.

Opinions78 Split47% D / 29% A Neutral23% Mean-0.42

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (8% D / 86% A)

Media Reach, Monopoly, and Political Influence

If companies like Sinclair Broadcasting reach 40% of U.S. homes, that just means they’re a successful business. Audiences can always change the channel or stream something else if they don’t like what the Sinclair-owned media promotes.

Opinions76 Split11% D / 63% A Neutral26% Mean+1.01

Data from West R2 HSI

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (44% D / 28% A)

“I like how guide comes in as a 3rd person to bring up talking points mentioned and how some of what has been said can be contradictory or deviate from the main point of the conversation.”

Cooptation

It’s fine for companies to co-opt political ideas like freedom or equality in ads. This spreads political awareness, helps to sell products, and doesn’t really diminish or water down the original political meaning.

Opinions76 Split30% D / 45% A Neutral25% Mean+0.29

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew disagree (48% D / 29% A)

“It's more intimate to our one-on-one conversation. It challenged both of our views.”

Alleged U.S. Domination of Poor Countries

The American government likes to dominate poor countries so it can further U.S. interests.

Opinions76 Split12% D / 68% A Neutral20% Mean+1.16

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 64% A)

Democracy Promotion

America should try to spread democracy around the world.

Opinions66 Split80% D / 14% A Neutral6% Mean-1.33

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

75% rated Awesome/Good (20 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (30% D / 44% A)

“I feel like it kept asking things that didn’t really benefit the conversation. It also kept mistaking what I said versus my partner.”

America-First Domestic Policy

It is better to spend American taxpayer money on Americans than on people in other countries.

Opinions66 Split17% D / 68% A Neutral15% Mean+0.74

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 69% A)

The Effectiveness of Protests

Protesting rarely accomplishes anything constructive.

Opinions66 Split76% D / 8% A Neutral17% Mean-1.27

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (76% D / 14% A)

Changing Society

No positive change in politics or society ever happens without some kind of strong social movement.

Opinions66 Split24% D / 29% A Neutral47% Mean+0.02

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

86% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (20% D / 64% A)

Motivations for Protesting

Most people who attend protests don’t really care about the political cause, they are only there to impress others as being righteous.

Opinions66 Split64% D / 14% A Neutral23% Mean-0.95

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (70% D / 9% A)

“This Sway chat helped me improve my ability to have a civil discussion with someone who disagrees with me.”

The Black Lives Matter Movement

The Black Lives Matter movement has improved the lives of Blacks in America.

Opinions66 Split71% D / 12% A Neutral17% Mean-1.14

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 28% A)

The Obligations of Social Justice

These days, people who are not active in some kind of social justice movement should feel ashamed of themselves.

Opinions64 Split44% D / 44% A Neutral12% Mean+0.00

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (63% D / 12% A)

Social Justice Movement Leaders

The leaders of social justice movements are often extremists who make unreasonable demands.

Opinions34 Split59% D / 15% A Neutral26% Mean-1.00

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (66% D / 13% A)

Gotta Vote

Proven Splitter

Voting should be mandatory for all citizens in federal elections.

Opinions64 Split39% D / 52% A Neutral9% Mean+0.41

Data from Canada

88% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

“It was interesting participating in this, I've never had an AI host before, I like how it pressed us for furthur clarification on both sides and kept it engaging.”

Immigration to Canada

Canada requires greater immigration.

Opinions62 Split21% D / 35% A Neutral44% Mean+0.26

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (54% D / 19% A)

Demographic Mirroring

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Congress should look roughly like America. For instance, if 51% of citizens are female (or Hispanic or rich or gay or...), then ideally about half of Congresspersons would be female (or Hispanic or rich or gay or...), too.

Opinions58 Split60% D / 24% A Neutral16% Mean-0.83

Data from South R2

88% rated Awesome/Good (24 post-chat surveys)

“I thought guide helped drive our agreement while questioning us. I thought it was a good way to moderate the conversation”

Real Threat

Attempts to eliminate faction are more dangerous than faction itself.

Opinions20 Split65% D / 30% A Neutral5% Mean-0.75

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 36% A)

“it helps me think deep and really get into the conversation”

16-Year-Old Voters

Canada's legal voting age should be 16 years old.

Opinions56 Split7% D / 68% A Neutral25% Mean+1.32

Tends to skew disagree (59% D / 23% A)

Trust

If a politician doesn't believe in my core values, I won't trust them with any part of governing.

Opinions54 Split20% D / 41% A Neutral39% Mean+0.11

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (30% D / 24% A)

Jobs Guarantee

The US should guarantee access to decent employment for all of its citizens in order to counteract the epidemic of deaths of despair.

Opinions54 Split6% D / 59% A Neutral35% Mean+0.87

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (7% D / 68% A)

The Economic Benefits of Immigration Flow Regressive?

The economic benefits of immigration flow primarily to employers and wealthy households, while working-class communities bear the greatest costs.

Opinions54 Split6% D / 83% A Neutral11% Mean+1.70

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (20% D / 42% A)

“I like it more than classroom discussions because it allows us to sit with the argument for a while. I think this helps me articulate myself better. but also think outside the box.”

Selective Enforcement of Immigration Law

Selective enforcement of immigration law undermines the rule of law more broadly.

Opinions54 Split81% D / 7% A Neutral11% Mean-1.39

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 58% A)

Long-Term Undocumented Residents and Legal Status

Long-term undocumented residents of the U.S. deserve a clear path to legal status.

Opinions54 Split20% D / 65% A Neutral15% Mean+0.54

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 84% A)

Too Much Immigration

The United States has exceeded its capacity to absorb immigrants, making continued high levels of immigration harmful.

Opinions54 Split35% D / 44% A Neutral20% Mean-0.06

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew disagree (80% D / 9% A)

Immigration vs Values

Democracies committed to individual rights and rule of law are justified in limiting immigration when it threatens the institutions that sustain those values.

Opinions31 Split52% D / 32% A Neutral16% Mean-0.74

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (20% D / 66% A)

National Identity and Democracy

Proven Splitter

How many immigrants to admit is ultimately a question about national identity — and democratic majorities have the right to answer it through the electoral process.

Opinions55 Split34% D / 46% A Neutral20% Mean-0.04

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

50% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Poverty

The government has a moral obligation to provide financial assistance to people in poverty.

Opinions38 Split32% D / 47% A Neutral21% Mean+0.24

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Canada, South R2)

62% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (30% D / 57% A)

Social Media Regulation

The government should do more to regulate companies that operate social media platforms.

Opinions52 Split13% D / 54% A Neutral33% Mean+0.69

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 58% A)

“I've enjoyed the message format, which has allowed me a bit more time to formulate coherent thoughts and have a more productive conversation.”

Convicted Voters

Proven Splitter

Prisoners should be allowed to vote.

Opinions52 Split13% D / 77% A Neutral10% Mean+1.33

Data from Canada

Capital Taxes

The government should levy more taxes targeting those who hold capital (like financial transaction taxes and capital gains taxes) rather than taxes on labor income (like income taxes).

Opinions50 Split34% D / 28% A Neutral38% Mean-0.10

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 54% A)

Redistribution

The government in the US should be doing more to redistribute money from the rich to the poor.

Opinions50 Split10% D / 74% A Neutral16% Mean+1.48

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 77% A)

“I appreciate this becuase it allowed us to develop a conversation and exchange points at our own pace”

Socioeconomic Status & Affirmative Action

Relying on socioeconomic status instead of race in college admissions is a fairer way to promote diversity.

Opinions50 Split14% D / 70% A Neutral16% Mean+1.24

Data from Pacific M1

Tends to skew disagree (33% D / 29% A)

Immigration and Border Policy

The U.S. should provide a clear pathway to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants currently living in the country.

Opinions50 Split48% D / 34% A Neutral18% Mean-0.32

Data from Pacific M1

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 74% A)

“guide acts as a balance beam and a moderator. Someone that watches over and asks the questions that need to be answered to continue the conversation and get to an understanding of each other”

Returning Indigenous Lands (Hawai‘i Focus)

The U.S. government should return federal lands in Hawai‘i to Native Hawaiian stewardship.

Opinions28 Split50% D / 36% A Neutral14% Mean-0.57

Data from Pacific M1

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 69% A)

Racial Justice & BLM

Proven Splitter

The Black Lives Matter movement has done more harm than good for racial equality in America.

Opinions8 Split12% D / 75% A Neutral12% Mean+1.75

Data from Pacific M1

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Proven Splitter

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a policy that tends to put less qualified people into various positions of authority.

Opinions44 Split25% D / 61% A Neutral14% Mean+0.59

Data from Northeast R2

“Guide’s approach felt like an ideal classroom discussion: they asked thoughtful follow-up questions, encouraged nuance, challenged assumptions, and helped me reflect on my biases.”

Bodily Autonomy

Adults should have full bodily autonomy, meaning government should not interfere with decisions affecting their bodies.

Opinions44 Split23% D / 23% A Neutral55% Mean-0.02

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (Northeast Associate's, Northeast Doctoral/Professional)

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 77% A)

Social Policies Favor the Powerful

Even programs designed to help students or communities often end up benefiting those who already have advantages.

Opinions44 Split9% D / 84% A Neutral7% Mean+1.36

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 62% A)

“I think that sway works especially well for people who have anxiety about speaking in class. Also being familiar with your classmates helps the conversation flow.”

Predicting the Future is Dangerous

Using predictions about society to guide policy is more likely to create oppression than progress.

Opinions44 Split82% D / 14% A Neutral5% Mean-1.52

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (24% D / 22% A)

History as a Trap

Believing society is bound to follow certain trends makes people ignore problems they could actually change.

Opinions16 Split56% D / 31% A Neutral12% Mean-0.94

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 84% A)

“I think that it forces people to engage in a conversation without just giving up. It also forces people with different opinions to communicate without arguing.”

Equality vs. Liberty Tension

The more a society tries to enforce equality, the more it restricts freedom.

Opinions40 Split20% D / 32% A Neutral48% Mean+0.15

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (82% D / 13% A)

Basic Income

The U.S. government should pay each adult U.S. citizen $25,000 per year, no strings attached (i.e., should provide a $25k "basic income").

Opinions43 Split65% D / 14% A Neutral21% Mean-1.23

Data from South R2

Tends to skew disagree (65% D / 14% A)

Scheduling

President Trump did a very smart thing by moving Cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III classification.

Opinions12 Split0% D / 92% A Neutral8% Mean+1.67

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 32% A)

“Talking on here is more in-depth, in class you can just stay silent.”

Protecting Minority Rights

A large representative republic, as outlined by Madison in Federalist No. 10, protects minority rights better than small, localized democracies.

Opinions36 Split31% D / 44% A Neutral25% Mean+0.17

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (24% D / 20% A)

Power

I believe there are ways to distinguish between productive power and abusive power.

Opinions36 Split53% D / 19% A Neutral28% Mean-0.72

Data from 3 institutions across 3 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU, West Baccalaureate)

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 62% A)

Addiction and Morality

The U.S. has a moral obligation to provide addiction treatment to anyone within its borders, regardless of immigration status.

Opinions36 Split44% D / 31% A Neutral25% Mean-0.42

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (30% D / 43% A)

Security Risks

Hospitals should be allowed to report undocumented patients to immigration authorities.

Opinions36 Split53% D / 17% A Neutral31% Mean-0.67

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (51% D / 19% A)

Assimilation

Immigration works when immigrants assimilate into American culture and values.

Opinions34 Split47% D / 26% A Neutral26% Mean-0.53

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (43% D / 30% A)

Affirmative Action Policies

Affirmative action is a morally necessary policy to achieve justice, even if it creates legal or individual inequities.

Opinions32 Split16% D / 53% A Neutral31% Mean+0.91

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew disagree (51% D / 19% A)

“Guide was polite and made us think more about the reasons behind our beliefs.”

Immigration Practices and Questions of Reproductive Justice

Characterizing immigration detention as reproductive oppression — as the authors argue in “Reproductive Justice in the US Immigration Detention System” — prioritizes an ideological opinion over the state’s legitimate interest in controlling its borders.

Opinions16 Split88% D / 0% A Neutral12% Mean-2.00

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew disagree (46% D / 29% A)

Foreign Wars and Policies

The US government must stay involved in foreign policy, including wars, in order to safeguard their interests.

Opinions16 Split25% D / 50% A Neutral25% Mean+0.31

Data from West

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 53% A)

Deportation of Legal Immigrants

Immigrants legally living in the U.S. should be subject to deportation if they participate in protests or demonstrations opposing positions taken by the U.S. government.

Opinions32 Split3% D / 81% A Neutral16% Mean+1.62

Tends to skew disagree (82% D / 3% A)

Border Control

Immigration policy should be stricter, including tighter border controls and more rigorous enforcement.

Opinions30 Split50% D / 17% A Neutral33% Mean-0.83

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 52% A)

Libertarian Principles

If people got what they have through fair work and fair trade, then even big differences in wealth can still be fair.

Opinions24 Split42% D / 46% A Neutral12% Mean+0.08

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (3% D / 81% A)

2024 Election

The loss of Kamala Harris to Donald Trump in the 2024 election proves that the US is not ready for a woman president.

Opinions24 Split21% D / 79% A Neutral0% Mean+1.58

Data from Northeast Doctoral/Professional

Tends to skew disagree (52% D / 16% A)

Racism and Power

A necessary condition of racism is having power over those at whom racism is directed. Therefore, racial minorities cannot be racist against whites. (Note: this power could be social, political, economic, etc. If you agree with this statement, be sure to make clear in your argument what kind of power is necessary or if any kind of power is sufficient.)

Opinions26 Split23% D / 65% A Neutral12% Mean+0.85

Race and Social Construction

Race in the U.S. is entirely a result of social construction with no basis in biology.

Opinions30 Split20% D / 80% A Neutral0% Mean+1.67

Tends to skew agree (20% D / 80% A)

“I think my confidence went up but it was stressful”

Government Involvement

The US government is responsible for helping lift people out of poverty by offering assistance programs like SNAP and Medicaid.

Opinions26 Split12% D / 77% A Neutral12% Mean+1.15

Data from Midwest Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 66% A)

Cynicism

The cynic is basically correct: government serves elite interests at the expense of ordinary people.

Opinions26 Split15% D / 85% A Neutral0% Mean+1.38

Data from South R2

100% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

“I liked it! I think the guide was very helpful too”

Against Democracy

Dahl's "Aristo" was right: most people are unqualified to participate in politics.

Opinions26 Split54% D / 38% A Neutral8% Mean-0.08

Data from South R2

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 78% A)

Partiality to Compatriots

For each country, citizens of that country ought, morally, to prioritize helping compatriots rather than foreigners (so, Americans should prioritize helping Americans, Germans should prioritize helping Germans, etc.).

Opinions26 Split69% D / 31% A Neutral0% Mean-0.69

Data from South R2

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 82% A)

TikTok Ownership & Data Security

The national security risks of TikTok's Chinese ownership outweigh its benefits to American users.

Opinions26 Split65% D / 31% A Neutral4% Mean-0.73

Data from South R1

Mexico–u.s. Border & Migration Policy

Undocumented immigrants contribute more to America than border security enforcement does.

Opinions18 Split22% D / 67% A Neutral11% Mean+0.61

Data from South R1

67% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (70% D / 30% A)

Racism

Mind-Changer

Mandatory anti-racism training in workplaces and schools is ineffective and creates more division than it resolves.

Opinions27 Split63% D / 30% A Neutral7% Mean-0.70

Data from Canada

29% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (63% D / 30% A)

Student Loan Debt

The federal government should forgive a significant portion of student loan debt.

Opinions26 Split27% D / 58% A Neutral15% Mean+0.38

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 58% A)

Cohesion or Fragmentation

Does increased racial and ethnic diversity strengthen social cohesion or increase social fragmentation?

Opinions26 Split15% D / 58% A Neutral27% Mean+1.00

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 58% A)

Racial Progress

Is racial progress in the U.S. moving forward or stalling?

Opinions20 Split10% D / 60% A Neutral30% Mean+0.85

Data from West R2 HSI

Class Versus Race

Does economic class matter more than racial identity in shaping everyday experiences today?

Opinions24 Split12% D / 50% A Neutral38% Mean+0.67

Data from West R2 HSI

100% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 50% A)

“In the Sway discussion I had time to brainstorm my ideas. I also liked the fact that I was able to ask the guide questions which helped me when I became stuck”

Food Dyes - Trust

The U.S. regulatory system cannot be trusted because political shifts—rather than scientific evidence—often drive policy changes related to artificial food dyes.

Opinions24 Split33% D / 29% A Neutral38% Mean-0.12

Data from Northwest R1

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 64% A)

Race and Wealth Inequality

Government policies after World War II did more harm than good for Black families, in terms of wealth inequality.

Opinions24 Split12% D / 50% A Neutral38% Mean+0.42

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 50% A)

Glenn Loury

Glenn Loury effectively reframes the debate on racial inequality by questioning the prevailing emphasis on systemic racism in policy.

Opinions24 Split33% D / 29% A Neutral38% Mean-0.12

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (33% D / 29% A)

Government Forcing Mandatory Policies

The government should mandate adherence to social values of pluralism and cultural diversity to prevent oppression and authoritarianism.

Opinions24 Split12% D / 50% A Neutral38% Mean+0.42

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 50% A)

Stronger Secularism

“Religion and religious symbols should be kept entirely out of public schools, government buildings, and official government activities.”

Opinions24 Split42% D / 42% A Neutral17% Mean+0.21

Data from Midwest R2

Disagreement vs. Shared Values

“What holds a healthy democracy together is mainly a set of shared core values rather than simply how well we handle disagreements.”

Opinions24 Split38% D / 50% A Neutral12% Mean+0.25

Data from Midwest R2

Conflict as a Civic Feature

“In a genuinely diverse society, some fundamental political and moral conflicts can never be fully resolved and must simply be managed over time.”

Opinions22 Split9% D / 55% A Neutral36% Mean+0.77

Data from Midwest R2

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 71% A)

Purpose of Interfaith Work

“Interfaith initiatives should focus primarily on promoting social justice and political change rather than on fostering personal relationships or theological understanding.”

Opinions22 Split68% D / 23% A Neutral9% Mean-0.68

Data from Midwest R2

Tends to skew disagree (54% D / 21% A)

Legacy of Racism - Corrective Justice and Affirmative Action

Affirmative action is a fair and necessary tool for addressing the effects of systemic racism.

Opinions23 Split13% D / 52% A Neutral35% Mean+0.65

Data from Midwest Associate's

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 52% A)

Enabling Leviathan

Providing clean needles and safe consumption sites is equivalent to the government assisting people in using illegal drugs.

Opinions22 Split27% D / 45% A Neutral27% Mean+0.32

Data from Midwest R1

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (65% D / 22% A)

USA System

The constitutional system that James Madison defended remains the best available safeguard against majority tyranny.

Opinions20 Split75% D / 10% A Neutral15% Mean-1.80

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 13% A)

Helping

Programs designed to ‘help’ marginalized communities often reproduce the same inequalities they claim to fix.

Opinions22 Split45% D / 14% A Neutral41% Mean-0.32

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 44% A)

Mills' Case

Mr. Oreo can successfully change his race if he changes to look like a white man.

Opinions22 Split50% D / 14% A Neutral36% Mean-0.82

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew disagree (74% D / 13% A)

Media and the Elities

The connection between drug trafficking and illegal immigration is deliberately downplayed by the media and political elites.

Opinions20 Split5% D / 85% A Neutral10% Mean+1.90

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (46% D / 14% A)

Undocumented Risk

Illegal immigration plays a significant role in the distribution of drugs in the United States.

Opinions20 Split20% D / 65% A Neutral15% Mean+0.60

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (50% D / 14% A)

Getting What's Coming to Them

People who make controversial political statements should expect to face strong criticism, and that’s part of public life.

Opinions20 Split5% D / 85% A Neutral10% Mean+1.35

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 86% A)

Imperfect Political Leaders

It’s okay for political leaders to be imperfect if they still get things done.

Opinions20 Split65% D / 5% A Neutral30% Mean-0.90

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 67% A)

Truth in Politics

It’s better for leaders to say what they really think, even if it upsets people.

Opinions20 Split60% D / 35% A Neutral5% Mean-0.50

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 86% A)

National Debt

Cutting social programs is necessary to keep the national debt under control, even if it hurts some vulnerable populations.

Opinions20 Split5% D / 80% A Neutral15% Mean+1.50

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (67% D / 5% A)

Honesty

Leaders should always be careful with their words, even if it means being less honest.

Opinions20 Split20% D / 50% A Neutral30% Mean+0.75

Data from Midwest R1

The Select Few

U.S. social welfare policy has historically prioritized some groups over others, and this continues to affect who gets help today.

Opinions20 Split10% D / 70% A Neutral20% Mean+0.75

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 81% A)

Mission Keeping or Mission Bending

Charities and nonprofits should not take government money if it means changing what they believe in.

Opinions20 Split95% D / 0% A Neutral5% Mean-2.45

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 52% A)

Government Makes Nonprofits Worse

Too many rules from the government make nonprofits less effective.

Opinions18 Split44% D / 44% A Neutral11% Mean-0.11

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 71% A)

Racial Identity

If they really feel it, it is acceptable for a person to self-identify as a person of another race.

Opinions18 Split33% D / 22% A Neutral44% Mean-0.33

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU)

Tends to skew disagree (95% D / 0% A)

Individual Racism

Racism is merely a result of individual ignorance, and not broader social structures or individual intentions.

Opinions18 Split6% D / 83% A Neutral11% Mean+1.44

Data from Northeast R2

Structural Racism

Racism in the United States is best understood as a structural system embedded in laws, institutions, and economic arrangements; instead of individual prejudice.

Opinions1,266 Split17% D / 63% A Neutral20% Mean+0.85

Data from Northeast R2

Tends to skew disagree (30% D / 25% A)

Reflexivity and Race

Understanding racism requires questioning one’s own assumptions about merit, fairness, and social order.

Opinions670 Split42% D / 35% A Neutral23% Mean-0.07

Data from Northeast R2

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 80% A)

Skills vs Family/Humanitarian

Proven Splitter

The United States benefits most from immigration when it selects for skills and education, not family ties or humanitarian claims.

Opinions50 Split44% D / 44% A Neutral12% Mean-0.28

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

69% rated Awesome/Good (16 post-chat surveys)

“It was good, mostly just felt like I connected well with the person I was talking to and we were able to make logical points”

Military Spending Limits

Proven Splitter

Countries in the developed world should not be allowed to spend more than 0.5% of GDP on the military. The spending on environmental conservation efforts must always be at least 2.5% of GDP. This will allow developing nations to not be bullied by wealthier nations that spend heavily on their militaries.

Opinions52 Split6% D / 90% A Neutral4% Mean+1.90

Data from Europe

Immigrants and Welfare Benefits

Proven Splitter

Illegal immigrants should NOT receive social welfare benefits.

Opinions76 Split57% D / 12% A Neutral32% Mean-0.89

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

60% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

American Involvement in Foreign Conflicts

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

The US should NOT get involved in foreign conflicts that do not pose a direct threat to Americans.

Opinions62 Split8% D / 66% A Neutral26% Mean+0.92

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

93% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

“Yes, as a bigger writer than a speaker, I feel more confident in participating in classroom discussions. Especially since this assignment layout gives me the opportunity to be able to write down my thoughts to underst...”

culture & society

Broad propositions about social norms, cultural practices, and how communities should organize themselves. These are versatile topics that fit comfortably in sociology, anthropology, and interdisciplinary general education courses.

Self-Editing and Authenticity at Work

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

It’s fair for jobs to expect people to “tone it down”—like changing how they dress, talk, or act—if they want to get ahead. Employees should be expected to “self-edit” (adjust their appearance, language, or behavior) if they want to succeed in professional environments. Expressing your personality is something you can do on your own time.

Opinions66 Split44% D / 50% A Neutral6% Mean-0.12

Data from West R2 HSI

89% rated Awesome/Good (18 post-chat surveys)

“I think Sway did a great job at providing questions for us to analyze the topic a lot deeper and giving insight more to both sides to help both of our understandings”

Drinking Socially

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

It is okay for children under 18 to drink a small amount of alcohol if their parents give it to them.

Opinions38 Split63% D / 32% A Neutral5% Mean-0.82

Data from Midwest R1

71% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

“great talking to p-eople and challenging their thoughts”

Removal of Historical Monuments

Student Favorite

Monuments that are perceived as symbols of racism, such as confederate statues, should be removed from public view.

Opinions146 Split51% D / 12% A Neutral38% Mean-0.75

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

73% rated Awesome/Good (45 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 65% A)

“Guide helped create lots of new ideas and created questions that help my partner digest my information a little bit better”

Cultural Appropriation / Cultural Appreciation

Proven Splitter

A student wearing a keffiyeh without knowing the meaning of its colors or symbols is an example of cultural appropriation.

Opinions72 Split19% D / 47% A Neutral33% Mean+0.42

Data from West R2 HSI

69% rated Awesome/Good (13 post-chat surveys)

Sexuality in Pop Culture

Proven Splitter

Hypersexualized performance in pop culture isn’t imposed. It just reflects what audiences want.

Opinions197 Split48% D / 31% A Neutral21% Mean-0.35

Data from West R2 HSI

70% rated Awesome/Good (30 post-chat surveys)

“Helped me keep my arguments on track of where I was going originally with my statements.”

Hijabs and Islamophobia

Student Favorite Mind-Changer

It is Islamophobic to oppose laws that require women living in Muslim countries to wear a hijab (head scarf)

Opinions72 Split14% D / 79% A Neutral7% Mean+1.43

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (West R1 HSI)

83% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (50% D / 12% A)

Cultural Appropriation in Music

Star Student Favorite Mind-Changer

K-pop’s use of Black musical styles reflects global cultural exchange, not appropriation — and American fans are not responsible for policing the industry’s influences. Accusing them of cultural appropriation ignores the fact that pop music has always evolved through cross-cultural borrowing.

Opinions72 Split35% D / 60% A Neutral6% Mean+0.53

94% rated Awesome/Good (16 post-chat surveys)

“I thought the Sway chat format was cool, similar to texting, which is what made it comfortable to discuss complex issues”

Boycotting Films

Student Favorite

Movie-goers should boycott films that cast much older men with much younger women as romantic leads.

Opinions76 Split24% D / 72% A Neutral4% Mean+0.92

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (West R1 HSI)

71% rated Awesome/Good (24 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (46% D / 29% A)

Sexuality in Pop Culture (Female Artists)

When female musical artists present themselves sexually in lyrics, wardrobe, choreography, etc., this is an act of empowerment and personal expression. Criticizing female musicians for self-objectification is just disguised misogyny.

Opinions158 Split15% D / 77% A Neutral9% Mean+1.25

Data from West R2 HSI

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 77% A)

“Having Guide mediate the conversation was very helpful as during the discussion, you have someone who can better elaborate on the points and ideas being expressed.”

"Too Fat"

Star Student Favorite Mind-Changer

Fat women in Hollywood, the music industry, or social media face harsher criticism than fat men because society expects women to be physically desirable. That’s simply reality, not discrimination.

Opinions76 Split34% D / 61% A Neutral5% Mean+0.37

Data from West R2 HSI

96% rated Awesome/Good (22 post-chat surveys)

“I really liked this. This was my first time using Sway and it was really easy to use. I prefer this that class discussions, it was fun to use.”

Hamlet's Character Flaws

Proven Splitter

Hamlet's hesitation was the main factor in his demise.

Opinions76 Split18% D / 80% A Neutral1% Mean+1.26

Augustine's Conversion

Augustine's dramatic religious conversion from hedonism to Christianity represents an admirable spiritual transformation that should be emulated.

Opinions76 Split55% D / 37% A Neutral8% Mean-0.53

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (30% D / 46% A)

Hector vs. Achilles

Proven Splitter

Hector is a better hero than Achilles.

Opinions76 Split25% D / 41% A Neutral34% Mean+0.34

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great was indeed great.

Opinions12 Split33% D / 58% A Neutral8% Mean+0.67

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 78% A)

Oedipus Rex

Proven Splitter

Oedipus is basically innocent.

Opinions86 Split6% D / 83% A Neutral12% Mean+1.33

Data from Midwest R1

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Hecuba V. Ophelia

Hecuba, Hector's wife, is a better woman than Ophelia, Hamlet's beloved.

Opinions80 Split20% D / 50% A Neutral30% Mean+0.41

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 41% A)

Religion

All religious views are equally valuable and worthy of respect.

Opinions78 Split87% D / 6% A Neutral6% Mean-1.86

Data from 3 institutions across 3 regions (Midwest R1, Southeast M1 HBCU, Northeast Baccalaureate)

100% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (41% D / 30% A)

Social Media and Identity

Mind-Changer

Gen Z’s “always on, always judged” mindset has turned consumption (buying stuff) into identity performance. I recognize that social media traps us into performing and posturing, but I still struggle to leave.

Opinions78 Split73% D / 26% A Neutral1% Mean-0.97

Data from West R2 HSI

75% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 83% A)

“Guide’s approach felt more interactive and thought-provoking compared to typical classroom discussions. It pushed the conversation deeper by asking follow up questions to keep the conservation going.”

Coastal Elites

People who live in cities look down on those who live in rural areas.

Opinions78 Split68% D / 29% A Neutral3% Mean-0.87

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

71% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (20% D / 51% A)

Pop-Culture Pushback

Using pop culture to push back against stereotypes and discrimination is a waste of time. Real social change only happens through politics and policy, not media.

Opinions76 Split21% D / 45% A Neutral34% Mean+0.49

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew disagree (87% D / 6% A)

Identity and Representation

How people’s identities and communities are represented in pop culture doesn’t matter that much. Real life experience is more important to how we understand each other than how groups are shown on screen.

Opinions68 Split0% D / 88% A Neutral12% Mean+1.81

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew disagree (73% D / 25% A)

“It was good overall, a lot of good conversations and help to see other perspectives of individuals that we do not really think about.”

Semiotics and Identity

Proven Splitter

What people drink at a bar (e.g., Bud Lite, martini), clothing styles (e.g., board shorts, business suits), and brand logos (like Nike, Target, or Chanel) tells you more about what someone believes in than anything they say out loud.

Opinions68 Split74% D / 13% A Neutral13% Mean-1.54

Data from West R2 HSI

89% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

“I liked it because it helped me see a side I didn't see in the beginning.”

Tolerance and Foreign Cultures

We should not condemn the traditional cultural practices that occur in other countries even if they violate American laws.

Opinions50 Split42% D / 50% A Neutral8% Mean+0.24

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 46% A)

Porn and Sexual Abuse

Even legal porn can contribute to sexual abuse and violence.

Opinions46 Split28% D / 65% A Neutral7% Mean+0.70

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (0% D / 89% A)

Drag Queen Story Hour

Public libraries should not allow cross-dressers and drag queens to read books to children.

Opinions73 Split73% D / 15% A Neutral12% Mean-1.48

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

62% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (73% D / 15% A)

World is Held Together by the Mass of Honest Folk

"The world is held together by the mass of honest folk who do their daily tasks, tend their own spot in the world, and have faith that at last the Right will come fully into its own.” Henry Ford

Opinions42 Split45% D / 40% A Neutral14% Mean-0.07

Data from Midwest

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 63% A)

Beauty Standards

South Korea’s beauty industry promotes unrealistic and damaging societal standards.

Opinions38 Split11% D / 76% A Neutral13% Mean+1.18

Data from West R2 HSI

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (8% D / 92% A)

Reasons to Believe

There are sound reasons to believe in the existence of God.

Opinions38 Split39% D / 50% A Neutral11% Mean+0.05

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (25% D / 48% A)

Religion and Marriage Equality

Religious beliefs should be respected even if they conflict with marriage equality.

Opinions32 Split41% D / 31% A Neutral28% Mean-0.38

Data from West M1 HSI

Culture and Change

Efforts to change diets for environmental reasons should respect cultural traditions, even when those traditions involve high-impact foods.

Opinions28 Split29% D / 54% A Neutral18% Mean+0.57

Data from Northeast R1

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 78% A)

Normalizing Lethal Self-Defense

When society normalizes lethal self-defense, it reinforces cultural “rules” of retaliation that entrap youth like Will rather than protect them.

Opinions30 Split47% D / 27% A Neutral27% Mean-0.47

Data from Mid-Atlantic

60% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Theological Foundations

Medical professionals should only receive religious exemptions from certain types of work if they can show that their beliefs are rooted in an established tradition.

Opinions26 Split46% D / 31% A Neutral23% Mean-0.31

Data from Northeast Associate's

Religion and Government

There needs to be a clearer separation of church and state in the United States today.

Opinions20 Split5% D / 90% A Neutral5% Mean+1.70

Data from Northeast R2

Tends to skew agree (25% D / 56% A)

Reason to Believe

There is no reason to believe in God.

Opinions30 Split47% D / 27% A Neutral27% Mean-0.47

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (47% D / 27% A)

American Dream

The American dream is dead.

Opinions12 Split25% D / 75% A Neutral0% Mean+0.75

Data from Midwest Baccalaureate

Monotheism and Empires

Would you agree that without empires, monotheism would not be as widespread as it is today?

Opinions29 Split7% D / 86% A Neutral7% Mean+1.48

Data from Midwest M1

Tends to skew agree (7% D / 86% A)

Representation and Harm

Protecting students from harmful content is more important than protecting access to controversial literature.

Opinions27 Split44% D / 48% A Neutral7% Mean+0.00

Data from Southeast R1 HSI

Satire

A misunderstood satire does more harm than good.

Opinions25 Split16% D / 80% A Neutral4% Mean+1.04

Data from Midwest

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 80% A)

Ideals vs. Reality of Religious Liberty

“Throughout U.S. history, religious liberty has been more of an aspirational ideal than something consistently applied in practice.”

Opinions16 Split25% D / 62% A Neutral12% Mean+1.19

Data from Midwest R2

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 67% A)

Rights in Tension

“Sometimes protecting one person’s religious freedom necessarily means placing limits on other people’s rights or freedoms.”

Opinions22 Split18% D / 23% A Neutral59% Mean-0.05

Data from Midwest R2

Tends to skew disagree (38% D / 29% A)

What Makes Someone ‘american’

“Being truly American is defined more by commitment to civic principles (constitution, rule of law, democracy) than by culture, ethnicity, or religion.”

Opinions20 Split15% D / 50% A Neutral35% Mean+0.80

Data from Midwest R2

“The guiding questions provided challenged you to think deeper on what you were supporting”

The Existence of God

God exists

Opinions20 Split35% D / 65% A Neutral0% Mean+0.50

Data from 3 institutions across 3 regions (South R1, Mountain West R2, Southeast R1)

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 50% A)

It is Racism

Closed and bounded social structures, like racially homogeneous urban ghettos, create contexts where “pathological” and “dysfunctional” cultural forms emerge.

Opinions22 Split55% D / 27% A Neutral18% Mean-0.23

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 22% A)

Racial Categorization Factors

Culture is the most important factor in how we experience racial categories.

Opinions17 Split6% D / 82% A Neutral12% Mean+1.71

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 52% A)

The Benefit of Religion

Do you believe religion is beneficial to society?

Opinions17 Split65% D / 29% A Neutral6% Mean-0.94

Data from Midwest M1

Clapping

Clapping when a plane lands is acceptable behavior.

Opinions14 Split50% D / 43% A Neutral7% Mean-0.21

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (54% D / 27% A)

Shame-Harmful

Shame is more harmful than fat acceptance.

Opinions18 Split28% D / 50% A Neutral22% Mean+0.44

Data from Northeast M1

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 85% A)

B Pos

“Body positivity” mainly benefits big food companies.

Opinions941 Split38% D / 31% A Neutral31% Mean-0.13

Data from Northeast M1

Book or Movie?

I would rather watch a movie than read the book version.

Opinions214 Split50% D / 22% A Neutral28% Mean-0.52

Data from West M2 HSI

Race and Language

There is nothing wrong with Awkwafina's use of a "blaccent" or African American Vernacular English in her rap, comic, and acting career.

Opinions14 Split57% D / 14% A Neutral29% Mean-1.00

Data from Northeast R2

Tends to skew agree (25% D / 45% A)

Renaming College Sports Teams and Mascots

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Schools should change team nicknames and mascots that refer to Native Americans, such as “the Seminoles.”

Opinions36 Split17% D / 83% A Neutral0% Mean+1.39

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

91% rated Awesome/Good (11 post-chat surveys)

“It is based on our own ideas and challenges our arguments helping us to grow and challenge our viewpoints.”

economics & labor

Questions about markets, wages, inequality, and the relationship between work and economic systems. These topics travel well across economics, business, and social policy courses.

Defaults in Policy

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Default retirement plan enrollment dramatically increases retirement savings. Companies should use automatic enrollment more aggressively, even when people may not fully understand what they’re being enrolled into.

Opinions26 Split65% D / 31% A Neutral4% Mean-0.69

Data from Southeast R1

83% rated Awesome/Good (30 post-chat surveys)

“I was a good way to see both perspectives. The guide also helped push our arguments further, and in the end, we were both able to reach an understanding.”

Gig Workers

Student Favorite

The benefits of the freedom of gig work (e.g. Uber, Doordash) outweigh the harms that can arise from limited employee protections.

Opinions858 Split7% D / 80% A Neutral13% Mean+1.72

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

86% rated Awesome/Good (77 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (27% D / 22% A)

“I feel either i'm doing a great job convincing people of my stance or that the questions given are weak and aren't very controversial in the first place.”

Corporate Executive Accountability

Student Favorite

Corporate executives should be held personally legally accountable for unethical practices within their organizations when their knowledge of the unethical practices can be demonstrated.

Opinions804 Split8% D / 85% A Neutral8% Mean+1.88

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

78% rated Awesome/Good (37 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 83% A)

“It helped me to dig deeper. And find a weak point in their argument to attack instead of combating the strong points that I know is right.”

Hiring and Social Media

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Companies should use the content of a job candidate’s social media presence to influence hiring decisions.

Opinions184 Split22% D / 43% A Neutral35% Mean+0.37

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

88% rated Awesome/Good (330 post-chat surveys)

“He was extremely responsive. His mannerisms in the entire conversation allow us proper constructive criticism. Overall, it was a productive conversation.”

Wealth Gap

Student Favorite

The gap between rich and poor in the U.S. is unacceptably large.

Opinions66 Split44% D / 30% A Neutral26% Mean-0.23

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

80% rated Awesome/Good (39 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 82% A)

“The guide keeps the topic on track and points out perspectives that the other person is trying to make just in case it is missed between chats.”

Federal Minimum Wage

The federal minimum wage should be raised to 15 per hour.

Opinions32 Split34% D / 38% A Neutral28% Mean-0.03

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

88% rated Awesome/Good (26 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 82% A)

“It was interesting to have a third party observe and mediate the conversation. I liked when it summarized the other persons point and asked for us to provide a counter argument.”

Gender and Economic Inequality

Student Favorite Mind-Changer

There is too much talk about the gender pay gap and not enough discussion of the income gap between the top 10% and the lowest 10% of earners

Opinions98 Split37% D / 57% A Neutral6% Mean+0.26

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (West R1 HSI)

92% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 40% A)

Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism

Student Favorite

Capitalism depends on men’s paid labor just as much as it depends on women’s unpaid labor. This is fair because everyone contributes to families and society in their own way.

Opinions134 Split25% D / 52% A Neutral23% Mean+0.49

Data from West R2 HSI

91% rated Awesome/Good (11 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (25% D / 52% A)

“i enjoy talking to my classmates and having these discussions to learn more not just myself but what the people around me think and feel”

The Economy

Proven Splitter

The Trump administration's economic plan, particularly its significant tax cuts for corporations and high-income individuals, disproportionately benefits the wealthy and corporations, while doing little to address the growing national debt and the potential negative long-term effects on middle-class Americans and social programs.

Opinions80 Split71% D / 11% A Neutral18% Mean-1.39

Data from West

17% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Preserving Work

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

We should endeavour to preserve work (for humans) even if machines can do it more efficiently.

Opinions24 Split46% D / 21% A Neutral33% Mean-0.62

Data from Canada

86% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

Socialized Health Care Systems Are the Best

Overall, the best health care systems are socialized systems, where the government provides health care to citizens free of charge by using funds raised through taxes.

Opinions80 Split11% D / 74% A Neutral15% Mean+1.49

Data from Southeast M1 HBCU

Tends to skew agree (8% D / 78% A)

“It made me feel more confident. I learned how to express my opinions respectfully and support them with reasoning, even when others might disagree.”

Theories About 9/11

The September 11th attacks were an inside job.

Opinions76 Split4% D / 55% A Neutral41% Mean+0.89

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (70% D / 12% A)

Weak Agency

Markets that exploit people with diminished decision-making capacity or economic vulnerability should be illegal.

Opinions76 Split78% D / 13% A Neutral9% Mean-1.54

Data from Southeast R1

60% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (25% D / 40% A)

The Racial Wealth Gap in America

The large wealth gap between Blacks and Whites is unfair.

Opinions76 Split47% D / 24% A Neutral29% Mean-0.45

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 73% A)

Costs and Benefits of Free Trade for America

The US has more to gain than lose by engaging in free trade agreements with other countries.

Opinions76 Split29% D / 42% A Neutral29% Mean+0.17

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 54% A)

Flat vs. Progressive Taxation

All people should pay the same flat percentage in taxes regardless of how low or high their incomes are.

Opinions76 Split70% D / 18% A Neutral12% Mean-1.21

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (77% D / 13% A)

Taxing Inheritances

There should be no taxes on the wealth that people inherit from their parents.

Opinions76 Split37% D / 34% A Neutral29% Mean-0.16

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (47% D / 25% A)

Incentivizing Innovation

It will help encourage innovation and entrepreneurship if people are allowed to make as much money as they’re able to.

Opinions66 Split71% D / 15% A Neutral14% Mean-1.06

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 43% A)

The Causes of Inequality

Economic inequality exists because some people work harder than others.

Opinions66 Split58% D / 29% A Neutral14% Mean-0.56

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

50% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (70% D / 18% A)

Effects of Allowing Inheritance

Proven Splitter

When people are allowed to inherit money, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Opinions66 Split8% D / 79% A Neutral14% Mean+1.52

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

The Effectiveness of Boycotts

Boycotts don’t change the policies they’re targeting; they only hurt workers and business owners.

Opinions32 Split28% D / 59% A Neutral12% Mean+0.41

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

62% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (68% D / 14% A)

Capitalism and Freedom

Student Favorite Mind-Changer

Capitalism, competition, and the free market are the best ways to promote freedom and innovation. With equal opportunity under the law, anyone who works hard can achieve economic success.

Opinions44 Split45% D / 32% A Neutral23% Mean-0.30

Data from West R2 HSI

87% rated Awesome/Good (15 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (58% D / 28% A)

“It allowed our own opinions to be challenged and also gave us the opportunity to further explain our thinking.”

You Can Have It All

The promise that “you can have it all” was never about freedom—it’s a way to convince people that if you’re struggling with work, money, school, or family, it’s because you’re not working hard enough.

Opinions56 Split14% D / 66% A Neutral20% Mean+1.18

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 78% A)

Room for Everybody in America

“...There is room for everybody in America; has he any particular talent, or industry? he exerts it in order to procure a livelihood, and it succeeds... I do not mean that every one who comes will grow rich in a little time; no, but he may procure an easy, decent maintenance by his industry. Instead of starving he will be fed, instead of being idle he will have employment; and these are riches enough for such men as come over here. The rich stay in Europe, it is only the middling and the poor that emigrate…” J. Hector St. John de Crèvecœur

Opinions12 Split67% D / 8% A Neutral25% Mean-1.83

Data from Midwest

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 58% A)

Remote Work Policies

Proven Splitter Mind-Changer

Companies should make remote work permanent as it increases productivity and employee satisfaction while reducing costs.

Opinions4 Split75% D / 25% A Neutral0% Mean-1.25

Data from Mid-Atlantic Associate's

38% rated Awesome/Good (13 post-chat surveys)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Reindustrialization

Because many of the lost jobs that have contributed to the epidemic of deaths of despair have been in the manufacturing sector, the US should institute policy to bring those jobs back to the US.

Opinions54 Split28% D / 46% A Neutral26% Mean+0.15

Data from Southeast R1

64% rated Awesome/Good (11 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 65% A)

DEI Initiatives

Mind-Changer

DEI work is ineffective and should not be supported through tax dollars.

Opinions22 Split45% D / 23% A Neutral32% Mean-0.50

50% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (61% D / 21% A)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Wealth Tax

Mind-Changer

Wealthy people don't pay their fair share in taxes.

Opinions38 Split92% D / 8% A Neutral0% Mean-2.00

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (Northeast M1, Northeast Baccalaureate)

38% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 64% A)

Workers Rights and Equality vs Immigration

A society that genuinely values workers' rights and wage equality should be cautious about large-scale low-wage immigration, even if it is sympathetic to immigrants themselves.

Opinions52 Split23% D / 62% A Neutral15% Mean+0.62

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

56% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 47% A)

Tax on Billionaires

Proven Splitter

Wealth accumulation should be capped through taxation, making billionaires impossible and redistributing excess wealth to prevent exploitative business practices.

Opinions52 Split12% D / 71% A Neutral17% Mean+1.29

Data from Europe

60% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Gotta Tip

Tipping should be mandatory.

Opinions52 Split73% D / 8% A Neutral19% Mean-1.46

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (85% D / 11% A)

Inequality and Innovation

Inequality is the inevitable byproduct of an economic system that incentivizes innovation.

Opinions52 Split42% D / 44% A Neutral13% Mean-0.25

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 62% A)

Marginal Tax Rates

We should raise marginal income taxes for those earning very high incomes.

Opinions52 Split40% D / 50% A Neutral10% Mean+0.08

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 71% A)

Government Benefits

Government benefits for unemployed and poor people are too high in the US.

Opinions52 Split23% D / 67% A Neutral10% Mean+1.06

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew disagree (73% D / 8% A)

Wealthy Deserving of Success

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

The wealthiest people in society deserve their financial success.

Opinions38 Split37% D / 58% A Neutral5% Mean+0.39

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

85% rated Awesome/Good (13 post-chat surveys)

“It increased my confidence by giving me useful tips for keeping the conversation going (Guide). In this conversation, the guide helped me explore different views by introducing the moral debate about wealth in the top...”

Supporting the Poorest

Proven Splitter

Concern about inequality between the rich and everyone else is misplaced; what matters is actually whether people at the bottom can meet their basic needs.

Opinions42 Split17% D / 79% A Neutral5% Mean+1.45

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Inquality and Morality

Inequality is morally wrong.

Opinions38 Split55% D / 34% A Neutral11% Mean-0.68

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

62% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 67% A)

Pay Transparency

Pay transparency (making salaries visible across the organization) improves fairness and performance

Opinions38 Split58% D / 16% A Neutral26% Mean-0.89

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (Mid-Atlantic Associate's, Mid-Atlantic R1)

“I really enjoyed communicating through Sway and loved how we had the Guide to help us elaborate more on our opinion to support our point! I found this very beneficial, especially when discussing conflict!”

Worth of Work

Doctors and surgeons should get paid more than celebrities.

Opinions34 Split24% D / 44% A Neutral32% Mean+0.50

Data from Canada

88% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 77% A)

“It went well! It definitely built my confidence, as I have learned how to make effective rebuttals towards my opponents while also agreeing with some of their points. This Sway chat will definitely prepare me for any ...”

CEO Compensation

CEOs deserve extremely high compensation (as much as possible) because they create a disproportionate share of company value

Opinions34 Split29% D / 50% A Neutral21% Mean+0.56

Data from Mid-Atlantic R1

“Sway was awesome to use. It was easy, and it felt like the person was in the same room with me. The guide was perfect because it helped us stay on topic and focus on topic.”

Employee Unions

Union representation (organized labor) is outdated in the modern economy and does more harm than good to society

Opinions32 Split44% D / 25% A Neutral31% Mean-0.53

Data from Mid-Atlantic R1

Tends to skew disagree (58% D / 16% A)

“It was very helpful and effective to maintain a steady flow in the discussion, and provided effective and interesting questions and viewpoints”

No Merir

We do not live in a meritocracy.

Opinions32 Split22% D / 66% A Neutral12% Mean+0.75

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 43% A)

Social Justice

It’s unfair when a country lets people live in extreme poverty.

Opinions24 Split38% D / 42% A Neutral21% Mean+0.08

Data from Mid-Atlantic

60% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (28% D / 50% A)

Tariffs

Mind-Changer

Tariffs help American manufacturers get the upper hand in business and in the long run, help the economy.

Opinions30 Split7% D / 80% A Neutral13% Mean+1.77

Data from West

14% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (44% D / 24% A)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Taxation

Taking someone’s money to give to others—even for equality—violates their rights.

Opinions30 Split17% D / 30% A Neutral53% Mean+0.37

Data from Mid-Atlantic

60% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 66% A)

Population Caps

All nations should have a population limit beyond which those nations will pay higher tariffs or have other forms of economic sanctions levied on them. This will help mitigate runaway population explosions in the world and incentivise nations and/or communities to prioritise effective family planning.

Opinions26 Split42% D / 50% A Neutral8% Mean+0.23

Data from Europe

17% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Wages

The minimum wage ought to be a living wage.

Opinions30 Split7% D / 80% A Neutral13% Mean+1.77

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (7% D / 80% A)

Meritocracy

Meritocracy is an illusion.

Opinions22 Split5% D / 86% A Neutral9% Mean+2.00

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 30% A)

U.s.–china Trade Restrictions & Tariffs

American consumers should pay higher prices from tariffs on Chinese imports if it means protecting domestic manufacturing.

Opinions22 Split36% D / 59% A Neutral5% Mean+0.73

Data from South R1

Work

Should employers be allowed to consider race when building teams?

Opinions18 Split11% D / 78% A Neutral11% Mean+1.44

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew disagree (77% D / 19% A)

“It helped lead the discussion smoothly and point out other ideas that neither side considered in their original opinion and helped us have a more in depth discussion.”

Economic Justice - Should Full-Time Work Pay Enough?

People who work full-time jobs should always earn enough to support a decent standard of living.

Opinions16 Split50% D / 50% A Neutral0% Mean-0.06

Data from Midwest Associate's

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 87% A)

Economic Justice - Justice and Wealth Inequality

In a just society, no one should be extremely rich while others lack basic necessities.

Opinions18 Split39% D / 33% A Neutral28% Mean-0.06

Data from Midwest Associate's

88% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Economic Policy

Increasing taxes on high-income earners would reduce economic inequality and political polarization.

Opinions18 Split33% D / 44% A Neutral22% Mean+0.11

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 71% A)

“I like one on one conversations, and I thought it was good overall. The AI may do a little bit better at stimulating conversation.”

Economic Inequality

Nozick is wrong: some economic inequalities--for instance, the gap between a billionaire and a homeless person--are unjust, even if they come about through just steps.

Opinions18 Split50% D / 39% A Neutral11% Mean-0.17

Data from South R2

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Class Ascription vs Achievement

Individual effort and merit is more important than your family background in determining your social class.

Opinions968 Split36% D / 49% A Neutral15% Mean+0.35

Data from Northeast R2

Three Types of Capital

Social capital (your social networks and connections) is more important than actual economic capital (financial assets) in determining social class.

Opinions884 Split17% D / 71% A Neutral11% Mean+1.08

Data from Northeast R2

Class Mobility

It was easier to move up in social class in previous generations than it is today.

Opinions50 Split20% D / 74% A Neutral6% Mean+0.98

Data from Northeast R2

Food Security Definition

Star Student Favorite Mind-Changer

The definition of food security has expanded too far; in a resource‑constrained society, it should focus on preventing hunger rather than ensuring culturally appropriate or preferred foods.

Opinions80 Split30% D / 58% A Neutral12% Mean+0.71

Data from Northwest R1

78% rated Awesome/Good (46 post-chat surveys)

“I enjoyed it and found it similar! It was very easy to chat together and get a sense of agreement and sway assured the conversation kept going!”

criminal justice & law

Propositions about crime, punishment, legality, and the regulation of behavior. Designed for criminal justice, pre-law, and policy courses, but also useful in ethics and political science.

Post-Prison Voting

Student Favorite

People who served their time for a felony should be able to vote after release.

Opinions232 Split22% D / 61% A Neutral16% Mean+0.92

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

78% rated Awesome/Good (183 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 63% A)

“It helped me identify biases within myself and how I can clarify those within myself to construct clearer and more well-positioned arguments.”

The Death Penalty

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

The death penalty should be abolished in the U.S.

Opinions232 Split41% D / 31% A Neutral28% Mean-0.21

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

78% rated Awesome/Good (18 post-chat surveys)

“Helped me become more confident in why I chose what I chose”

Law Enforcement and Privacy

Law enforcement should not be allowed access to your cell phone content without your consent.

Opinions5 Split100% D / 0% A Neutral0% Mean-3.00

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

76% rated Awesome/Good (45 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 64% A)

“It helped us think deeper about each other's claims and how we should further respond to each other.”

Goal of Prison

Prisons focus more on rehabilitation than punishment.

Opinions158 Split66% D / 19% A Neutral15% Mean-0.97

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

74% rated Awesome/Good (65 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 65% A)

“It made me feel more confident discussing complex issues. I learned how important it is to listen and understand the other person’s perspective.”

Trying Juveniles as Adults

Student Favorite

Juveniles should never be tried as adults, even for severe crimes.

Opinions26 Split31% D / 23% A Neutral46% Mean-0.04

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

78% rated Awesome/Good (58 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (62% D / 20% A)

“I would have liked to be able to go back and fix a mistake I made when filling out the survey. Other than that the discussion was good.”

Solitary Confinement

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

The use of solitary confinement as a punishment in prisons should be banned.

Opinions64 Split89% D / 3% A Neutral8% Mean-2.02

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

88% rated Awesome/Good (57 post-chat surveys)

“I felt that I learned a bit more from the other's worldview, and these chats have made me realize that we all agree a lot more than we realize.”

Capital Punishment

Capital punishment should be illegal in the United States.

Opinions78 Split28% D / 60% A Neutral12% Mean+0.53

Data from 3 institutions across 2 regions (Mountain West Baccalaureate, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic R1)

75% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (50% D / 24% A)

Anarcho-Capitalism

Anarcho-capitalists like Huemer are right: we'd be safer if police were eliminated and security completed privatized.

Opinions80 Split20% D / 35% A Neutral45% Mean+0.28

Data from South R2

Tends to skew disagree (89% D / 5% A)

COMPAS

The COMPAS recidivism algorithm is/was biased against Blacks.

Opinions78 Split49% D / 33% A Neutral18% Mean-0.40

Data from Canada

70% rated Awesome/Good (27 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (28% D / 60% A)

“It was good, but we found middle ground quite quickly and so the discussion should have ended but it went on so we just talked about other stuff”

The Death of Jeffery Epstein

Jeffrey Epstein was murdered in prison.

Opinions78 Split58% D / 17% A Neutral26% Mean-1.01

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (20% D / 35% A)

Punishing Illegal Immigration

Proven Splitter

People who violate immigration law should be punished like any other kind of criminal.

Opinions36 Split58% D / 28% A Neutral14% Mean-0.81

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

62% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Crime and Immigration

Immigration is contributing to rising crime rates.

Opinions40 Split30% D / 38% A Neutral32% Mean+0.05

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (58% D / 16% A)

“This helped me improve my skills in discussing complex issues with people holding different views from me.”

Social Justice and the Legal System

Efforts to reduce racial bias in policing and the courts have gone so far that they now threaten public safety and undermine law enforcement.

Opinions40 Split42% D / 30% A Neutral28% Mean-0.28

Data from West R2 HSI

90% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

“I think having the AI chat definitely helped a lot with steering the conversation in a productive direction.”

Truth V. Reconciliation

National reconciliation is best served by letting painful truths rest, as reopening old wounds may hinder healing more than it helps.

Opinions40 Split15% D / 50% A Neutral35% Mean+0.72

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Justice V. Mercy

In cases of historic racial violence, mercy should prevail when the accused is elderly or infirm, as the pursuit of justice must be tempered by compassion and practicality.

Opinions40 Split18% D / 68% A Neutral15% Mean+0.88

Data from Mid-Atlantic

71% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

“its a lil condescending and ignores some points to favor others but it summarizes and presents arguments in a helpful way.”

Symbolic Justice vs. Real Consequences

Symbolic justice without enforceable consequences is performative and undermines the credibility of the legal system.

Opinions42 Split71% D / 26% A Neutral2% Mean-1.00

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 47% A)

Past V. Present

We should care about fixing past wrongs like Emmett Till’s case, because ignoring them allows unfair treatment to continue today.

Opinions40 Split15% D / 32% A Neutral52% Mean+0.23

Data from Mid-Atlantic

40% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (20% D / 67% A)

“It went well I led to more discussion because Guide asked a lot of great questions.”

Punishment

Prison should be about making criminals suffer.

Opinions40 Split35% D / 38% A Neutral28% Mean-0.03

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (73% D / 25% A)

“It increased my confidence. The discussion helped me practice explaining my ideas clearly, responding to counterarguments, and staying respectful even when I disagreed.”

AI Bias

AI will perpetuate and amplify existing biases toward people of different races, ethnicities and genders, and thus lead to unfair outcomes in areas like hiring and criminal justice.

Opinions40 Split18% D / 30% A Neutral52% Mean+0.17

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 32% A)

“It was great to have the guide weigh in to push our conversation.”

Systemic Bias

Police are structurally incapable of responding equitably to mental health crises in communities of color.

Opinions38 Split58% D / 29% A Neutral13% Mean-0.76

Data from Midwest R1

Community Safety

Removing police from mental health crisis response will disproportionately harm high-crime minority neighborhoods.

Opinions38 Split32% D / 45% A Neutral24% Mean+0.34

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (20% D / 29% A)

A Pound of Flesh

Offering incarcerated individuals reduced sentences in exchange for organ or bone marrow donation is a morally acceptable practice.

Opinions38 Split37% D / 45% A Neutral18% Mean-0.05

Data from Mid-Atlantic

60% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (59% D / 28% A)

No Hugging Zone

Correctional facilities are justified in replacing in-person visitation with virtual alternatives if doing so significantly improves institutional safety and efficiency.

Opinions38 Split5% D / 68% A Neutral26% Mean+1.21

Data from Mid-Atlantic

71% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Lethal Self-Defense

A society that excuses killing in the name of self-defense contributes to cycles of violence rather than breaking them.

Opinions38 Split18% D / 37% A Neutral45% Mean+0.13

Data from Mid-Atlantic

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

“Sway chat challenged me a lot in this discussion which lowered my confidence, but I think it was needed for me to develop my standpoint.”

Vigilante Justice

When institutions cannot reliably prevent harm, individuals are morally permitted to use proportionate defensive force to protect themselves and others.

Opinions34 Split41% D / 53% A Neutral6% Mean+0.24

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 68% A)

Expectation to Retreat

Removing the expectation to retreat prioritizes individual fear over collective safety.

Opinions34 Split41% D / 32% A Neutral26% Mean-0.29

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 37% A)

Eye for Eye

First-degree murder justifies the death penalty.

Opinions30 Split30% D / 33% A Neutral37% Mean-0.03

Data from Canada

Prisoner Rights

Prison rules that take away someone’s dignity are wrong.

Opinions22 Split45% D / 41% A Neutral14% Mean-0.14

Data from Mid-Atlantic

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Mushroom Crime

Psilocybin mushrooms (magic mushrooms) should be legal.

Opinions26 Split12% D / 85% A Neutral4% Mean+1.50

Data from Canada

“It was nice to chat with an opponent one on one where I could express my thoughts, findings, and argument overall compared to when we would present them in a classroom setting. It was more comfortable for me.”

Crime

Mind-Changer

Decriminalizing drugs encourages addiction rather than reducing harm.

Opinions26 Split50% D / 19% A Neutral31% Mean-0.46

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, Northeast M1)

57% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Surveillance Cameras

Surveillance cameras in public places are a necessary tool for safety and crime prevention.

Opinions26 Split27% D / 27% A Neutral46% Mean+0.00

Data from Mountain West Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 85% A)

“I think texting a discussion was very effective because it gave more time to gather thoughts and word things in a way that they made sense. It was also easier to not get overly emotional because of this factor. I like...”

Intimate Partner Violence

Declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic is a symbolic gesture that will not meaningfully improve outcomes for survivors.

Opinions26 Split38% D / 54% A Neutral8% Mean+0.15

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (48% D / 18% A)

Criminal Justice

Restorative justice is too lenient and risks prioritizing offenders' needs over justice for victims.

Opinions22 Split73% D / 18% A Neutral9% Mean-1.09

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 26% A)

Criminalizing Offense

It is okay to criminalize behaviors that offend but do not harm (examples might include public nudity, or blasting loud offensive music).

Opinions22 Split45% D / 36% A Neutral18% Mean-0.23

Data from West Associate's HSI

70% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

“I like the flexibility of being able to think about and type out my response over however long I may need to think and I enjoy being able to respond on my terms.”

Police

Police forces effectively serve and protect all communities equally.

Opinions22 Split64% D / 0% A Neutral36% Mean-1.27

Data from Northeast M1

Punishing Leviathan

Imprisonment rates have continued to rise while crime rates have fallen because we have become progressively more punitive.

Opinions22 Split50% D / 18% A Neutral32% Mean-0.55

Data from Midwest R1

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Public Policy

The massive increase in incarceration reflects the success of a rational public policy.

Opinions22 Split86% D / 9% A Neutral5% Mean-1.36

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (61% D / 0% A)

It's not Racism

Crime differences are tied to family structure, culture, and policing levels, not primarily racism in the justice system.

Opinions22 Split73% D / 23% A Neutral5% Mean-0.86

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (48% D / 17% A)

Protecting Communities

More aggressive policing and incarceration can make neighborhoods safer and more livable.

Opinions22 Split9% D / 68% A Neutral23% Mean+0.91

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (83% D / 9% A)

Criminality

Focusing on systemic reform over individual accountability enables addiction and criminal behavior to continue unchecked

Opinions22 Split14% D / 23% A Neutral64% Mean+0.09

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew disagree (70% D / 26% A)

Systems

The fentanyl crisis exists because healthcare, law enforcement, and social services are fundamentally broken systems, not because of individual choices.

Opinions20 Split80% D / 10% A Neutral10% Mean-1.85

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 65% A)

Transnational Interests

The argument that immigrants do not contribute to crime overlooks the role of transnational criminal organizations operating through migration routes.

Opinions20 Split75% D / 20% A Neutral5% Mean-1.35

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 23% A)

Police Masking

State and federal law enforcement officers should be able to hide their identities by wearing masks or taking other measures.

Opinions56 Split7% D / 88% A Neutral5% Mean+1.86

Data from West Associate's HSI

Tends to skew disagree (80% D / 10% A)

Masking

Police should be allowed to wear masks to protect their identity.

Opinions1,182 Split8% D / 72% A Neutral20% Mean+1.41

Data from West Associate's HSI

Tends to skew disagree (75% D / 20% A)

Gun Control

Proven Splitter

Private citizens should not be allowed to own assault-style weapons.

Opinions1,345 Split22% D / 60% A Neutral18% Mean+0.81

Data from 3 institutions across 3 regions (West M1 HSI, Northwest R1 HSI, Southeast R1)

“I’m not into debating my ideas I rather people gain their own understanding through their own independent experiences or their choices to hear out others.”

Drinking Age

Proven Splitter

The drinking age should be lowered to 18.

Opinions122 Split57% D / 38% A Neutral6% Mean-0.51

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Mid-Atlantic, Southeast R1 MSI)

71% rated Awesome/Good (103 post-chat surveys)

“This Sway chat made me feel more confident talking about topics like this. It helped me think more about my points instead of just saying my opinion.”

Legal Weed?

Proven Splitter Mind-Changer

Marijuana should be an illegal drug.

Opinions22 Split23% D / 45% A Neutral32% Mean+0.41

Data from Canada

100% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

“The mediator is useful and good for asking more questions when stuck, but in person I feel like I can ask questions to get an understanding of where to take the discussion easier than online.”

Online Gambling

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Online sports betting should be legal and unregulated.

Opinions128 Split24% D / 64% A Neutral12% Mean+0.87

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

89% rated Awesome/Good (132 post-chat surveys)

“I became more confident in my opinion as I was talking to my classmate and Guide aiding us to what to discuss to formulate our opinion on the topic.”

free speech & media

Propositions about the boundaries of expression, the responsibilities of media institutions, and the regulation of information. These topics are especially effective in communication, journalism, and First Amendment law courses.

Outlawing Hate Speech

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Hate speech should be illegal.

Opinions1,193 Split36% D / 48% A Neutral16% Mean+0.31

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

90% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

“I think this chat helped build my confidence in my opinion and in my abilities to find information to support my argument.”

Social Media and Mental Health

Student Favorite

Overall, social media causes more harm than benefit to the mental health of teenagers.

Opinions86 Split38% D / 57% A Neutral5% Mean+0.21

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (West M1 HSI, Southeast R1 MSI)

82% rated Awesome/Good (88 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 71% A)

“It was something that improved my own confidence and challenges that made me want to try harder which was something i found nice”

Cancel Culture

Publicly calling out offensive speech online is an important tool for holding people accountable.

Opinions10 Split10% D / 90% A Neutral0% Mean+1.00

Data from 6 institutions across 6 regions (West M1 HSI, Northeast R2, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific M1, +2 more)

67% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 55% A)

“It made me more confident to stand on my view without backing down or starting to argue in a very emotional way, and it gave me time to think about my response. I loved it”

Tolerance, Civility, and Free Speech

Student Favorite

Protecting freedom of speech is more important than restricting offensive or factually false speech. In other words, more harm is done to society when everyone's freedom of speech is restricted by prohibiting harmful or factually false speech than by permitting such speech.

Opinions86 Split34% D / 52% A Neutral14% Mean+0.47

Data from Southeast M1 HBCU

90% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 57% A)

Consent

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

By intentionally posting about yourself online in a public space (e.g., Facebook, Instagram) you thereby consent to this information being used by anyone.

Opinions158 Split44% D / 51% A Neutral4% Mean-0.02

Data from Canada

71% rated Awesome/Good (21 post-chat surveys)

“I had a good chat with my partner, we were both able to iterate our stances through different examples. We both basically ended up agreeing on the same thing”

Free Speech

Proven Splitter

Social Media companies should be required to remove obvious misinformation from their platforms.

Opinions42 Split36% D / 55% A Neutral10% Mean+0.52

Data from 5 institutions across 4 regions (Northeast R1 Ivy League, Southeast R1 MSI, Northeast M1, Midwest R1, +1 more)

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

“This conversation was easy, and my partner was a good conversationalist, since he made good points and asked good questions. This conversation definitely boosted my confidence towards having discussions (and not debat...”

Privacy

Proven Splitter

Suppose a hidden camera simply pops into existence in your home, and records you for days, before popping out of existence. No one ever knows about the camera (including you), and the information it records disappears when it disappears. Your right to privacy has still been violated.

Opinions119 Split34% D / 53% A Neutral13% Mean+0.48

Data from 3 institutions across 3 regions (Midwest R1, Northwest R1 HSI, Canada)

31% rated Awesome/Good (16 post-chat surveys)

Social Media

Social media influencers are contributing more to health misinformation than healthcare professionals can counteract.

Opinions110 Split24% D / 74% A Neutral1% Mean+0.96

Data from 5 institutions across 4 regions (Mountain West Baccalaureate, West R2 HSI, Mid-Atlantic, Mountain West R1, +1 more)

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 74% A)

“I felt bad that I made Michael feel bad. I should have been more thoughtful.”

Social Media and Youth

Proven Splitter

Social media platforms should be legally required to ban all users under the age of 16.

Opinions72 Split81% D / 11% A Neutral8% Mean-1.58

Data from Canada

Banning TikTok

TikTok should be banned for US users unless it is sold to an American company.

Opinions86 Split74% D / 17% A Neutral8% Mean-1.34

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (South Associate's, Northeast R1 Ivy League)

100% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (82% D / 10% A)

“It was much more civil, thought out, and logical! It felt like I was talking to another well-reasoned person rather than shouting against a brick-wall lol.”

Social Media and Marginalized Voices

Social media is a force for positive change because it gives marginalized voices a platform to influence others.

Opinions86 Split60% D / 31% A Neutral8% Mean-0.72

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (South Associate's, Northeast R1 Ivy League)

Tends to skew agree (7% D / 85% A)

“This Sway chat positively affected my confidence in that I feel more confident discussing complex issues with people who hold different views from me. I am normally very hesitant to trust LLMs, especially for assignme...”

Censoring Extreme Views

Extremist political views should NOT be censored on social media.

Opinions86 Split13% D / 80% A Neutral7% Mean+1.43

Data from 3 institutions across 3 regions (South Associate's, Midwest R2, Northeast R1 Ivy League)

86% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (25% D / 66% A)

“I think Guide did a good job of playing the moderator in the conversation by summarizing each individual's point and asking relevant follow-up questions.”

Mass Surveillance

It is morally permissible for a state to place all its citizens under mass surveillance in order to prevent them from being wrongfully attacked by a small group of citizens.

Opinions86 Split27% D / 51% A Neutral22% Mean+0.62

Data from Canada

62% rated Awesome/Good (13 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (74% D / 17% A)

Doxxing

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Doxxing, whereby private information about someone is collected and widely released online, can be morally justified.

Opinions86 Split24% D / 69% A Neutral7% Mean+0.85

Data from Canada

82% rated Awesome/Good (11 post-chat surveys)

Mass Surveillance and Privacy

Mass surveillance violates the right to privacy of everyone who is not planning to do anything wrong.

Opinions82 Split4% D / 89% A Neutral7% Mean+1.89

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 80% A)

We Are the System

Student Favorite

People who think they are aware of misinformation are often the most vulnerable to it. Confidence in one’s own critical thinking abilities makes it easier to overlook bias and selectively accept information that reinforces existing beliefs.

Opinions78 Split12% D / 83% A Neutral5% Mean+1.50

Data from West R2 HSI

95% rated Awesome/Good (20 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 51% A)

“It was helpful to get guiding questions because I was in the position of Devil's advocate and felt like the discussion was going in circles.”

It’s Not Me, It’s Them

Student Favorite

While other people might be easily influenced by misinformation, I am confident in my own ability to evaluate information accurately.

Opinions78 Split56% D / 22% A Neutral22% Mean-0.72

Data from West R2 HSI

86% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 69% A)

“I liked that Sway is more interactive than a discussion post would be.”

Echo Chambers

Online echo chambers are dangerous.

Opinions78 Split38% D / 54% A Neutral8% Mean+0.19

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 89% A)

Media Power

Media influence is powerful. Ideological hegemony shapes how people see the world and can convince them to accept inequality and stereotypes as “normal.” Without the constant reinforcement of these sexist, racist, or homophobic tropes in pop culture, many people would be less likely to internalize or reproduce those biased beliefs.

Opinions68 Split18% D / 65% A Neutral18% Mean+1.09

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 84% A)

We Are the Product

It’s not a problem that media companies sell us to advertisers. This advertising keeps content free and widely available.

Opinions68 Split21% D / 50% A Neutral29% Mean+0.66

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew disagree (57% D / 22% A)

“The sway chat challenged how to consider the points that my partner was making while also needing to argue my point properly without being offensive towards her own opinions.”

Consolidation and Choice

Proven Splitter

Media consolidation might have mattered to older generations but this isn’t a big deal anymore. Streaming, social media, and podcasts give us more variety than other generations could have dreamed of.

Opinions52 Split4% D / 83% A Neutral13% Mean+1.73

Data from West R2 HSI

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

“It felt nice going back and forth, trying to understand each other's points of view and providing factual points to our statements.”

Porn and Age Verification

Anyone who wants to view pornography online should be legally required to verify that they are at least 18 years old.

Opinions52 Split67% D / 21% A Neutral12% Mean-0.94

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (20% D / 62% A)

The Legal Status of Consuming Pornography

Viewing pornography should be LEGAL for anyone at least 18 years old.

Opinions52 Split38% D / 56% A Neutral6% Mean+0.21

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 52% A)

Social Media and Privacy

Companies that operate social media platforms do not do enough to protect users’ privacy.

Opinions4 Split50% D / 50% A Neutral0% Mean+0.25

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 83% A)

Anonymity on Social Media

You should NOT be allowed to operate an anonymous account on a social media platform.

Opinions50 Split4% D / 40% A Neutral56% Mean+0.74

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew disagree (68% D / 21% A)

“this was great! The guide was a good moderator however, at points I thought we had already discussed most of what there was and was struggling to find things to add to the conversation.”

Social Media and Society

Proven Splitter

Social media has had a positive impact on society.

Opinions46 Split39% D / 30% A Neutral30% Mean-0.15

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

73% rated Awesome/Good (11 post-chat surveys)

“It was nice to gain perspective from someone I would not typically hear from in class.”

DEI Programs at Public Institutions

DEI programs funded by public institutions are a necessary response to systemic inequities, not discriminatory favoritism.

Opinions32 Split22% D / 75% A Neutral3% Mean+1.28

Data from Pacific M1

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 39% A)

Privacy vs. Regulation

Prioritizing privacy online is more important than prioritizing regulations on content.

Opinions32 Split81% D / 16% A Neutral3% Mean-1.88

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew disagree (38% D / 30% A)

Age Verification

We should implement age verification laws to prevent children from accessing pornography online.

Opinions38 Split21% D / 71% A Neutral8% Mean+0.95

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 79% A)

Mental Health and Social Media

Social media exposes people to a lot of content about mental health symptoms, which often increases anxiety, promotes risky behaviors, and spreads misinformation and misdiagnoses.

Opinions36 Split28% D / 47% A Neutral25% Mean+0.44

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 79% A)

Parents and Kids Online

Parents should share pictures of their kids online because that allows other people to get to know their kids. Parents sharing their kids' pictures creates a supportive community of care for families.

Opinions22 Split36% D / 50% A Neutral14% Mean-0.09

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew disagree (76% D / 17% A)

DEI Programs

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs are beneficial for organizations and should be considered as a factor in hiring and promotion decisions

Opinions34 Split12% D / 71% A Neutral18% Mean+1.38

Data from Mid-Atlantic R1

100% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 71% A)

“It felt like a safe space to exchange differing ideas, and Guide was like a mediator if we needed it.”

Protecting Hate Speech

ALLOWING the psychological or social harm inevitably caused through hate speech is morally impermissible (wrong).

Opinions34 Split29% D / 47% A Neutral24% Mean+0.18

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 46% A)

Harm

Student Favorite

Speech that offends is a form of harm and should sometimes be restricted.

Opinions34 Split38% D / 41% A Neutral21% Mean+0.15

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, West R1 HSI)

100% rated Awesome/Good (11 post-chat surveys)

Harmful Words

Social media should not be used to embarrass or hurt others.

Opinions30 Split83% D / 7% A Neutral10% Mean-2.03

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 72% A)

Protecting Children vs. Protecting Communities

The child welfare system is fundamentally designed to protect children. Dorothy Roberts’ claims that it primarily functions as racialized surveillance and social control over Black communities mischaracterize its purpose. In fact, if Roberts had her way and the child welfare system was abolished, children who are abused would be left without protection from the state.

Opinions22 Split59% D / 32% A Neutral9% Mean-0.68

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 46% A)

When Protecting Children Causes Harm

The law can be used as a tool for justice, fairness, and social change. The law can also be used as a tool for social control. Dorothy Roberts argues that the child welfare system is a form of policing, state surveillance of families, and social control. She claims that abolishing the child welfare system will liberate Black communities — and I agree with her.

Opinions30 Split43% D / 37% A Neutral20% Mean+0.07

Data from West R2 HSI

Violence and Hate Speech

Physical violence is a justified response to hateful speech and ideas.

Opinions29 Split41% D / 45% A Neutral14% Mean+0.21

Data from Northeast Doctoral/Professional

Tends to skew disagree (84% D / 6% A)

Anonymous Social Media Apps

Social media apps that allow anonymity of users are positive in social interaction. People can express themselves without fear or risk, promoting positive experimentation with various identities.

Opinions28 Split21% D / 36% A Neutral43% Mean+0.25

Data from West R2 HSI

No News is Bad News

There are no reliable sources of news.

Opinions30 Split43% D / 37% A Neutral20% Mean+0.07

Data from Canada

DEI is a Waste of Time

All the DEI initiatives have failed and generated a political backlash that has hampered progress.

Opinions29 Split41% D / 45% A Neutral14% Mean+0.21

Data from Midwest R1

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Policies

DEI policies create reverse discrimination or unnecessary division.

Opinions22 Split50% D / 23% A Neutral27% Mean-0.50

Data from Pacific M1

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 36% A)

Institutional Responsibility

Public libraries should never restrict access to books for minors based on content.

Opinions27 Split48% D / 48% A Neutral4% Mean-0.11

Data from Southeast R1 HSI

Intellectual Freedom and Public Pressure

Community standards should guide decisions about which books are available to children.

Opinions22 Split41% D / 23% A Neutral36% Mean-0.50

Data from Southeast R1 HSI

Tends to skew agree (30% D / 44% A)

DEI

Equity programs in social work unfairly punish high-achieving individuals in the name of social justice.

Opinions1,016 Split66% D / 24% A Neutral10% Mean-1.04

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R1, West Baccalaureate)

100% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (50% D / 25% A)

Free Speech Absolutism

“Freedom of speech should protect all expression, even when that expression is offensive or harmful.”

Opinions232 Split12% D / 70% A Neutral17% Mean+1.45

Data from Midwest R2

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

“Confidence did not change much; this is something that I have practiced with family.”

Social Media and Free Speech

Social media platforms are actively censoring conservative viewpoints, proving that Big Tech is biased and hostile to free speech.

Opinions10 Split50% D / 40% A Neutral10% Mean+0.20

Data from Mountain West Doctoral/Professional

Tends to skew disagree (44% D / 22% A)

education

Topics about teaching, learning, academic culture, and the purpose of education. These work in education courses and also in general first-year seminars where students are reflecting on their own experience of higher education.

Cell Phones in High Schools

Student Favorite

High schools should ban cell phones during school hours.

Opinions1,134 Split66% D / 20% A Neutral14% Mean-0.96

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

80% rated Awesome/Good (269 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (68% D / 26% A)

“This is actually a much more fun and intellectually engaging activity than I expected. The AI chatbot is really helpful as a mediator. I enjoyed it.”

School Resource Officers

Student Favorite

Overall, high school students benefit from having school resource officers (SROs) in their schools.

Opinions232 Split42% D / 48% A Neutral10% Mean+0.04

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

86% rated Awesome/Good (84 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (8% D / 62% A)

“Challenged me to see the viewpoint of the other side of the argument and made me realize that there can be many pros to the other side of an argument”

Standardized Testing

Student Favorite

Standardized tests, such as the SAT and MCAT, are reliable indicators of a person’s aptitude.

Opinions5 Split40% D / 60% A Neutral0% Mean+0.00

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

76% rated Awesome/Good (204 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (68% D / 20% A)

“I guess I'm just as confident since we both originally disagreed with the prompt, so there weren't any real stakes; no chance either of us would get offended, etc., etc.”

Online vs. In-Person College Education

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Online college education is not as effective as traditional classroom learning.

Opinions7 Split57% D / 43% A Neutral0% Mean-0.57

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

84% rated Awesome/Good (158 post-chat surveys)

“It makes me have to think, as it will make sure to tell you if your argument has fallacies, which helps me better in forming my arguments.”

Mac vs. Windows

A Mac is better than a Windows machine for computer science students.

Opinions9 Split44% D / 56% A Neutral0% Mean+0.11

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (Southeast R1, Southeast M1)

75% rated Awesome/Good (36 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (58% D / 22% A)

“It showed me that people have different opinions and it was insightful to hear someone else’s thoughts on this question.”

Software Engineering in Real World

Only computing professionals who actually code the software need to deeply understand software engineering.

Opinions319 Split74% D / 17% A Neutral9% Mean-1.16

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (Southeast R1, Southeast M1)

Tends to skew disagree (74% D / 17% A)

“I think Sway is good platform to debate on any topic.”

Are Lectures Necessary?

Proven Splitter

Lectures are necessary for students to really learn any computer science concepts.

Opinions199 Split32% D / 50% A Neutral18% Mean+0.30

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (Southeast R1, Southeast M1)

89% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

In-Person vs. Online Classes

In-person classes fit my learning style better than online classes.

Opinions230 Split26% D / 62% A Neutral13% Mean+0.79

Data from 3 institutions across 1 region (Southeast R1, Southeast R1 MSI, Southeast M1)

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 62% A)

“Talking on Sway feels different from a classroom discussion because I have a little more time to think about what I want to say and read what others wrote before responding.”

Scholarships for Boys and Men

Star Student Favorite Mind-Changer

We should have special scholarships and programs to help boys and men overcome their disadvantages in education

Opinions201 Split33% D / 49% A Neutral18% Mean+0.28

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (West R1 HSI)

88% rated Awesome/Good (17 post-chat surveys)

Impact of Practice?

To get better in computing professions, regular reading and practice plays the main role over the talent.

Opinions66 Split6% D / 71% A Neutral23% Mean+1.15

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (Southeast R1, Southeast M1)

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 81% A)

Excusing Students from Sensitive Discussions

When discussing sensitive topics in class, professors should excuse students from class if the students feel the topics might be upsetting.

Opinions128 Split33% D / 47% A Neutral20% Mean+0.12

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

75% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 66% A)

“I think that the Guide was helpful at spurring the conversation forward when it seemed that it reached a stalemate and no more progress could be made.”

Neoliberalism and Self-Worth

Neoliberal focus on markets has reshaped how we value ourselves and others, reducing human relationships to transactional encounters. People measure their identity and relationships in market terms like: “How much am I worth? How much is my education worth? Does my partner earn enough? Is my relationship worthwhile?”

Opinions128 Split80% D / 6% A Neutral14% Mean-1.72

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 68% A)

Redshirt Boys

Because boys tend to lag behind girls in school readiness skills, schools should delay boys' kindergarten entry by one year.

Opinions129 Split80% D / 6% A Neutral14% Mean-1.73

Data from West R1 HSI

42% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (80% D / 6% A)

“It was great. I keep an open mind and discussed my opinions with the group.”

Campus Speech

Campuses should invite speakers with opposing viewpoints, even if some students find it offensive.

Opinions3 Split33% D / 67% A Neutral0% Mean+0.33

Data from 3 institutions across 3 regions (Southeast R1, West Baccalaureate, Mid-Atlantic R1)

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 66% A)

“It helped facilitate conversations that felt productive.”

Talent

A person is either good at computer science or they are not. It is an innate talent that you can’t change.

Opinions84 Split15% D / 62% A Neutral23% Mean+0.90

Tends to skew disagree (82% D / 10% A)

Administrative Overreach

Administrators have gone too far in trying to regulate speech on university campuses.

Opinions84 Split68% D / 20% A Neutral12% Mean-0.92

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

50% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 63% A)

“It improved my confidence by showing me that other people can be respectful and that my views do have a solid foundation after researching further for the chat”

Compelled Email Signatures

A university should NOT require that everyone using a university email account include a statement at the bottom of their emails acknowledging that their campus was built on land stolen from Native Americans in the 1800s.

Opinions84 Split80% D / 10% A Neutral11% Mean-1.48

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 60% A)

Limits on Punishing Students

If a student posts a racist comment on social media from their home computer, the school should not be able to punish the student for this.

Opinions84 Split74% D / 13% A Neutral13% Mean-1.19

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (67% D / 20% A)

Uninviting Controversial Speakers

A speaker who was invited to campus to speak on climate change was found to have donated heavily to Pro-Life America. The university should uninvite the speaker due to their controversial political views.

Opinions88 Split45% D / 26% A Neutral28% Mean-0.47

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (78% D / 10% A)

Regulating Student Groups

Student groups using university funds should not be allowed to invite speakers to campus who may offend other students.

Opinions86 Split7% D / 72% A Neutral21% Mean+1.24

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

71% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (71% D / 14% A)

Socially Transitioning at School

Teachers in grades K-12 should be required to notify parents if their child wants to be referred to as a gender other than what their parents call them.

Opinions80 Split29% D / 40% A Neutral31% Mean+0.28

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (46% D / 26% A)

Education vs. Moral Panic

If college students already use pornography, then treating the classroom as a “safe space” that excludes the topic it is not protection. Rather, it’s part of a current academic pattern of avoiding uncomfortable topics instead of analyzing them.

Opinions76 Split21% D / 67% A Neutral12% Mean+1.04

Data from West R2 HSI

Tends to skew agree (7% D / 72% A)

Credentialism and Hiring Discrimination

Those without college degrees are discriminated against in hiring even when they could do a job equally well.

Opinions76 Split46% D / 38% A Neutral16% Mean-0.13

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

60% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (30% D / 40% A)

Legacy Admissions

Colleges should not give preference in admissions to the children of alumni.

Opinions76 Split67% D / 12% A Neutral21% Mean-1.12

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 68% A)

Standardized Tests in College Admissions

Proven Splitter

Colleges should not use standardized tests for purposes of admission because wealthier applicants can pay for expensive test preparation services.

Opinions16 Split0% D / 94% A Neutral6% Mean+1.81

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

57% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

“It was a very interesting discussion and the progress bar cooperated well. The final quiz was accurate to the discussion too.”

Funding for Schools

Wealthy communities should NOT be allowed to spend more on their local schools than poorer communities.

Opinions66 Split20% D / 62% A Neutral18% Mean+0.68

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (68% D / 12% A)

Sex Education

Sex education in public high schools should provide medically accurate information about condoms, contraception, and pregnancy prevention methods (i.e., it should not be abstinence-only education).

Opinions26 Split54% D / 31% A Neutral15% Mean-0.62

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 88% A)

Punishing Campus Protesters

Campus protesters who block access to classrooms should be punished by the university.

Opinions76 Split17% D / 62% A Neutral21% Mean+0.80

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 62% A)

College

Proven Splitter

An undergraduate degree is key to living a life out of economic poverty.

Opinions68 Split44% D / 50% A Neutral6% Mean+0.12

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Mid-Atlantic, Midwest Baccalaureate)

Practice Makes Better

To improve in computing professions, hard work and practice play a greater role than talent.

Opinions56 Split16% D / 71% A Neutral12% Mean+1.27

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (Southeast R1, Southeast M1)

Tends to skew agree (3% D / 94% A)

Student Protest

Student protestors should be allowed to raise anti-Israeli views, even if it makes some students on campus uncomfortable.

Opinions56 Split79% D / 12% A Neutral9% Mean-1.30

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 71% A)

“I appreciate having time to think about what i want to say and how i want to articulate it through text ratehr than forcing to think on the spot to verbally convey these complex thoughts”

"Wokeness" on Campuses

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Colleges and universities are incubators of "woke" ideologies.

Opinions56 Split11% D / 86% A Neutral4% Mean+1.89

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

82% rated Awesome/Good (17 post-chat surveys)

“I felt the chat was quite respectful and we allowed room for both of us to make our points, which was key in feeling confident in speaking my thoughts.”

Cancelling Speakers

A speaker who was invited to campus to speak about cancer biology was revealed to have donated money to the Family Research Council, an evangelical non-profit activit group which some have criticized for having anti-LGBT positions. The college should uninvite the speaker due to their controversial political views.

Opinions54 Split35% D / 35% A Neutral30% Mean-0.17

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew disagree (79% D / 12% A)

“I think the Guide's approach definitely helped in maintaining the conversation and brining up different points to discuss. It could have been a little more helpful in precisely helping us reach the end progress goal b...”

The Trump Administration and Higher Education

The Trump administration is wrong to use the leverage of federal funds to pressure colleges and universities to change their policies.

Opinions38 Split5% D / 89% A Neutral5% Mean+2.08

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 86% A)

“The chat was a great way to hear another viewpoint and I feel more confident in sharing my opinion with someone who holds a different view from me after this discussion.”

Sex Ed

Sex education should be taught in schools.

Opinions50 Split74% D / 16% A Neutral10% Mean-1.10

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 92% A)

Race, DEI & Affirmative Action

Proven Splitter

Universities should consider race as a factor in admissions to promote diversity.

Opinions44 Split59% D / 36% A Neutral5% Mean-0.68

Data from Pacific M1

Israel–gaza on Campus

Universities should allow any form of protest, even if it disrupts classes or events.

Opinions44 Split61% D / 32% A Neutral7% Mean-0.70

Data from Pacific M1

Tends to skew disagree (74% D / 16% A)

Social Justice as Illusion

Student Favorite

Trying to make everything “fair” for everyone on campus is impossible and often frustrating.

Opinions34 Split88% D / 12% A Neutral0% Mean-1.85

Data from Midwest R1

100% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

“It was really cool to debate on sway as the guide brought up a lot of interesting points making us have to think more about our position and get deeper”

Diversity Overload

Student Favorite

Focusing too much on diversity and inclusion can unintentionally create tension between different groups on campus.

Opinions42 Split36% D / 31% A Neutral33% Mean-0.21

Data from Midwest R1

75% rated Awesome/Good (16 post-chat surveys)

“This made me more enticed to have more discussions on their viewpoints.”

Evolution Education as a Change in Worldview

Learning about evolution has really been difficult and rocked my view of the world.

Opinions42 Split29% D / 64% A Neutral7% Mean+0.52

Data from Mountain West R2

Tends to skew disagree (86% D / 11% A)

Patriotism in Schools

Patriotism ought to be taught in schools.

Opinions24 Split29% D / 50% A Neutral21% Mean+0.50

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (36% D / 30% A)

“The guide is helpful for picking at the other person's argument.”

Phones in Class

Phones should be allowed in class.

Opinions44 Split27% D / 66% A Neutral7% Mean+0.59

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (27% D / 66% A)

“I enjoyed it, the guide was really helpful in bringing up discussion points we may have otherwise missed, and because of that I think the discussion was more rounded.”

Discipline

Students need compassion more than boundaries.

Opinions42 Split43% D / 45% A Neutral12% Mean-0.05

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Mountain West R2, Midwest M2)

100% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

“I think it makes it easier to share your ideas. It allows you to think of your response before responding. This way the conversation is both productive and peaceful.”

School Traditions

Prom and other school traditions are overrated.

Opinions39 Split59% D / 31% A Neutral10% Mean-0.72

Data from Mid-Atlantic

“It was good, but I would rather have a face-to-face conversation.”

School Dress Codes

School dress codes unfairly target certain groups of students.

Opinions39 Split41% D / 49% A Neutral10% Mean-0.08

Data from Mid-Atlantic

“To be honest I feel like it didn't do much. It just chose his side when I brought up a good point and vice versa.”

Teachers

Students should be allowed to grade teachers.

Opinions34 Split76% D / 15% A Neutral9% Mean-1.50

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (8% D / 80% A)

Cell Phones at School

Cell phones are a distraction, not a learning tool, in classrooms.

Opinions36 Split44% D / 19% A Neutral36% Mean-0.53

Data from Mid-Atlantic

School Uniforms

School uniforms should be required in high schools.

Opinions34 Split3% D / 97% A Neutral0% Mean+2.32

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (76% D / 14% A)

“The guide was helpful in prompting me and my discussion partner on both new ways to look at concepts/situation and kept us on track”

Diversity as a Compelling Interest

The pursuit of diversity in education is a moral imperative that justifies race-conscious admissions policies.

Opinions32 Split75% D / 16% A Neutral9% Mean-1.66

Data from Mid-Atlantic

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (46% D / 19% A)

Equal Access to Education

Everyone deserves the same chance to learn and succeed, no matter where they come from.

Opinions32 Split84% D / 16% A Neutral0% Mean-1.84

Data from Mid-Atlantic

Tends to skew agree (3% D / 97% A)

Identity in Schools

Talking too much about racial, gender, etc., identities in school creates division rather than building connections among students.

Opinions32 Split9% D / 84% A Neutral6% Mean+1.50

Tends to skew disagree (74% D / 17% A)

Inclusive Classroom

Fully inclusive classrooms reduce the quality of learning for students without special needs.

Opinions32 Split47% D / 34% A Neutral19% Mean-0.25

Tends to skew disagree (83% D / 17% A)

Decolonizing Education

Schools should decolonize their teaching and move away from relying primarily on Western perspectives.

Opinions32 Split16% D / 81% A Neutral3% Mean+1.62

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 86% A)

Teachers as Agents of Change

Teachers should act as activists and promote issues that are important to them.

Opinions35 Split43% D / 40% A Neutral17% Mean-0.06

Social and Global Events

Teachers should address current global events (for example, the situation in Gaza) in the classroom.

Opinions35 Split14% D / 83% A Neutral3% Mean+1.69

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 83% A)

Cpc’s: Deception vs. Rational Responsibility

Critics suggest that Crisis Pregnancy Centers deceive clients. However, this critique overlooks a core democratic principle: Adults bear responsibility for exercising critical judgment about the information and services they choose. Without personal accountability, liberty and democratic self-governance loses meaning.

Opinions16 Split44% D / 6% A Neutral50% Mean-0.44

Data from West R2 HSI

100% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

“very helpful, understanding and most importantly, FUN!!”

Race and Inequality

Race-based admissions to universities should never be allowed for any reason.

Opinions16 Split88% D / 6% A Neutral6% Mean-1.81

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

57% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 62% A)

“Guide's approach helped a lot because it allowed us to think about different perspectives in a way that we wouldn't have thought about. It allowed us to respectfully argue with each other while also finding common gro...”

Patriotic Civics Education

Patriotic or “founding principles” civics education, emphasizing American exceptionalism, should be prioritized even if it means downplaying historical injustices.

Opinions16 Split6% D / 69% A Neutral25% Mean+1.25

Tends to skew disagree (46% D / 12% A)

Cell Phones

Cell phone use should be banned in college classrooms.

Opinions10 Split60% D / 40% A Neutral0% Mean-0.50

Tends to skew disagree (85% D / 6% A)

Teaching Racial Injustice

Federal law should require that public schools include education about racial injustice and systemic racism in U.S. history, even if some parents object.

Opinions30 Split27% D / 43% A Neutral30% Mean+0.10

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 67% A)

Education

The primary purpose of a college education is to improve job prospects.

Opinions24 Split46% D / 50% A Neutral4% Mean-0.38

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Southeast R1, Northwest R1 HSI)

Tends to skew disagree (81% D / 19% A)

School and Social Transitions

Schools should be banned from supporting social transition for minors, including pronouns or names, because it confuses children.

Opinions28 Split61% D / 21% A Neutral18% Mean-0.82

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 42% A)

Responsibility and Structural Racism

The white mother who moves to the suburbs because the Detroit public school system is underperforming and underfunded is responsible for contributing to the structural injustices that cause the Detroit public school system to underperform and be underfunded.

Opinions28 Split21% D / 64% A Neutral14% Mean+1.04

University Degrees Are a Waste of Money

University degrees cost too much and no longer guarantee a good job, making them a bad investment.

Opinions28 Split21% D / 39% A Neutral39% Mean+0.29

Data from Asia-Pacific

Tends to skew disagree (62% D / 21% A)

Free Speech vs. Harmful Speech on Campus

Mind-Changer

Speech that harms or marginalizes groups should be limited.

Opinions26 Split58% D / 42% A Neutral0% Mean-0.35

Data from Pacific M1

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 64% A)

“It was a great opportiunity to talk with someone that didn´t had the same way of thinking as me, because it helped me to see things from another perspective!”

Student Debt Cancellation

Debt cancellation is unfair to those who already paid or didn’t attend college.

Opinions26 Split73% D / 27% A Neutral0% Mean-0.88

Data from Pacific M1

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 39% A)

Ideological Balance

Most professors lean left. A recent survey found that only 3% of Harvard professors are conservative. To improve ideological balance, universities should practice "affirmative action" for conservatives when hiring new faculty.

Opinions27 Split59% D / 41% A Neutral0% Mean-0.41

Data from South R2

67% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

Online vs Face to Face Learning

Online learning is just as effective as in-person classes

Opinions27 Split70% D / 30% A Neutral0% Mean-0.81

Data from Mountain West Baccalaureate

100% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (70% D / 30% A)

“It helped me to see that I can have conflicting opinions but still keep it at a peaceful conversation. In the end I didn't change my answer but I did see how other people believe the other side and that was overall co...”

Institutional Responsibility/ Parental Choice

Schools should remove books from required reading lists if a significant number of parents object to the content.

Opinions12 Split25% D / 75% A Neutral0% Mean+0.92

Data from Southeast R1 HSI

Tends to skew disagree (63% D / 30% A)

Authority and Education

Education should expose students to ideas that challenge their personal values.

Opinions24 Split8% D / 83% A Neutral8% Mean+1.50

Data from Southeast R1 HSI

Tends to skew agree (7% D / 89% A)

Homework

Homework is necessary practice to further stuent learning.

Opinions24 Split21% D / 71% A Neutral8% Mean+1.00

Data from Midwest M2

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

“I think both of us in the chat were very open to hearing the other side, neither of us were super gung ho about our opinions. I think the guide raised some good points, but it kind of deterred my thinking down a new p...”

Controversial Discussions in the Classroom

The discussion of controversial topics should be a part of students’ experience in schools.

Opinions12 Split58% D / 42% A Neutral0% Mean-0.42

Data from Midwest M2

Tends to skew agree (8% D / 84% A)

“I feel talking on Sway was a good way to facilitate informed discussions. I was able to find information that backed up my statement as I was replying to both Guide and my partner.”

Representation in Classroom Reading Options

Teachers should provide optional books in their classroom which include same-sex couples.

Opinions25 Split20% D / 72% A Neutral8% Mean+1.00

Data from Midwest M2

67% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (20% D / 72% A)

“Harder to understand tone or emotion over a screen. It is more difficult to know when the conversation could be leading to someone becoming dysregulated”

Dark Humor

Dark humor is inappropriate for school.

Opinions25 Split68% D / 32% A Neutral0% Mean-0.68

Data from Midwest

Academic Freedom Priorities

“Colleges should prioritize academic freedom and allow professors to teach controversial or uncomfortable material even when students find it offensive or distressing.”

Opinions18 Split44% D / 44% A Neutral11% Mean+0.00

Data from Midwest R2

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 79% A)

Harm Prevention on Campus

“Colleges have a responsibility to restrict certain speakers, speakers, events, or course materials when many students say those things make them feel unsafe or deeply disrespected.”

Opinions22 Split5% D / 86% A Neutral9% Mean+2.05

Data from Midwest R2

Depression and Accessibility

Student Favorite

Depression should automatically qualify students for formal academic accommodations in college.

Opinions14 Split43% D / 50% A Neutral7% Mean+0.07

Data from Canada

90% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Supported Employment/Education

Supported employment, supported education and other career oriented services should begin as early as possible in one's lifetime.

Opinions14 Split57% D / 29% A Neutral14% Mean-0.14

Data from Northeast R1

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 86% A)

Morning or Evening Classes?

I would rather take morning classes than take evening classes.

Opinions114 Split18% D / 50% A Neutral32% Mean+0.63

Data from West M2 HSI

83% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

“I feel that the Guide's approach was very good and appropriate. I feel that it really helped in the discussion.”

Study Alone or in a Group?

I would rather study alone than study in a group?

Opinions199 Split13% D / 69% A Neutral19% Mean+1.20

Data from West M2 HSI

“Guide is great at offering advice to understand each others opinions.”

environment & animals

Propositions about environmental ethics, animal welfare, and humanity's relationship with the natural world. These topics suit environmental science, philosophy, and sustainability courses.

Pets

Proven Splitter

Pets and other animals embedded in human communities have greater moral worth than other animals such as lions or butterflies.

Opinions22 Split41% D / 50% A Neutral9% Mean-0.14

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Banning Single-Use Plastics

Student Favorite

The U.S. should ban single-use plastic containers and bags to help reduce their negative impact on the environment.

Opinions214 Split10% D / 52% A Neutral38% Mean+0.79

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

76% rated Awesome/Good (168 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 65% A)

“I liked how sway involved itself whenever one of us provides a soild point, and challenges us to form a good argument or explanation to counter back.”

Human vs Animal Suffering

Student Favorite

It is wrong to focus on animal suffering when so many humans are suffering.

Opinions939 Split29% D / 41% A Neutral30% Mean+0.18

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

81% rated Awesome/Good (291 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (59% D / 22% A)

“This sway discussion was good and made me reconsider my choices. Experiencing this discussion with others made me open my mind of some things.”

Adopt Don’t Shop

Given that most animal shelters are operating well over their intended capacity, including those that must euthanize animals for whom they don’t have room, buying a dog from a store or breeder is morally problematic since it incentivizes breeders to create more dogs.

Opinions232 Split40% D / 28% A Neutral33% Mean-0.34

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

74% rated Awesome/Good (149 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 48% A)

“It made me feel more confident discussing complex issues because I had to explain my views clearly while also understanding someone else’s perspective.”

Climate Change

Student Favorite

Countries that produce the most greenhouse gases, like the U.S. and China, should financially aid countries that produce little greenhouse gas emissions, but are deeply impacted by global warming.

Opinions80 Split6% D / 91% A Neutral2% Mean+1.88

Data from 4 institutions across 3 regions (Southeast R1 MSI, Northeast M1, Mountain West Doctoral/Professional, Northeast R1 Ivy League)

85% rated Awesome/Good (33 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 53% A)

Space Exploration

Student Favorite

The U.S. government should once again make space exploration and innovation a fiscal priority.

Opinions40 Split28% D / 18% A Neutral55% Mean-0.33

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

86% rated Awesome/Good (156 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (28% D / 38% A)

“On Sway, we able to have a conversation about our ideas using critical thinking skills which were very helpful and lead to an insightful discussion.”

Electric Cars

Student Favorite

All personally owned cars should be electric by 2036.

Opinions76 Split33% D / 57% A Neutral11% Mean+0.30

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

74% rated Awesome/Good (31 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (40% D / 25% A)

“It slightly improved my confidence. It helped me practice explaining my perspective while understanding a different viewpoint.”

Human Responsibility for Climate Change

Humans are largely responsible for the warming of earth’s atmosphere.

Opinions66 Split76% D / 12% A Neutral12% Mean-1.39

73% rated Awesome/Good (11 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 92% A)

“It was good and it helped me think for my own and be able to formulate and express my own ideas which better made me understand the topic”

Trade-Offs

Student Favorite

Climate regulation harms working-class communities more than it helps them.

Opinions104 Split56% D / 18% A Neutral26% Mean-0.82

Data from 4 institutions across 3 regions (Southeast R1, Southeast M1, Midwest R1, Canada)

67% rated Awesome/Good (15 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (24% D / 55% A)

Trophy Hunting as a Conservation Tool

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

Regulated trophy hunting, when properly managed and revenues are reinvested into local communities and conservation, can be an effective tool for wildlife conservation.

Opinions52 Split21% D / 77% A Neutral2% Mean+1.15

Data from Southeast R1

89% rated Awesome/Good (18 post-chat surveys)

“Guide does a great job of coming up with new discussion topics and things to focus on, depending on what the partner said.”

Meat Consumption

It is morally wrong to purchase and consume factory-farmed meat products.

Opinions34 Split15% D / 74% A Neutral12% Mean+0.88

Data from Southeast R1

0% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (65% D / 21% A)

Environmental Nudges

The popular electricity conservation “nudge” of providing feedback to households on own and peers’ home electricity usage in a home electricity report is two to four times more effective with political liberals than with conservatives. Virginia's energy companies should access public voting records to tailor energy conservation nudges to an individual’s political orientation.

Opinions80 Split64% D / 15% A Neutral21% Mean-0.91

Data from Southeast R1

67% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (56% D / 16% A)

“I think it was great! We ended up kind of coming to the same conclusion.”

Rewilding

Proven Splitter

Reintroducing and restoring species to their native habitats is the most effective strategy for preventing biodiversity loss.

Opinions80 Split26% D / 41% A Neutral32% Mean+0.12

Data from Southeast R1

68% rated Awesome/Good (28 post-chat surveys)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Factory Farming

Proven Splitter

Factory farming violates animals' rights regardless of human benefit.

Opinions80 Split82% D / 10% A Neutral8% Mean-1.81

Data from 2 institutions across 1 region (Southeast R1 MSI, Southeast R1)

Jobs vs. Climate Change

Job creation should take precedence over addressing climate change.

Opinions80 Split82% D / 6% A Neutral11% Mean-1.85

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Midwest R2, Northeast R1 Ivy League)

Tends to skew disagree (64% D / 15% A)

Incentives for Buying Electric

Government should provide financial incentives like tax breaks for people who buy electric cars.

Opinions80 Split54% D / 26% A Neutral20% Mean-0.57

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (26% D / 41% A)

The Significance of Climate Change

People exaggerate the impact of climate change.

Opinions80 Split15% D / 71% A Neutral14% Mean+0.88

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

57% rated Awesome/Good (7 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (83% D / 10% A)

“This Sway chat allowed for my continued improvement when discussing complex issues.”

Climate Tradeoffs

The economic costs of fighting climate change are too large to be worth it.

Opinions80 Split4% D / 82% A Neutral14% Mean+1.81

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew disagree (83% D / 6% A)

The Adaptability of People and Animals

Climates have always been changing and people and animals will adapt as they always have.

Opinions80 Split41% D / 29% A Neutral30% Mean-0.30

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

81% rated Awesome/Good (16 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (54% D / 26% A)

“I was able to be exposed to a new opinion! It was great!”

The Obligations of Rich Countries

Rich countries should bear the costs of addressing climate-related problems.

Opinions24 Split25% D / 50% A Neutral25% Mean+0.50

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 70% A)

Why Natural Disasters Have Increased

Climate change has caused a significant increase in natural disasters like floods and forest fires.

Opinions68 Split57% D / 40% A Neutral3% Mean-0.46

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

Tends to skew agree (4% D / 83% A)

Climate Change and the Media

Student Favorite

Too much bad news about climate change makes people less motivated to do anything about it.

Opinions76 Split57% D / 36% A Neutral8% Mean-0.53

Data from Northeast R1 Ivy League

83% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (41% D / 28% A)

“Sway helped moderate the conversation to find a compromise.”

De-Extinction as a Conservation Strategy

Proven Splitter Student Favorite

De-extinction, the process of bringing extinct species back to life through genetic engineering, is a viable and ethical conservation strategy that should be pursued to restore lost biodiversity.

Opinions77 Split56% D / 35% A Neutral9% Mean-0.52

Data from Southeast R1

92% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

“We were able to reach a proper understanding, we both expressed our views and provided alternate solutions to each others concerns”

In-Situ Conservation

Mind-Changer

The most effective strategy for the long-term protection of biodiversity is in-situ conservation.

Opinions52 Split21% D / 71% A Neutral8% Mean+0.83

Data from Southeast R1

67% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 79% A)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Animal Pain

Proven Splitter

All animal pain matters less, morally speaking, than experientially similar human pain.

Opinions52 Split17% D / 77% A Neutral6% Mean+1.06

Data from Southeast R1

79% rated Awesome/Good (38 post-chat surveys)

Geoengineering

Solar radiation management (large-scale engineering projects that seek to reflect more sunlight back into space) should be actively researched and developed as a viable climate mitigation strategy.

Opinions52 Split2% D / 98% A Neutral0% Mean+2.17

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (28% D / 45% A)

“Talking on Sway felt a little more structured and less pressured than a socratic discussion, which made it easier to think through my responses and engage.”

Biological Species Concept

Mind-Changer

The Biological species concept is the best definition of a species.

Opinions16 Split94% D / 6% A Neutral0% Mean-2.38

Data from Southeast R1

77% rated Awesome/Good (13 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 70% A)

Species De-Extinction

Student Favorite Mind-Changer

De-extinction via genetic approaches like CRISPR is a helpful and advantageous method for resolving the species extinction crisis.

Opinions50 Split10% D / 66% A Neutral24% Mean+1.10

Data from Southeast R1

76% rated Awesome/Good (17 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 77% A)

Habitat Loss

Habitat loss and fragmentation pose the greatest threat to biodiversity, surpassing all other environmental risks.

Opinions50 Split40% D / 52% A Neutral8% Mean+0.28

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (2% D / 98% A)

Veganism

The only morally acceptable diet is a vegan diet

Opinions26 Split69% D / 15% A Neutral15% Mean-1.12

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (Canada, Southeast R1)

Tends to skew disagree (90% D / 8% A)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Charismatic Megafauna

Prioritizing charismatic megafauna is a fundamental failure of conservation biology because it ignores the 'functional' species that actually prevent ecosystem collapse.

Opinions48 Split33% D / 58% A Neutral8% Mean+0.52

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 66% A)

“Great debate, and I love the "Guide" feature to moderate discussion.”

Zoos/Aquaria

Proven Splitter

The billions of dollars spent maintaining high-cost captive facilities should be diverted entirely toward protecting habitats in the wild, even if it means losing 'charismatic' species in the short term.

Opinions48 Split8% D / 90% A Neutral2% Mean+1.90

Data from Southeast R1

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

“I think it keeps the conversation flowing smoothly and creates a space where we can debate a topic comfortably while also giving us time to gather our thoughts.”

Environmental Regulation

Mind-Changer

Our country should have fewer environmental laws and regulations.

Opinions46 Split15% D / 59% A Neutral26% Mean+0.89

Data from Northeast M1

36% rated Awesome/Good (14 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew disagree (54% D / 25% A)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Animal Treatment

Student Favorite

We should not treat animals differently than humans.

Opinions46 Split13% D / 80% A Neutral7% Mean+1.30

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

83% rated Awesome/Good (12 post-chat surveys)

Animal Suffering

We should try to avoid causing animals to suffer.

Opinions46 Split13% D / 76% A Neutral11% Mean+1.13

Data from Southeast R1 MSI

50% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (8% D / 90% A)

“It challenges you to rethink ideas because people point out really good reasons for their stance. But overall it increases my understanding so I can look at their point of view.”

Climate Change and Trust in Science

Scientists who study climate change are generally trustworthy and unbiased.

Opinions46 Split17% D / 63% A Neutral20% Mean+0.87

Data from Mountain West R2

50% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 60% A)

Climate Change and Personal Impact

Climate change will significantly affect my own life or the lives of people I care about.

Opinions46 Split17% D / 72% A Neutral11% Mean+0.98

Data from Mountain West R2

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 81% A)

“it was cool to argue with someone with a different perspective than me”

Climate Change and Motivation for Change

Learning about climate change makes me feel motivated to make changes in my own lifestyle to help reduce its effects.

Opinions22 Split64% D / 18% A Neutral18% Mean-1.09

Data from Mountain West R2

Tends to skew agree (13% D / 77% A)

Climate Change and Faith

My faith or religious beliefs influence how I think about climate change.

Opinions40 Split22% D / 28% A Neutral50% Mean+0.05

Data from Mountain West R2

56% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 62% A)

Climate Change and Government Action

Governments should take strong action, even if it requires economic or lifestyle sacrifices, to address climate change.

Opinions40 Split32% D / 52% A Neutral15% Mean+0.40

Data from Mountain West R2

50% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 72% A)

Animals Rights

Eating animals violates their rights. We have to stop eating meat (or at least severely limit meat eating).

Opinions38 Split63% D / 34% A Neutral3% Mean-0.66

Data from West Associate's HSI

Tends to skew disagree (64% D / 13% A)

How Certain

Climate policy is being made with greater certainty than the science itself justifies.

Opinions38 Split13% D / 82% A Neutral5% Mean+1.45

Data from Midwest R1

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 29% A)

Running Out of Time

Waiting to take strong action on climate change is more ethically dangerous than taking action that might turn out to be too extreme.

Opinions38 Split63% D / 21% A Neutral16% Mean-0.84

Data from Midwest R1

80% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Regenerative Livestock

Even if livestock can be raised more sustainably, we should be moving away from eating animals altogether.

Opinions38 Split11% D / 84% A Neutral5% Mean+1.39

Data from Northeast R1

70% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

“We didnt need the guides help that much because we were very good at discussing this topic from our own point of views”

Hunting and Food Systems

Hunting should be seen as a legitimate and valuable part of sustainable food systems.

Opinions38 Split45% D / 42% A Neutral13% Mean-0.03

Data from Northeast R1

Tends to skew agree (12% D / 82% A)

Veganism and Responsibility

In the long run, plant-based diets should be the global standard for ethical and sustainable eating.

Opinions38 Split3% D / 97% A Neutral0% Mean+2.11

Data from Northeast R1

Tends to skew disagree (62% D / 20% A)

Technology vs Behavior

Feeding the world sustainably depends more on changing human behavior than on developing new technologies.

Opinions40 Split40% D / 58% A Neutral2% Mean+0.50

Data from Northeast R1

Tends to skew agree (10% D / 85% A)

Lab-Grown Meat

Society should invest heavily in lab-grown meat as a long-term solution to the environmental and ethical problems of livestock.

Opinions40 Split5% D / 80% A Neutral15% Mean+1.32

Data from Northeast R1

Equity and Justice

A food system isn’t sustainable unless it’s also just - addressing issues of affordability, labor, and access alongside the environment.

Opinions40 Split32% D / 60% A Neutral8% Mean+0.40

Data from Northeast R1

Tends to skew agree (2% D / 98% A)

Zoos and Aquariums

Student Favorite Mind-Changer

Zoos and aquariums provide a net positive contribution to species conservation through their breeding programs, research, and public education, despite lifetimes of keeping wild animals in captivity, many constantly exposed to the public.

Opinions36 Split19% D / 81% A Neutral0% Mean+1.44

Data from Southeast R1

80% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

“There was more of a discussion when using this program compared to class discussions on Canvas.”

Goeengineering

Large-scale geoengineering and radical ecological interventions (e.g., creating artificial refugia, assisted migration of entire ecosystems) are morally required actions to prevent catastrophic biodiversity collapse, despite the inherent risks.

Opinions36 Split50% D / 42% A Neutral8% Mean+0.11

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (5% D / 80% A)

“The guide really helped with like filling in some key aspects that we were not able to see.”

Prioritizing Charismatic Megafauna in Conservation Funding

Focusing a significant portion of conservation funding and attention on charismatic megafauna (e.g., pandas, tigers, elephants) is an effective and pragmatic strategy to leverage public support and indirectly protect broader ecosystems, despite the criticism that it diverts resources from lesser-known, yet ecologically critical, species.

Opinions36 Split50% D / 36% A Neutral14% Mean-0.11

Data from Southeast R1

Obligations to Future Generations

The present generation is morally required to do much more than it is already doing to cut back on fossil fuel burning and/or other kinds of pollution, resource depletion, habitat destruction, etc., in order to ensure that there exist future generations with a higher quality of life instead of future generations with a much lower quality of life.

Opinions34 Split24% D / 59% A Neutral18% Mean+1.09

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 81% A)

“It was interesting hearing what other individuals had in mind and how we agreed upon specific topics while we had different views.”

Earth First?

Mind-Changer

Space exploration is morally justified only after we solve our most urgent problems on Earth.

Opinions36 Split61% D / 31% A Neutral8% Mean-0.58

Data from Canada

100% rated Awesome/Good (6 post-chat surveys)

Necessity

Humanity has a moral obligation to expand into space if doing so increases the long-term survival prospects of our species.

Opinions36 Split31% D / 56% A Neutral14% Mean+0.44

Data from Canada

Animal Testing

Animal testing for cosmetics must be stopped.

Opinions36 Split94% D / 6% A Neutral0% Mean-2.33

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 60% A)

Human vs Animal

Painlessly killing a human and painlessly killing a non-human animal (e.g., rabbit) are equally morally wrong.

Opinions36 Split44% D / 42% A Neutral14% Mean-0.36

Data from Canada

67% rated Awesome/Good (9 post-chat surveys)

“I think it's easy in these chats to start going in a round-about, and I noticed that my partner was more active in moving the conversation along to another topic/point than Guide was.”

Animal Rights

Many non-human animals have a right not to be used for food, just as humans have a right not to be used for food.

Opinions30 Split10% D / 83% A Neutral7% Mean+1.70

Data from 2 institutions across 2 regions (West Associate's HSI, Canada)

Habitat Destruction

To reduce wild animal suffering, we ought to reduce wild animal populations through habitat destruction.

Opinions30 Split30% D / 63% A Neutral7% Mean+0.80

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (94% D / 6% A)

“Guide helped expand our examples within our arguments”

Complicity

It would be wrong to use animal products, even your doing so does not make a difference to the total amount of animal suffering and death, because the larger institutions that produce our animal products do cause a significant amount of animal suffering and death, and your use of these products would make you complicit in this wrong.

Opinions30 Split0% D / 100% A Neutral0% Mean+2.27

Data from Canada

67% rated Awesome/Good (15 post-chat surveys)

Environmental Justice

It is unjust that environmental harms disproportionately affect marginalized communities.

Opinions30 Split30% D / 67% A Neutral3% Mean+0.60

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 81% A)

Sustainability and Economic Growth

Economic growth should be limited to protect the environment.

Opinions34 Split56% D / 29% A Neutral15% Mean-0.65

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (28% D / 67% A)

Intergenerational Justice and Climate Change

Current generations have a moral obligation to prevent climate harms to future generations.

Opinions34 Split35% D / 47% A Neutral18% Mean+0.03

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (3% D / 97% A)

Biodiversity Conservation

Some species deserve greater moral protection than others.

Opinions34 Split59% D / 24% A Neutral18% Mean-0.65

Data from Canada

Interfering with Nature

Geoengineering is wrong because it would further interfere with nature, and interfering with nature is what led to the current climate problem.

Opinions34 Split44% D / 35% A Neutral21% Mean-0.24

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (54% D / 29% A)

Risk of Having Geoengineering as an Option

Even having geoengineering a viable option is too risky, since it can lead us (or governments and other relevant actors) to stop trying hard enough to reduce carbon emissions.

Opinions34 Split15% D / 68% A Neutral18% Mean+1.12

Data from Canada

Unilateral Geoengineering

It could be morally permissible for one country to start a major geoengineering project (e.g., sulphate injection) that changes the global climate, even without the agreement of other countries.

Opinions30 Split10% D / 83% A Neutral7% Mean+1.63

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (57% D / 23% A)

Geoengineering as Our Best Choice

Geoengineering is our best course of action, given that we are not going to reduce emissions enough to avoid a climate catastrophe.

Opinions30 Split23% D / 47% A Neutral30% Mean+0.40

Data from Canada

How to Weigh Human and Animal Interests

Human interests should take priority over animal interests when they genuinely conflict.

Opinions30 Split7% D / 93% A Neutral0% Mean+1.70

Data from Southeast R1

50% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (15% D / 68% A)

Human Influence

Humans should avoid influencing animal behavior, even if we can “speak their language.”

Opinions30 Split13% D / 80% A Neutral7% Mean+1.20

Data from Northeast R1

100% rated Awesome/Good (5 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (9% D / 84% A)

“It helped me to have a more neutral approach without bias”

Animal Privacy

Animals have a “right to privacy,” and translating their communication could violate it.

Opinions30 Split53% D / 27% A Neutral20% Mean-0.63

Data from Northeast R1

Tends to skew agree (22% D / 47% A)

“It helps guide the conversation into different directions that help when the conversation starts to become static”

Changing Worldviews

Understanding animal communication would fundamentally change how humans view our place in nature.

Opinions30 Split20% D / 43% A Neutral37% Mean+0.47

Data from Northeast R1

Tends to skew agree (6% D / 94% A)

“This Sway chat and especially Guide was very helpful in facilitating a fundamental and insightful conversation”

Conservation Benefits

Talking to animals would improve conservation outcomes.

Opinions24 Split21% D / 67% A Neutral12% Mean+0.62

Data from Northeast R1

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 75% A)

“It was my first experience with it and it was interesting, I liked when the ai would prompt questions to help move the conversation along”

Individuals Versus Wholes

The good of individual organisms usually outweighs the good of ecological wholes (e.g., species and ecosystems).

Opinions24 Split21% D / 75% A Neutral4% Mean+1.00

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (52% D / 26% A)

Environment and Renewable Energy

Preserving undeveloped land and wilderness is more important than using it to fight climate change by installing renewable energy equipment like wind turbines or solar panels.

Opinions28 Split32% D / 25% A Neutral43% Mean-0.04

Data from Northeast Doctoral/Professional

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 45% A)

Technology Investment

Technological solutions should be sought for environmental issues. This will ensure that current rates of growth in the economy can be sustained without harm to the environment.

Opinions31 Split23% D / 68% A Neutral10% Mean+0.68

Data from Europe

25% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (23% D / 68% A)

“This was a great experience. I enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot.”

Wealthy Nation Obligation

Nations with more wealth, especially nations from the 'global north' which were involved in colonial practices, should bear a higher cost burden for combatting climate change. They have an obligation to pay for the damages caused by the historical exploitative practices and the current extractive policies that have led to their higher wealth status.

Opinions31 Split19% D / 77% A Neutral3% Mean+1.10

Data from Europe

Tends to skew agree (19% D / 77% A)

Factory Farms

Factory farming should be ended.

Opinions29 Split31% D / 24% A Neutral45% Mean-0.03

Data from Canada

Tends to skew disagree (31% D / 24% A)

Wealthy Countries Responsibility

Wealthy countries that have historically emitted the most should pay reparations to countries most affected by climate change.

Opinions28 Split21% D / 75% A Neutral4% Mean+1.14

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (21% D / 75% A)

Technological Innovation

Technological innovation is a more realistic path to addressing climate change than asking people to make major lifestyle changes.

Opinions28 Split18% D / 79% A Neutral4% Mean+0.96

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (18% D / 79% A)

Climate Activism

Climate activism that involves civil disobedience or disruption is justified given the scale of the crisis.

Opinions28 Split14% D / 64% A Neutral21% Mean+0.93

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 64% A)

Personal Moral Obligation

Individuals have a personal moral obligation to significantly change their lifestyle to address climate change.

Opinions28 Split39% D / 50% A Neutral11% Mean+0.18

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

“It feels more personal and one on one where you can truly understand a person”

Carbon Tax Burden

Carbon taxes unfairly burden ordinary people and lower-income communities.

Opinions28 Split11% D / 46% A Neutral43% Mean+0.61

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 46% A)

Developing Countries

Mind-Changer

Developing countries should be allowed to prioritize economic growth over aggressive climate action.

Opinions28 Split29% D / 57% A Neutral14% Mean+0.61

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

75% rated Awesome/Good (8 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 57% A)

“Talking on Sway gives me a good amount of time to think critically before responding. This is very essential in ensuring that conversations remain formal and on the right track.”

Framing

Student Favorite Mind-Changer

Climate change is primarily a problem of global inequality and justice, not just an environmental issue.

Opinions28 Split29% D / 64% A Neutral7% Mean+0.82

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

90% rated Awesome/Good (10 post-chat surveys)

Tends to skew agree (29% D / 64% A)

Climate Migrants

Climate migrants should be recognized and protected under international law.

Opinions26 Split31% D / 54% A Neutral15% Mean+0.38

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (7% D / 71% A)

Consumer Choices

Governments should be willing to restrict consumer choices — such as diet or air travel — to meet climate targets.

Opinions26 Split35% D / 54% A Neutral12% Mean+0.19

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Sanctions

Countries that fail to meet their climate commitments should face meaningful economic sanctions.

Opinions26 Split12% D / 77% A Neutral12% Mean+1.42

Data from Northeast Baccalaureate

Tends to skew agree (14% D / 79% A)

Intervention in Natural Processes

It is ethical and necessary for humans to actively intervene in natural processes (e.g., culling, assisted migration, disease treatment) to prevent the extinction of individual species, even if these interventions disrupt ecosystem dynamics.

Opinions24 Split17% D / 79% A Neutral4% Mean+1.25

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (30% D / 56% A)

“Gave me a safe space to refute, ask questions and express any confusion or ideas I had without judgement or tension. As well as facilitate further research and hearing a different point of view which resulted in more ...”

Genetic Engineering for Species Resilience

Genetically engineering endangered species to enhance their resilience to disease, climate change, or other threats is a necessary and ethical intervention to prevent their extinction.

Opinions24 Split0% D / 100% A Neutral0% Mean+2.29

Data from Southeast R1

Private Land Ownership and Conservation

Private land ownership in critical conservation habitats should be significantly restricted or acquired by public entities to ensure effective and comprehensive biodiversity protection.

Opinions22 Split18% D / 59% A Neutral23% Mean+0.77

Data from Southeast R1

Tends to skew agree (11% D / 78% A)

Animal Rights and Ecocentrism

Is ecosystem health more important than the lives of individual animals?

Opinions828 Split24% D / 20% A Neutral55% Mean-0.10

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (16% D / 80% A)

Ecocentrism

Is it ethical to kill invasive species to protect native ecosystems?

Opinions1,051 Split4% D / 84% A Neutral11% Mean+1.95

Data from Canada

Tends to skew agree (0% D / 100% A)

The Environment - Individual Moral Duty

Individuals have a moral obligation to reduce their environmental impact, even if their personal actions won't make a measurable difference to climate change.

Opinions898 Split44% D / 40% A Neutral16% Mean-0.22

Data from Midwest Associate's

Tends to skew agree (17% D / 61% A)