Democrats and Republicans sharply disagree on whether “socialized medicine” is a good idea, with Republicans having a more negative view of the term that has become shorthand for conservative criticism of the expanded role of government in health care, according to a new study.

The results from the poll—part of a series of studies conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) on health care and social policy issues during each presidential election—found that 70 percent of Democrats see a socialized medical system as positive, while 70 percent of Republicans view it as negative.

“We were surprised by how big the differences were,” said Robert J. Blendon, a professor of health policy and political analysis at HSPH. “I think it suggests how polarized the issue is going to be in the presidential election.”

Blendon said that this divide between Republicans and Democrats is based on the differing ways in which each party views the term “socialized medicine.”

Although Americans of both parties support the general concept of universal health care, divergent interpretations of the term is the source of controversy, Blendon added.

Caleb L. Weatherl ’10, president of the Harvard Republican Club, said he believed that moving to a system of socialized medicine would be a step in the wrong direction.

“I think that it’s important for us to help provide for those who can’t afford health care, possibly through subsidies,” he said. “But I think that there is a huge jump between the goal of everyone having access to health care and actually implementing a socialized system.”

Samuel B. Novey ’11, spokesman for the Harvard College Democrats, countered that Democrats’ acceptance of socialized medicine suggests that the party is more open and creative in its policy proposals. But he added that the term itself is loaded and is a pejorative that Republicans have used to criticize universal health care plans.

“This term, ‘socialized medicine,’ implies that Democrats are against choice in health care, which is incorrect,” he said.

Blendon added that according to the poll, most people, especially independent voters, do not actually have a negative view of the term, and it is not necessarily a minus for a candidate to have his or her plan derided as “socialized medicine.”

According to the poll, which was conducted with Harris Interactive, a market research firm, only 32 percent of those surveyed believe socialized medicine is a system in which “the government tells doctors what to do.”

In contrast, over 70 percent interpret the term to mean that “the government makes sure everyone has health insurance” and “the government pays most of the cost of health care.”