CSULB Student Assessment Findings, Division of Student Services

CSULB Freshmen 2005: Political Views

Political Orientation

Extent of agreement with each of the following:

There is too much concern for the rights of criminals.
Abortion should be legal.
The death penalty should be abolished.
Marijuana should be legalized.
Homosexual relations should be prohibited.
Racial discrimination is no longer a problem in America.
Individuals can do little to change society.
Wealthy people should pay more taxes.
Colleges should prohibit racist/sexist speech.
Marital status for same sex couples should be legalized.
Affirmative action should be abolished in college admissions.
Activities of married women are best confined to the home.
Federal military spending should be increased.
Colleges have the right to ban extreme speakers.
Sex is OK if people like each other.
The federal government should do more to control handguns.

Only volunteers should serve in the armed forces.

The federal government is not doing enough to control environmental pollution.

A national health care plan is needed to cover everybody's medical costs.

Grading in the high schools has become too easy.

Undocumented immigrants should be denied access to public education.

Through hard work, everybody can succeed in American society.

Dissent is a critical component of the political process.

How would you characterize your political views?
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Far left	56	2.4	2.5	2.5
	Liberal	700	30.2	31.8	34.4
	Middle-of-the-road	1035	44.7	47.1	81.4
	Conservative	384	16.6	17.5	98.9
	Far Right	24	1.0	1.1	100.0
	Total	2199	94.9	100.0
Missing	System	119	5.1
Total		2318	100.0

There is too much concern in the courts for the rights of criminals
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	168	7.2	7.7	7.7
	Agree somewhat	1133	48.9	51.9	59.7
	Disagree somewhat	740	31.9	33.9	93.6
	Disagree strongly	140	6.0	6.4	100.0
	Total	2181	94.1	100.0
Missing	System	137	5.9
Total		2318	100.0

Abortion should be legal
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	594	25.6	26.7	26.7
	Agree somewhat	715	30.8	32.2	58.9
	Disagree somewhat	386	16.7	17.4	76.2
	Disagree strongly	528	22.8	23.8	100.0
	Total	2223	95.9	100.0
Missing	System	95	4.1
Total		2318	100.0

The death penalty should be abolished
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	241	10.4	10.9	10.9
	Agree somewhat	442	19.1	20.0	30.9
	Disagree somewhat	956	41.2	43.2	74.1
	Disagree strongly	574	24.8	25.9	100.0
	Total	2213	95.5	100.0
Missing	System	105	4.5
Total		2318	100.0

Marijuana should be legalized
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	230	9.9	10.4	10.4
	Agree somewhat	560	24.2	25.3	35.7
	Disagree somewhat	658	28.4	29.8	65.5
	Disagree strongly	763	32.9	34.5	100.0
	Total	2211	95.4	100.0
Missing	System	107	4.6
Total		2318	100.0

It is important to have laws prohibiting homosexual relationships
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	204	8.8	9.2	9.2
	Agree somewhat	282	12.2	12.8	22.0
	Disagree somewhat	600	25.9	27.2	49.2
	Disagree strongly	1122	48.4	50.8	100.0
	Total	2208	95.3	100.0
Missing	System	110	4.7
Total		2318	100.0

Racial discrimination is no longer a major problem in America
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	64	2.8	2.9	2.9
	Agree somewhat	379	16.4	17.2	20.1
	Disagree somewhat	969	41.8	44.0	64.1
	Disagree strongly	791	34.1	35.9	100.0
	Total	2203	95.0	100.0
Missing	System	115	5.0
Total		2318	100.0

Realistically, an individual can do little to bring about changes in our society
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	114	4.9	5.2	5.2
	Agree somewhat	553	23.9	25.2	30.4
	Disagree somewhat	879	37.9	40.1	70.5
	Disagree strongly	647	27.9	29.5	100.0
	Total	2193	94.6	100.0
Missing	System	125	5.4
Total		2318	100.0

Wealthy people should pay a larger share of taxes than they do now
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	385	16.6	17.6	17.6
	Agree somewhat	827	35.7	37.7	55.3
	Disagree somewhat	694	29.9	31.7	87.0
	Disagree strongly	286	12.3	13.0	100.0
	Total	2192	94.6	100.0
Missing	System	126	5.4
Total		2318	100.0

Colleges should prohibit racist/sexist speech on campus
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	604	26.1	27.5	27.5
	Agree somewhat	717	30.9	32.7	60.2
	Disagree somewhat	587	25.3	26.8	87.0
	Disagree strongly	285	12.3	13.0	100.0
	Total	2193	94.6	100.0
Missing	System	125	5.4
Total		2318	100.0

Same-sex couples should have the right to legal marital status
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	777	33.5	35.4	35.4
	Agree somewhat	620	26.7	28.3	63.7
	Disagree somewhat	394	17.0	18.0	81.6
	Disagree strongly	403	17.4	18.4	100.0
	Total	2194	94.7	100.0
Missing	System	124	5.3
Total		2318	100.0

Affirmative action in college admissions should be abolished
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	311	13.4	14.8	14.8
	Agree somewhat	633	27.3	30.1	44.9
	Disagree somewhat	944	40.7	44.9	89.9
	Disagree strongly	213	9.2	10.1	100.0
	Total	2101	90.6	100.0
Missing	System	217	9.4
Total		2318	100.0

The activities of married women are best confined to the home and family
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	115	5.0	5.3	5.3
	Agree somewhat	309	13.3	14.2	19.5
	Disagree somewhat	522	22.5	24.0	43.5
	Disagree strongly	1231	53.1	56.5	100.0
	Total	2177	93.9	100.0
Missing	System	141	6.1
Total		2318	100.0

Federal military spending should be increased
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	78	3.4	3.6	3.6
	Agree somewhat	441	19.0	20.3	23.9
	Disagree somewhat	1136	49.0	52.4	76.3
	Disagree strongly	514	22.2	23.7	100.0
	Total	2169	93.6	100.0
Missing	System	149	6.4
Total		2318	100.0

If two people really like each other, it's all right for them to have sex even if they've known each other for only a very short time
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	278	12.0	12.7	12.7
	Agree somewhat	678	29.2	31.0	43.7
	Disagree somewhat	657	28.3	30.0	73.8
	Disagree strongly	574	24.8	26.2	100.0
	Total	2187	94.3	100.0
Missing	System	131	5.7
Total		2318	100.0

The federal government should do more to control the sale of handguns
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	950	41.0	43.5	43.5
	Agree somewhat	897	38.7	41.1	84.6
	Disagree somewhat	245	10.6	11.2	95.9
	Disagree strongly	90	3.9	4.1	100.0
	Total	2182	94.1	100.0
Missing	System	136	5.9
Total		2318	100.0

Only volunteers should serve in the armed forces
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	686	29.6	31.5	31.5
	Agree somewhat	822	35.5	37.8	69.3
	Disagree somewhat	524	22.6	24.1	93.3
	Disagree strongly	145	6.3	6.7	100.0
	Total	2177	93.9	100.0
Missing	System	141	6.1
Total		2318	100.0

The federal government is not doing enough to control environmental pollution
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	638	27.5	29.5	29.5
	Agree somewhat	1115	48.1	51.5	81.0
	Disagree somewhat	358	15.4	16.5	97.5
	Disagree strongly	54	2.3	2.5	100.0
	Total	2165	93.4	100.0
Missing	System	153	6.6
Total		2318	100.0

A national health care plan is needed to cover everybody's medical costs
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	595	25.7	27.5	27.5
	Agree somewhat	1011	43.6	46.7	74.1
	Disagree somewhat	439	18.9	20.3	94.4
	Disagree strongly	122	5.3	5.6	100.0
	Total	2167	93.5	100.0
Missing	System	151	6.5
Total		2318	100.0

Grading in the high schools has become too easy
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	276	11.9	12.6	12.6
	Agree somewhat	767	33.1	35.2	47.8
	Disagree somewhat	922	39.8	42.3	90.1
	Disagree strongly	217	9.4	9.9	100.0
	Total	2182	94.1	100.0
Missing	System	136	5.9
Total		2318	100.0

Undocumented immigrants should be denied access to public education
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	306	13.2	14.1	14.1
	Agree somewhat	523	22.6	24.1	38.2
	Disagree somewhat	738	31.8	34.0	72.1
	Disagree strongly	606	26.1	27.9	100.0
	Total	2173	93.7	100.0
Missing	System	145	6.3
Total		2318	100.0

Through hard work, everybody can succeed in American society
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	950	41.0	43.6	43.6
	Agree somewhat	839	36.2	38.5	82.0
	Disagree somewhat	324	14.0	14.9	96.9
	Disagree strongly	68	2.9	3.1	100.0
	Total	2181	94.1	100.0
Missing	System	137	5.9
Total		2318	100.0

Dissent is a critical component of the political process
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Agree strongly	224	9.7	11.2	11.2
	Agree somewhat	1014	43.7	50.7	61.9
	Disagree somewhat	701	30.2	35.1	97.0
	Disagree strongly	61	2.6	3.1	100.0
	Total	2000	86.3	100.0
Missing	System	318	13.7
Total		2318	100.0

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