1235 1 YES 538 2 NO 2 9 NA
450 1 DUKAKIS 282 2 JACKSON 164 3 GORE 161 4 HART 181 5 OTHER 54 6 DISLIKE ALL483 9 NA
V6 CONGRESS ELECT VOTE (768)
Whom did you vote for in the elections for the House of Representatives?
(response categorized by the party of the candidate)
621 1 DEMOCRATIC
433 2 REPUBLICAN
721 9 NA
V7 TYPE OF CONGRESS RACE (50)
Classification of the type of race for the House of Representatives in the respondent's congressional district. Districts were
classified as to whether: (a) a Democratic incumbent representative was running for re-election; (b) a Republican incumbent
was running for re-election; or (c) no incumbent was running for re-election. Cases where a Democratic or Republican
incumbent was running were further classified as to whether the incumbent was opposed by another candidate or was unopposed.
316 1 UNOPPOSED DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT
796 2 OPPOSED DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT
106 3 NO INCUMBENT RUNNING
412 4 OPPOSED REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT
145 5 UNOPPOSED REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT
V8 PARTY IDENTIFICATION (274)
Do you consider yourself to be a Democrat, a Republican, an independent, or what? If Democrat or Republican, are you a
strong or weak Democrat or Republican? If independent, are you closer to the Democrats or the Republicans?
307 1 STRONG DEMOCRAT
324 2 WEAK DEMOCRAT
209 3 INDEPENDENT DEMOCRAT
180 4 INDEPENDENT
233 5 INDEPENDENT REPUBLICAN
246 6 WEAK REPUBLICAN
251 7 STRONG REPUBLICAN
25 9 NA
212 1 0-20
268 2 21-40
564 3 41-60
255 4 61-80
407 5 81-100
69 9 NA
V20 FEELING THERM-QUAYLE (160)
Respondent's feeling toward Dan Quayle, expressed on a thermometer ranging from 0 to 100.
277 1 0-20
274 2 21-40
583 3 41-60
172 4 61-80
127 5 81-100
342 9 NA
V21 FEELING THERM-BENTSEN (159)
Respondent's feeling toward Lloyd Bentsen, expressed on a thermometer ranging from 0* to 100*.
115 1 0-20
186 2 21-40
578 3 41-60
177 4 61-80
166 5 81-100
553 9 NA
V22 BUSH INTELLIGENT? (275)
How well does the word "intelligent" describe Bush?
329 1 EXTREMELY WELL
1019 2 QUITE WELL
362 3 NOT WELL
65 9 NA
V23 BUSH COMPASSIONATE? (276)
How well does the word "compassionate" describe Bush?
164 1 EXTREMELY WELL
827 2 QUITE WELL
621 3 NOT WELL
163 9 NA
V24 BUSH INSPIRING? (278)
How well does the word "inspiring" describe Bush?
95 1 EXTREMELY WELL
549 2 QUITE WELL
1025 3 NOT WELL
106 9 NA
V25 BUSH STRONG LEADER? (279)
How well does the phrase "strong leader" describe Bush?
183 1 EXTREMELY WELL
702 2 QUITE WELL
760 3 NOT WELL
130 9 NA
V26 BUSH KNOWLEDGEABLE? (282)
How well does the word "knowledgeable" describe Bush?
377 1 EXTREMELY WELL
1043 2 QUITE WELL
280 3 NOT WELL
75 9 NA
V27 BUSH HONEST? (283)
How well does the word "honest" describe Bush?
280 1 EXTREMELY WELL
783 2 QUITE WELL
517 3 NOT WELL
195 9 NA
V28 DUKAKIS INTELLIGENT? (284)
How well does the word "intelligent" describe Dukakis?
384 1 EXTREMELY WELL
1084 2 QUITE WELL
187 3 NOT WELL
120 9 NA
V29 DUKAKIS COMPASSIONATE? (285)
How well does the word "compassionate" describe Dukakis?
193 1 EXTREMELY WELL
978 2 QUITE WELL
408 3 NOT WELL
196 9 NA
V30 DUKAKIS INSPIRING? (287)
How well does the word "inspiring" describe Dukakis?
133 1 EXTREMELY WELL
654 2 QUITE WELL
846 3 NOT WELL
142 9 NA
V31 DUKAKIS STRONG LEADER? (288)
How well does the phrase "strong leader" describe Dukakis?
178 1 EXTREMELY WELL
722 2 QUITE WELL
701 3 NOT WELL
174 9 NA
V32 DUKAKIS KNOWLEDGEABLE? (291)
How well does the word "knowledgeable" describe Dukakis?
245 1 EXTREMELY WELL
1106 2 QUITE WELL
295 3 NOT WELL
129 9 NA
V33 DUKAKIS HONEST? (292)
How well does the word "honest" describe Dukakis?
239 1 EXTREMELY WELL
955 2 QUITE WELL
336 3 NOT WELL
245 9 NA
D. GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE ITEMS
V34 HOW THINGS IN COUNTRY ARE GOING (238)
How would you say things in the country are going?
117 1 VERY WELL
1030 2 FAIRLY WELL
436 3 NOT TOO WELL
175 4 NOT WELL AT ALL
17 9 NA
V35 CONGRESS JOB APPROVAL (881)
Do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. Congress has been handling its job?
186 1 STRONGLY APPROVE
731 2 APPROVE
287 3 DISAPPROVE
314 4 STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
257 9 NA
V36 REAGAN JOB APPROVAL (1043)
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ronald Reagan is handling his job as President?
632 1 STRONGLY APPROVE
527 2 APPROVE
230 3 DISAPPROVE
318 4 STRONGLY DISAPPROVE68 9 NA
V37 REAGAN MADE U.S. MORE SECURE? (1035)
Has the Reagan administration made the U.S. more secure or less secure from its foreign enemies than it was in 1980?
841 1 MORE
567 2 SAME
290 3 LESS
77 9 NA
V38 REAGAN MADE ECON BETTER? (1032)
Has the Reagan administration made the nation's economy better or worse over the last eight years?
689 1 BETTER
642 2 SAME
350 3 WORSE
94 9 NA
V39 EFFECT OF ECON POLICY (213)
Would you say that the economic policies of the federal government made you better off, worse off, or haven't they made any difference?
199 1 BETTER
1153 2 NO DIFFERENCE
381 3 WORSE
42 9 NA
V40 PRESENT FINANCIAL CONDITION (207)
Would you say that you were better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?
737 1 BETTER
587 2 SAME
435 3 WORSE
16 9 NA
V41 FUTURE FINANCIAL CONDITION (209)
Do you think that a year from now you will be better off financially, worse off, or about the same as now?
637 1 BETTER
914 2 SAME
155 3 WORSE
69 9 NA
V42 IMPROVEMENTS IN INCOME (211)
Do you think that over the last year, your income has gone up more, fallen behind, or stayed even with the cost of living?
299 1 MORE
792 2 SAME
653 3 LESS
31 9 NA
V43 UNEMPLOYMENT BETTER? (240)
Would you say that over the last year, the level of unemployment in the country has gotten better, stayed about the same, or gotten worse?
731 1 BETTER
568 2 SAME
439 3 WORSE
37 9 NA
V44 INFLATION BETTER? (242)
Would you say that over the past year, inflation has gotten better, stayed about the same, or gotten worse?
193 1 BETTER
782 2 SAME
764 3 WORSE
36 9 NA
V45 ECONOMY BETTER? (244)
Would you say that over the past year, the nation's economy has gotten better, stayed about the same, or gotten worse?
329 1 BETTER
856 2 SAME
527 3 WORSE
63 9 NA
V46 DEFICIT A PROBLEM? (248)
Do you personally feel that the budget deficit is a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, or not much of a problem?
1100 1 VERY SERIOUS527 2 SOMEWHAT SERIOUS
108 3 NOT SO SERIOUS
40 9 NA
E. IDEOLOGICAL ITEMS
V47 IDEOLOGY (228,229)Respondent's self-placement on a scale running from "liberal" to "conservative."
132 1 LIBERAL
246 2 SLIGHTLY LIBERAL
439 3 MODERATE
461 4 SLIGHTLY CONSERVATIVE
297 5 CONSERVATIVE
200 9 NA
V48 IDEOLOGY: BUSH (232)
Respondent's placement of Bush on a scale running from "liberal" to "conservative."
93 1 LIBERAL
94 2 SLIGHTLY LIBERAL
179 3 MODERATE
311 4 SLIGHTLY CONSERVATIVE
716 5 CONSERVATIVE
382 9 NA
V49 IDEOLOGY: DUKAKIS (231)
Respondent's placement of Dukakis on a scale running from "liberal" to "conservative."
556 1 LIBERAL
278 2 SLIGHTLY LIBERAL
239 3 MODERATE
124 4 SLIGHTLY CONSERVATIVE
152 5 CONSERVATIVE
426 9 NA
V50 IDEOLOGY: REP PARTY (234)
Respondent's placement of the Republican party on a scale running from "liberal" to "conservative."
122 1 LIBERAL
80 2 SLIGHTLY LIBERAL
180 3 MODERATE
271 4 SLIGHTLY CONSERVATIVE
692 5 CONSERVATIVE
430 9 NA
V51 IDEOLOGY: DEM PARTY (235)
Respondent's placement of the Democratic party on a scale running from "liberal" to "conservative."
504 1 LIBERAL
320 2 SLIGHTLY LIBERAL
247 3 MODERATE
149 4 SLIGHTLY CONSERVATIVE
135 5 CONSERVATIVE
420 9 NA
F. DOMESTIC SPENDING ITEMS
V52 GOVT SERVICES SCALE (302)
Respondent's self-placement on a scale running from "having the government provide fewer services to reduce spending" to "having the government provide more services even if it means increased spending."
211 1 FEWER
248 2
416 3
251 4
285 5 MORE
364 9 NA
V53 GOVT SERVICES: BUSH (304)
Respondent's placement of Bush on the government services scale (see V52).
314 1 FEWER
322 2
303 3
176 4
130 5 MORE
530 9 NA
V54 GOVT SERVICES: DUKAKIS (303)
Respondent's placement of Dukakis on the government services scale (see V52).
70 1 FEWER
90 2
210 3
301 4
540 5 MORE
564 9 NA
V55 GUAR JOB SCALE (323)
Respondent's self-placement on a scale running from "having the government see that every person has a job and a good standard of living" to "letting each person get ahead on his own."
252 1 GUARANTEED JOB
162 2
325 3
285 4
504 5 INDIVIDUAL ON OWN
247 9 NA
V56 GUAR JOB: BUSH (325)
Respondent's placement of Bush on the guaranteed job and living standard scale (see V55).
63 1 GUARANTEED JOB
105 2
269 3
343 4
567 5 INDIVIDUAL ON OWN
428 9 NA
V57 GUAR JOB: DUKAKIS (324)
Respondent's placement of Dukakis on the guaranteed job and living standard scale (see V55).
407 1 GUARANTEED JOB
337 2
284 3
170 4
122 5 INDIVIDUAL ON OWN
455 9 NA
V58 HEALTH INS SCALE (318)
Respondent's self-placement on a scale running from "government insurance plan that would cover all medical and hospital costs for everyone" to "medical expenses should be paid by individuals and through private insurance plans like Blue Cross or other company paid plans."
278 1 GOVERNMENT PLAN
354 2
293 3
380 4
192 5 PRIVATE PLAN
278 9 NA
V59 HEALTH INS: BUSH (320)
Respondent's placement of Bush on the health insurance scale (see V58).
23 1 GOVERNMENT PLAN
112 2
280 3
592 4
203 5 PRIVATE PLAN
565 9 NA
V60 HEALTH INS: DUKAKIS (319)
Respondent's placement of Dukakis on the health insurance scale (see V58).
246 1 GOVERNMENT PLAN
482 2
218 3
182 4
43 5 PRIVATE PLAN
604 9 NA
V61 SPENDING ON SOC SEC (348)
Should federal spending on social security increase, decrease, or remain the same?
1023 1 INCREASE 677 2 SAME
48 3 DECREASE
27 9 NA
V62 SPENDING ON FOOD STAMPS (349)
Should federal spending on food stamps increase, decrease, or remain the same?
365 1 INCREASE
783 2 SAME
548 3 DECREASE
79 9 NA
V63 SPENDING ON HOMELESS (385)
Should federal spending on the homeless increase, decrease, or remain the same?
1142 1 INCREASE
485 2 SAME
93 3 DECREASE
55 9 NA
V64 SPENDING ON SCHOOLS (383)
Should federal spending on public schools increase, decrease, or remain the same?
1140 1 INCREASE
539 2 SAME
67 3 DECREASE
29 9 NA
V65 SPENDING ON COLLEGE AID (378)
Should federal spending on financial aid for college students increase, decrease, or remain the same?
796 1 INCREASE
762 2 SAME
182 3 DECREASE
35 9 NA
V66 SPENDING ON CHILD CARE (382)
Should federal spending on childcare increase, decrease, or remain the same?
992 1 INCREASE
541 2 SAME
183 3 DECREASE
59 9 NA
V67 SPENDING ON AIDS (352)
Should federal spending on fighting the disease AIDS increase, decrease, or remain the same?
1266 1 INCREASE
351 2 SAME
103 3 DECREASE
55 9 NA
V68 SPENDING ON DRUG WAR (386)
Should federal spending on the war on drugs increase, decrease, or remain the same?
1319 1 INCREASE
338 2 SAME
78 3 DECREASE
40 9 NA
V69 SPENDING ON SCIENCE (380)
Should federal spending on space and scientific research increase, decrease, or remain the same?
509 1 INCREASE
833 2 SAME
366 3 DECREASE
67 9 NA
V70 DEM VS REP ON TAXES (354)
Which party is more likely to raise taxes?
648 1 DEMOCRATS
744 2 NO DIFFERENCE
303 3 REPUBLICANS
80 9 NA
V71 TAXES TO REDUCE DEFICIT (249)
In order to reduce the size of the federal budget deficit, are you willing or not willing to pay more in federal taxes?
388 1 WILLING
183 2 PERHAPS
1154 3 NOT WILLING
50 9 NA
G. SOCIAL AND OTHER DOMESTIC ISSUE ITEMS
V72 ABORTION (395)
Which opinion best agrees with your view of abortion: (a) it should never be permitted; (b) it should be permitted only in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother's life; (c) it should be permitted for other reasons as well, but only if the need is established; (d) it always should be permitted as a matter of personal choice.
211 1 NEVER PERMITTED
585 2 FOR RAPE, INCEST, ETC.
327 3 IF NEED ESTABLISHED
626 4 ALWAYS PERMITTED
26 9 NA
V73 SCHOOL PRAYER (866)
Which opinion best agrees with your view of school prayer: (a) by law, prayers should not be allowed in the public schools; (b) the law should allow public schools to schedule time when children can pray silently if they want to; (c) the law should allow public schools to schedule time when children, as a group, can say a general prayer, not tied to a particular religious faith; (d) by law, schools should schedule a time when all children would say a chosen Christian prayer.
188 1 NOT ALLOWED
916 2 SILENT PRAYER
438 3 NON-DENOM PRAYER
174 4 CHRISTIAN PRAYER
59 9 NA
V74 BUSH TOUGH ON CRIME? (632)
How well does the phrase "tough on crime" describe Bush?
986 1 VERY WELL
621 2 NOT WELL
168 9 NA
V75 DUKAKIS TOUGH ON CRIME? (634)
How well does the phrase "tough on crime" describe Dukakis?
554 1 VERY WELL
1058 2 NOT WELL
163 9 NA
V76 DEATH PENALTY (855)
Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for those convicted of murder?
970 1 FAVOR STRONGLY
259 2 FAVOR
135 3 OPPOSE
171 4 OPPOSE STRONGLY
240 9 NA
V77 BUSH CARES ABOUT ENVIR? (633)
How well does the phrase "cares about the environment" describe Bush?
823 1 VERY WELL
729 2 NOT WELL
223 9 NA
V78 DUKAKIS CARES ABOUT ENVIR? (635)
How well does the phrase "cares about the environment" describe Dukakis?869 1 VERY WELL
675 2 NOT WELL
231 9 NA
V79 MINORITY AID SCALE (332,340)
Respondent's self-placement on a scale running from "the government in Washington should make every effort to improve the social and economic position of blacks [blacks and other minorities]" to "the government should not make any special effort to help blacks [minorities] because they should help themselves." NOTE: In 1988, the Center for Political Studies experimented with alternative wordings for this question. The alternative wording is in brackets above.
236 1 HELP MINORITIES
176 2
389 3
253 4
507 5 MINORITIES ON OWN
214 9 NA
V80 MINORITY AID: BUSH (334, 342)
Respondent's placement of Bush on the minority aid scale (see V79).
64 1 HELP MINORITIES
114 2
311 3
351 4
412 5 MINORITIES ON OWN
523 9 NA
V81 MINORITY AID: DUKAKIS (333,341)
Respondent's placement of Dukakis on the minority aid scale (see V79).
350 1 HELP MINORITIES
330 2 300 3 133 4
92 5 MINORITIES ON OWN
570 9 NA
V82 AFFIRM ACTION INDEX (857, 870)
Index of respondent's commitment to affirmative action built from the following items: because of past discrimination, blacks should be given preference in hiring and promotion; and, because of past discrimination, it is sometimes necessary for colleges and universities to reserve openings for black students.
314 1 COMMITMENT
377 2
869 3 OPPOSITION
215 9 NA
V83 EQUAL JOBS FOR BLACKS (865)
Should the government in Washington see to it that black people get fair treatment in jobs?
599 1 YES
448 2 NO
728 9 NA
V84 ROLE OF WOMEN SCALE (387)
Respondent's self-placement on a scale running from "women should have an equal role with men in running business, industry, and government" to "women's place is in the home."
986 1 EQUAL ROLE
164 2
268 3
83 4
168 5 PLACE IN HOME
106 9 NA
V85 ROLE OF WOMEN: BUSH (389)
Respondent's placement of Bush on the role of women scale (see V84).
286 1 EQUAL ROLE
239 2
337 3
201 4
184 5 PLACE IN HOME
528 9 NA
V86 ROLE OF WOMEN: DUKAKIS (388)
Respondent's placement of Dukakis on the role of women scale (see V84).
542 1 EQUAL ROLE
224 2
248 3
92 4
60 5 PLACE IN HOME
609 9 NA
V87 EQUAL JOBS FOR GAYS (853)
Do you favor or oppose laws to protect homosexuals against job discrimination?
410 1 FAVOR STRONGLY
422 2 FAVOR
250 3 OPPOSE
449 4 OPPOSE STRONGLY
244 9 NA
H. FOREIGN AFFAIRS/DEFENSE ITEMS
V88 DEFENSE SPENDING SCALE (310)
Respondent's self-placement on a scale running from "we should spend much less money on defense" to "defense spending should be greatly increased."
305 1 REDUCE
211 2
521 3
274 4
233 5 INCREASE
231 9 NA
V89 DEFENSE SPENDING: BUSH (312)
Respondent's placement of Bush on the defense spending scale (see V88).
39 1 REDUCE
45 2
217 3
446 4
623 5 INCREASE
405 9 NA
V90 DEFENSE SPENDING: DUKAKIS (311)
Respondent's placement of Dukakis on the defense spending scale (see V88).
387 1 REDUCE
371 2
319 3
131 4
86 5 INCREASE
481 9 NA
V91 SPENDING ON STAR WARS (351)
Should federal spending on Star Wars be increased, decreased, or kept about the same?
279 1 INCREASE
540 2 SAME
784 3 DECREASE
112 9 NA
V92 SPENDING ON CONTRAS (350)
Should federal spending on aid to the Contras be increased, decreased, or kept about the same?
195 1 INCREASE
455 2 SAME
969 3 DECREASE
156 9 NA
V93 US POWER AND SECURITY INDEX (972,973,974)
Index of respondent's commitment to a strong national defense and an active anti-communist foreign policy, built from agreement with the following statements: The U.S. should maintain its position as the world's most powerful nation even if it means going to the brink of war; Any time a country goes communist, it should be considered a threat to the vital interests and security of the United States; and The United States should do everything it can to prevent the spread of communism to any other part of the world. NOTE: Scores on this index are relative; individuals classified as "high" (or "low") are simply higher (lower) than others, not high (low) in an absolute sense.
395 1 HIGH
410 2
407 3
264 4
235 5 LOW
64 9 NA
V94 COOP WITH USSR SCALE (368)
Respondent's self-placement on a scale running from "we should try to cooperate more with Russia" to "we should be much tougher in our dealings with Russia."
396 1 COOPERATE MORE
264 2
368 3
207 4
267 5 BETOUGHER
273 9 NA
V95 COOP WITH USSR: BUSH (370)
Respondent's placement of Bush on the cooperation with USSR scale (see V94).
212 1 COOPERATE MORE
228 2
326 3
251 4
250 5 BE TOUGHER
508 9 NA
V96 COOP WITH USSR: DUKAKIS (369)
Respondent's placement of Dukakis on the cooperation with USSR scale (see V94).
310 1 COOPERATE MORE
274 2
292 3
136 4
104 5 BE TOUGHER
659 9 NA
V97 PRESSURE ON SOUTH AFRICA? (863)
Should the U.S. increase the pressure on the South African government to change its racial laws?
405 1 PRESSURE
286 2 NO PRESSURE
1084 9 NA
V98 ARMS AGREE WITH USSR? (365)
Do you agree or disagree with recent agreements between the U.S. and the USSR to reduce the number of nuclear arms?
1129 1 AGREE STRONGLY
345 2 AGREE SOMEWHAT
210 3 DISAGREE
91 9 NA
V99 MILITARY FORCE IN MID-EAST? (367)
Do you favor or oppose the use of U.S. military forces in the Middle East to protect oil shipments?
558 1 FAVOR STRONGLY
452 2 FAVOR
230 3 OPPOSE
333 4 OPPOSE STRONGLY
202 9 NA
1. GENERAL POLITICAL AND SOCIAL QUESTIONS
V100 MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM (817)
What is the single most important problem the country faces? (Responses were recoded into one of the seven categories below.)
169 1 ECONOMY
496 2 BUDGET DEFICIT
364 3 SOCIAL WELFARE
82 4 ENVIRONMENT
215 5 DRUGS
170 6 OTHER DOMESTIC
161 7 FOREIGN/DOMESTIC
118 9 NA
V101 BEST PARTY FOR PROBLEM (819)
Which political party would be most likely to get the government to do a better job with the problem you think is most important?
361 1 REPUBLICANS
898 2 NO DIFFERENCE
396 3 DEMOCRATS
120 9 NA
V102 FEELING THERM-ROBERTSON (156)
Respondent's feeling toward Pat Robertson, expressed on a thermometer ranging from 0* to 100o.
529 1 0-20
341 2 21-40
434 3 41-60
59 4 61-80
73 5 81-100
339 9 NA
V103 FEELING THERM-JACKSON (162)
Respondent's feeling toward Jesse Jackson, expressed on a thermometer ranging from 0* to 100o.
370 1 0-20
284 2 21-40
495 3 41-60
213 4 61-80
345 5 81-100
68 9 NA
V104 FEELING THERM-NORTH (163)
Respondent's feelings toward Oliver North, expressed on a thermometer ranging from 0* to 100*.
334 1 0-20
258 2 21-40
502 3 41-60
196 4 61-80
300 5 81-100
185 9 NA
V105 FEELING THERM-CUOMO (153)
Respondent's feeling toward Mario Cuomo, expressed on a thermometer ranging from Oo to 100*.
105 1 0-20
152 2 21-40
383 3 41-60
135 4 61-80
218 5 81-100
782 9 NA
V106 PEOPLE HAVE NO SAY (937)
People like me don't have any say about what the government does. (agree or disagree?)
730 1 AGREE
150 2 NEUTRAL
876 3 DISAGREE
19 9 NA
V107 OFFICIALS DO NOT CARE (938)
1 don't think public officials care much what people like me think. (agree or disagree?)
896 1 AGREE
201 2 NEUTRAL
661 3 DISAGREE
17 9 NA
V108 POLITICS TOO COMPLICATED (939)
Sometimes politics and government seem so complicated that a person like me can't understand what is going on. (agree or disagree?)
1239 1 AGREE
146 2 NEUTRAL
376 3 DISAGREE
14 9 NA
V109 POLITICAL EFFICACY INDEX (937, 938, 939)
Index measuring the respondent's sense of political efficacy, based on responses to V106, V107, and V108. A high sense of efficacy refers to a belief that one can have an influence on government. NOTE: Scores on this index are relative; individuals classified as "high" (or "low") are simply higher (lower) than others, not high (low) in an absolute sense.
272 1 HIGH
491 2
514 3
471 4 LOW
27 9 NA
V110 TRUST GOVT IN WASH? (955)
How much of the time can you trust the government in Washington to do what is right?
719 1 MOST
985 2 SOME
43 3 NONE
28 9 NA
V111 GOVT WASTES MONEY? (956)
Do you think that the people in government waste a lot of money we pay in taxes?
43 1 NOT MUCH
583 2 SOME
1112 3 A LOT
37 9 NA
V112 GOVT RUN FOR ALL? (957)
Would you say that the government is run by a few big interests looking out for themselves, or is it run for the benefit of all people?
545 1 FOR ALL
1120 2 FOR FEW
110 9 NA
V113 GOVT PEOPLE CROOKED? (958)
Do you think quite a few of the people running government are crooked?
197 1 HARDLY ANY
789 2 NOT MANY
708 3 MANY
81 9 NA
V114 TRUST IN GOVT INDEX (955, 956, 957, 958)
Index measuring the respondent's trust in government, based on responses to V1 10, V1 11, V1 12, and V1 13. A high sense of trust refers to a belief that government is run honestly and for the benefit of all. NOTE: Scores on this index are relative; individuals classified as "high" (or "low") are simply higher (lower) than others, not high (low) in an absolute sense.
418 1 HIGH
781 2
374 3
27 4 LOW
175 9 NA
V115 PATRIOTISM INDEX (968,969,970,971)
Index measuring the respondent's sense of patriotism, built f rom the following questions: How good does it make you feel to see the American flag flying?; How strong is your love for your country?; How emotional does it make you feel to hear the national anthem; and How proud are you to be an American? NOTE: Scores on this index are relative; individuals classified as "high" (or "low") are simply higher (lower) than others, not high (low) in an absolute sense.
439 1 HIGH
533 2
413 3
372 4 LOW
18 9 NA
V116 EQUALITY INDEX (924, 926, 927, 928, 929)
Index measuring the respondent's commitment to equal rights and equal treatment for all people. This is built from the following: Our society should do whatever is necessary to make sure that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed; This country would be better off if we worried less about how equal people are; It is not really that big a problem if some people have more of a chance in life than others; It people were treated more equally in this country we would have many fewer problems; and One of the big problems in this country is that we don't give everyone an equal chance. NOTE: Scores on this index are relative; individuals classified as "high" (or "low") are simply higher (lower) than others, not high (low) in an absolute sense.
397 1 HIGH
463 2
493 3
358 4 LOW
64 9 NA
V117 LIFESTYLE TOLERANCE INDEX (951, 952, 953, 954)
Index measuring the respondent's tolerance to alternative and/or divergent lifestyles, built from the following: The world is always changing and we should adjust our view of moral behavior to those changes; We should be more tolerant of people who choose to live according to their own moral standards even if they are very different from our own; This country would have many fewer problems if there were more emphasis on traditional family ties; and The newer lifestyles are contributing to the breakdown of our society. NOTE: Scores on this index are relative; individuals classified as "high" (or "low") are simply higher (lower) than others, not high (low) in an absolute sense.
241 1 HIGH
432 2
406 3
307 4
331 5 LOW
58 9 NA
J. SOCIAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC ITEMS
V118 AGE
Respondent's age.
169 1 18-24
405 2 25-34
430 3 35-44
218 4 45-54
230 5 55-64
322 6 65 AND OVER
1 9 NA
V119 RACE (412, 540)
Respondent's race or ethnicity.
1370 1 WHITE
211 2 BLACK
140 3 HISPANIC
50 4 OTHER
4 9 NA
V120 GENDER (413)
Respondent's gender.
766 1 MALE
1009 2 FEMALE
V121 MARITAL STATUS (418)
Respondent's marital status.
989 1 MARRIED
322 2 SINGLE
285 3 DIVORCED/SEPARATED
178 4 WIDOWED
1 9 NA
V122 EDUCATION (422)
What is the highest grade of school that you have completed?
369 1 NOT A HS GRAD
610 2 HS GRAD
398 3 SOME COLLEGE
368 4 COLLEGE GRAD
30 9 NA
V123 EMPLOYMENT STATUS (428)
Are you employed, looking for work, retired, or what?
1127 1 EMPLOYED
84 2 UNEMPLOYED
329 3 RETIRED/DISABLED
235 4 STUDENT/HOMEMAKER
V124 R'S OCCUPATION (436,447,458)
What is your primary occupation?
418 1 MANAGERIAL/PROFESSIONAL
444 2 SALES/CLERICAL WORKER
289 3 SKILLED MANUAL WORKER
354 4 UNSKILLED MANUAL WORKER
59 5 FARMER/FARM WORKER
211 9 NA
V125 OCCUP OF HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD (436,447,458, 486,497)
What is the primary occupation of the head of your household? NOTE: This variable is equivalent to V124 except in the case where the respondent is a married female. In the latter case, occupation of head of household is taken from spouse's occupation.
455 1 MANAGERIAL/PROFESSIONAL
354 2 SALES/CLERICAL WORKER
402 3 SKILLED MANUAL WORKER
365 4 UNSKILLED MANUAL WORKER
93 5 FARMER/FARM WORKER 106 9 NA
V126 FAMILY INCOME (520)
What was the total income of your family last year?
293 1 LESS THAN $10,000
219 2 $10,000-$15,000
315 3 $15,000-$25,000
272 4 $25,000-$35,000
274 5 $35,000-$50,000
266 6 MORE THAN $50,000
136 9 NA
V127 SOCIAL CLASS (525)
What would you call yourself: middle class or working class?
890 1 WORKING CLASS
801 2 MIDDLE CLASS
84 9 NA
V128 RELIGION (527)
What is your religious preference?
1121 1 PROTESTANT
417 2 CATHOLIC
28 3 JEWISH
44 4 OTHER
153 5 NONE
12 9 NA
V129 CHURCH ATTENDANCE (530,531)
How often do you attend church or synagogue?
227 1 MORE THAN ONCE PER WEEK
220 2 EVERY WEEK
192 3 ALMOST EVERY WEEK
243 4 ONE-TWO TIMES PER MONTH
507 5 FEW TIMES PER YEAR
222 6 NEVER
164 9 NA
V130 REGION (12)
Region of the country that the respondent lives in.
361 1 NORTHEAST
484 2 MIDWEST
590 3 SOUTH
340 4 WEST
V131 SIZE OF COMMUNITY (20)
Size of community the respondent lives in.
435 1 LARGE URBAN AREA
786 2 MEDIUM URBAN AREA
554 3 TOWN OR RURAL AREA
V132 TYPE OF COMMUNITY (20)
Type of community the respondent lives in.
405 1 CENTRAL CITY
816 2 SUBURBAN AREA
554 3 NON-METROPOLITAN AREA