QUESTION:
---------
Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican,
a Democrat, an Independent, or what? (IF REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT)
Would you call yourself a strong (REP/DEM) or a not very strong
(REP/DEM)? (IF INDEPENDENT, OTHER [1966 AND LATER: OR NO PREFERENCE]:)
Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican or Democratic party?
VALID_CODES:
------------
1. Strong Democrat
2. Weak Democrat
3. Independent - Democrat
4. Independent - Independent
5. Independent - Republican
6. Weak Republican
7. Strong Republican
9. Apolitical (1966 only: and DK)
MISSING_CODES:
--------------
0. DK; NA; other; refused to answer; no Pre IW
Inap. question not used
NOTES:
------
GENERAL NOTE:
APOLITICAL Code 9: In 1952-1966, an R who voluntarily specified complete
disinterest in politics ('I never vote,' 'I don't get involved in
politics,' etc.) in response to party identification was coded as
apolitical. S/he was not then asked if s/he felt closer to either
major party. In 1968-1980, 1984 an R who responded 'no preference'
to party identification and who responded with 'neither', DK or NA when
asked if s/he felt closer to either major party was coded as apolitical
if s/he otherwise also expressed a general disinterest in politics.
In 1982, 1986 and later, an R who expressed 'no preference' for party
identification and who responded with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if
s/he felt closer to either major party was coded as apolitical IF s/he
also indicated little or no interest in politics in response to
questions corresponding VCF0310, VCF0311/VCF0312, VCF0313, VCF0702).
INDEPENDENT - Code 4: In 1952-1966, an R was defined as independent if
s/he responded 'independent' to party identification and then responded
with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer to either major
party. In 1968-1980 and 1984 an R was defined as independent (code 4 in
VCF0301) if s/he responded 'independent' to party identification and
then responded with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer
to either major party. An R was also defined as independent (code 4 in
VCF0301) if: #1. s/he responded 'no preference' to party
identification AND #2. responded with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked
if s/he felt closer to either major party AND #3. if s/he otherwise
expressed some interest in politics.
INDEPENDENT/APOLITICAL - Codes 4/9: In 1982, 1986 and later, an R who
responded 'independent' to party identification and who then responded
with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer to either major
party was coded as independent (code 4 in VCF0301). An R who expressed
'no preference' for party identification and who responded with
'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer to either major
party was coded as independent (code 4 in VCF0301) IF s/he also
indicated some interest in politics in response to the 4 questions
listed above.
OTHER - Code 0: In all years, if an R responded to the party
identification question with the mention of a minor party and then
responded 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer to either
major party, then s/he has been coded "other."
LEANERS - Codes 3,5: 'Leaners' have included (all years): A. Rs who
responded 'independent' to party identification and who responded with
the mention of a major party when asked if s/he felt closer to either
major party; B. Rs who responded to the party identification question
with the mention of a minor party but who said they felt closer to one
major party; C. Rs who responded to the party identification with 'no
preference' but who said they felt closer to one major party.
WEIGHT:
-------
VCF0009/VCF0009a
TYPE:
-----
Numeric Dec 0
SOURCE_VARS:
------------
1952: 520237
1954: 540012
1956: 560088
1958: 580062
1960: 600091
1962: 620035
1964: 640146
1966: 660082
1968: 680120
1970: 700184(type 0)
1972: 720140
1974: 742204
1976: 763174
1978: 780433
1980: 800266
1982: 820291
1984: 840318
1986: 860300
1988: 880274
1990: 900320
1992: 923634
1994: 940655
1996: 960420
1998: 980339
2000: 000523
2002: 023038x
2004: 043116