VCF0301 7-pt Scale Party Identification 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 ============================== VCF0704 Party of R Vote: President- Major Candidates QUESTION: --------- 1948: (IF R VOTED:) Whom did you vote for? 1952-1964: (IF R VOTED:) Who did you vote for President? 1968-1976: (IF R VOTED:) Who did you vote for in the election for President? 1980-LATER: (IF R VOTED:) How about the election for President? Did you vote for a candidate for President? (IF YES:) Who did you vote for? VALID_CODES: ------------ 1. Democrat 2. Republican 3. Major third party candidate (Wallace 1968/Anderson 1980/Perot 1992,1996) MISSING_CODES: -------------- 0. Did not vote; DK/NA if voted; refused to say if voted; voted, but not for president (1980-1992); DK/NA if voted for president; DK/NA who voted for (1980-1992); refused to say who voted for; "other" vote; no Post IW Inap. question not used WEIGHT: ------- VCF0009/VCF0009a TYPE: ----- Numeric Dec 0 SOURCE_VARS: ------------ 1948: 480018 1952: 520178 1956: 560203 1960: 600201 1964: 640286 1968: 680316 1972: 720478 1976: 763665 1980: 800994 1984: 840788 1988: 880763 1992: 925609 1996: 961082 2000: 001249 2004: 045026 ============================== VCF0704a Party of R Vote: President- 2 Major Parties QUESTION: --------- Major party presidential vote (2 party) VALID_CODES: ------------ 1. Democrat 2. Republican MISSING_CODES: -------------- 0. Did not vote; DK/NA if voted; refused to say if voted; voted, but not for president (1980-1992); DK/NA if voted for president; DK/NA who voted for (1980-1992); refused to say who voted for; "other" vote; no Post IW Inap. question not used NOTES: ------ See VCF0704. WEIGHT: ------- VCF0009/VCF0009a TYPE: ----- Numeric Dec 0 SOURCE_VARS: ------------ 1948: 480018 1952: 520178 1956: 560203 1960: 600201 1964: 640286 1968: 680316 1972: 720478 1976: 763665 1980: 800994 1984: 840788 1988: 880763 1992: 925609 1996: 961082 2000: 001249 2004: 045026 ============================== VCF0724 Did R Watch TV Programs about the Election Campaigns QUESTION: --------- 1952-1972,1976: We're (1952: mainly) interested in this interview in finding out whether people paid much attention to the election campaign this year. Did you watch any programs about the campaign on television? (1952,1960- 1972,1976: (IF YES:) How many television programs about the campaign would you say you watched -- a good many,several, or just one or two? 1974: A lot of people didn't pay much attention to the election campaigns this year. How about you--did you watch any programs about the campaign on television? (IF YES:) How many television programs about the campaign would you say you watched--a good many, several, or just one or two? 1978,1980,1982,1984,1986,1990,1992-LATER: (1978,1980,1982,1984: Some people don't pay much attention to campaigns. How about you?) (1986: We're interested in this interview in finding out whether people paid much attention to the election campaign this year.) Did you watch any programs about the campaigns on television? (1978,1980,1984,1990, 1996, 2004 ONLY: IF YES: Would you say you watched-- a good many, several, or just one or two?) VALID_CODES: ------------ 1. No, didn't watch TV programs about the campaign 2. Yes, watched TV program(s) about the campaign [a good many, several, just one or two, DK/NA frequency] MISSING_CODES: -------------- 0. DK; NA; no Post IW; form II,III,IV (1972); abbrev. telephone IW (1984); R does not own a television Inap. question not used NOTES: ------ The order of media exposure questions (VCF0724-VCF0727) may have varied by study. WEIGHT: ------- VCF0009/VCF0009a TYPE: ----- Numeric Dec 0 SOURCE_VARS: ------------ 1952: 520175 1956: 560199 1960: 600193 1964: 640284 1968: 680303 1972: 720463 1974: 742036 1976: 763604 1978: 780056 1980: 800749 1982: 820061 1984: 840729,840730 1986: 860064 1990: 900065,900066 1992: 925103 1996: 961002 2000: 001202 2002: 025002 2004: 045002,045002a ============================== VCF0803 R Placement: Liberal-Conservative Scale QUESTION: --------- ALL YEARS EXC. 2000 TELEPHONE,2002: We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives. Here is (1972,1974: I'm going to show you) a 7-point scale on which the political views that people might hold are arranged from extremely liberal to extremely conservative. Where would you place yourself on this scale, or haven't you thought much about this? (7-POINT SCALE SHOWN TO R) 2000 TELEPHONE: When it comes to politics, do you usually think of yourself as extremely liberal, liberal, slightly liberal, moderate or middle of the road, slightly conservative, extremely conservative, or haven't you thought much about this? 2002: We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives. When it comes to politics, do you usually think of yourself as extremely liberal, liberal, slightly liberal, moderate or middle of the road, slightly conservative, extremely conservative, or haven't you thought much about this? VALID_CODES: ------------ 1. Extremely liberal 2. Liberal 3. Slightly liberal 4. Moderate, middle of the road 5. Slightly conservative 6. Conservative 7. Extremely conservative 9. DK; haven't thought much about it MISSING_CODES: -------------- 0. NA; no Post IW; form III,IV (1972); R not administered 7pt scale series (2000) Inap. question not used NOTES: ------ GENERAL NOTE: For years 1984 and later, a follow-up 'choice' question was asked of respondents who replied "don't know" or "haven't thought much" to this question; except for years 1984, 1986 and 1990 this follow-up 'choice' question was also asked of respondents who answered "moderate." For these years, a final 3-category summary was constructed: the 'choice' question is found in VCF0824; the final 3-category summary is VCF0849. 2000 NOTE: This variable represents 7-point scale data from interviews conducted using both modes (telephone and personal). In addition to the traditional 7-point scale version of this question, approximately half of the 2000 Study respondents (both modes) were instead randomly selected for administration of a branching series. WEIGHT: ------- VCF0009/VCF0009a TYPE: ----- Numeric Dec 0 SOURCE_VARS: ------------ 1972: 720652 1974: 742305 1976: 763286 1978: 780399 1980: 800267 1982: 820393 1984: 840369 1986: 860385 1988: 880228 1990: 900406 1992: 923509 1994: 940839 1996: 960365 1998: 980399 2000: 000440 2002: 023022 2004: 045117 ============================== VCF9088 Democratic Presidential Cand: Liberal-Conservative Scale QUESTION: --------- We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives. Here is a 7-point scale on which the political views that people might hold are arranged from extremely liberal to extremely conservative. Where would you place [the Democratic Presidential Candidate] on this scale? (7-POINT SCALE SHOWN TO R) VALID_CODES: ------------ 1. Extremely liberal 2. Liberal 3. Slightly liberal 4. Moderate; middle of the road 5. Slightly conservative 6. Conservative 7. Extremely conservative MISSING_CODES: -------------- 8. DK 9. NA; mail questionnaire; no Post IW; R selected for branching series version of this question (2000) 0. R did not rate self on same 7pt scale (see above) Inap. question not used NOTES: ------ GENERAL NOTE: Democratic Presidential candidates: McGovern 1972; Carter 1976, 1980; Mondale 1984; Dukakis 1988; Clinton 1992, 1996; Gore 2000. In 1996 and later, randomization occurred for the order of the major Presidential candidate names for this placement. In 1972-1980, if R replied DK or "haven't thought much about it" in rating self on same 7-point scale, then R was not asked this question. [Note that in 1972-1982 there was no follow-up question ('if you had to choose.') for self-rating.] In 1984,1988,1992, if R's self-placement was NA on the 7-point scale, then this question was not asked. If R replied "haven't thought much about it" or DK to this same 7-point scale, then R was prompted, 'If you had to choose...' If R's response to the follow-up in 1984-1992 was DK, RF or NA, then R was not asked this question. 1972 NOTE: Respondents in Post mail sample were not asked this question. 1980 NOTE: In 1980, this question appeared in both the Pre and Post; Pre data are included here. 2000 NOTE: The 7-point scale version from both modes is represented here; both telephone and FTF respondents were randomly selected for administration of the traditional 7-pt scale version of this question or a branching series. WEIGHT: ------- VCF0009/VCF0009a TYPE: ----- Numeric Dec 0 SOURCE_VARS: ------------ 1972: 720654 1976: 763288 1980: 800268 1984: 840372 1988: 880231 1992: 923515 1996: 960369 2000: 000456 2004: 043088 ============================== VCF9096 Republican Presidential Cand: Liberal-Conservative Scale QUESTION: --------- We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives. Here is a 7-point scale on which the political views that people might hold are arranged from extremely liberal to extremely conservative. Where would you place [the Republican Presidential Candidate] on this scale? (7-POINT SCALE SHOWN TO R) VALID_CODES: ------------ 1. Extremely liberal 2. Liberal 3. Slightly liberal 4. Moderate; middle of the road 5. Slightly conservative 6. Conservative 7. Extremely conservative MISSING_CODES: -------------- 8. DK 9. NA; mail questionnaire; no Post IW; R selected for branching series version of this question (2000) 0. R did not rate self on same 7pt scale (see above) Inap. question not used NOTES: ------ See note VCF9089. GENERAL NOTE: Republican Presidential candidates: Reagan 1980,1984; George Bush Sr. 1988,1992; Dole 1996; George W. Bush 2000. In 1996 and later, randomization occurred for the order of the major Presidential candidate names for this placement. In 1972-1980, if R replied DK or "haven't thought much about it" in rating self on same 7-point scale, then R was not asked this question. [Note that in 1972-1982 there was no follow-up question ('if you had to choose.') for self-rating.] In 1984,1988,1992, if R's self-placement was NA on the 7-point scale, then this question was not asked. If R replied "haven't thought much about it" or DK to this same 7-point scale, then R was prompted, 'If you had to choose...' If R's response to the follow-up in 1984-1992 was DK, RF or NA, then R was not asked this question. 1972 NOTE: Respondents in Post mail sample were not asked this question. 1980 NOTE: In 1980, this question appeared in both the Pre and Post; Pre data are included here. 2000 NOTE: The 7-point scale version from both modes is represented here; both telephone and FTF respondents were randomly selected for administration of the traditional 7-pt scale version of this question or a branching series. WEIGHT: ------- VCF0009/VCF0009a TYPE: ----- Numeric Dec 0 SOURCE_VARS: ------------ 1972: 720653 1976: 753287 1980: 800269 1984: 840371 1988: 880232 1992: 923514 1996: 960371 2000: 000466 2004: 043087