1972-1994 General Social Survey Cumulative File
whtgovt DO WHITES GET PROPER GOVT ATTENTION
A. Do you think that white people in this country get
much more attention from government than they
deserve, more attention than they deserve, about the
right amount of attention, less attention than they
deserve, or much less attention from government than
they deserve?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
7.3 103 1 MUCH MORE
14.0 198 2 MORE
56.9 803 3 ABOUT RIGHT
16.4 232 4 LESS
5.4 76 5 MUCH LESS
53 8 DK
9 9 NA
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blkgovt DO BLACKS GET PROPER GOVT ATTENTION
PCT N VALUE LABEL
16.2 230 1 MUCH MORE
28.5 404 2 MORE
29.2 415 3 ABOUT RIGHT
21.0 298 4 LESS
5.1 73 5 MUCH LESS
45 8 DK
9 9 NA
30906 . (No Data)
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hspgovt DO HISPANIC-AMERICANS GET PROPER GOVT AT
PCT N VALUE LABEL
8.8 120 1 MUCH MORE
22.0 300 2 MORE
38.9 529 3 ABOUT RIGHT
26.1 355 4 LESS
4.2 57 5 MUCH LESS
104 8 DK
9 9 NA
30906 . (No Data)
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asngovt DO ASIAN-AMERICANS GET PROPER GOVT ATTEN
PCT N VALUE LABEL
7.9 105 1 MUCH MORE
18.0 238 2 MORE
45.0 595 3 ABOUT RIGHT
23.5 310 4 LESS
5.5 73 5 MUCH LESS
144 8 DK
9 9 NA
30906 . (No Data)
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wlthimm ARE LEGAL IMMIGRANTS RICH OR POOR
Now I have some questions about different groups in our
society. I'm going to show you a seven-point scale
which the characteristics of people in a group can
be rated. In the first statement a score of 1 means
that you think almost all of the people in that group
are rich. A score of 7 means that you think almost
everyone in the group are poor. A score of 4 means that
you think that the group is not towards one end or
another, and of course you may choose any number in
between that comes closest to where you think people
in the group stand.
A1. Immigrants who are in this country legally?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
1.1 15 1 RICH
3.6 48 2
8.8 118 3
31.3 420 4
27.5 369 5
19.5 261 6
8.2 110 7 POOR
119 8 DK
14 9 NA
30906 . (No Data)
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wlthundc ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS RICH OR POOR
A2. Immigrants who are in this country illegally?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
2.2 30 1 RICH
1.7 23 2
2.0 27 3
4.8 65 4
9.4 127 5
30.8 414 6
49.0 658 7 POOR
116 8 DK
14 9 NA
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workimm ARE LEGAL IMMIGRANTS HARD WORKING
B1. Legal immigrants?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
6.2 82 1 HARD-WORKING
14.9 197 2
24.4 323 3
36.8 487 4
11.6 153 5
4.4 58 6
1.8 24 7 LAZY
131 8 DK
19 9 NA
30906 . (No Data)
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workundc ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HARD WORKING
B2. Illegal immigrants?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
9.9 127 1 HARD-WORKING
13.5 173 2
16.4 210 3
25.5 326 4
12.4 159 5
14.1 181 6
8.1 104 7 LAZY
174 8 DK
20 9 NA
30906 . (No Data)
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obrespct TEACH CHILDREN RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY AND
Please respond to the following statements by saying
whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree,
or strongly disagree with them:
Obedience and respect for authority are the most
important virtues children should learn.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
33.2 480 1 STRONGLY AGREE
46.8 677 2 AGREE
17.6 254 3 DISAGREE
2.5 36 4 STRONGLY DISAGREE
14 8 DK
13 9 NA
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econpast HAS NATIONAL ECONOMY IMPROVED LAST YEAR
PCT N VALUE LABEL
26.4 381 1 GOTTEN BETTER
44.0 636 2 STAYED THE SAME
29.6 428 3 GOTTEN WORSE
20 8 DK
9 9 NA
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pastup DEGREE OF IMPROVEMENT IN NATIONAL ECONOM
A. Would you say much better or somewhat better?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
9.0 34 1 MUCH BETTER
91.0 345 2 SOMEWHAT BETTER
11 9 NA
31990 . (No Data)
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pastdown DEGREE NATIONAL ECONOMY HAS GOTTEN WORSE
B. Would you say much worse or somewhat worse?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
29.9 126 1 MUCH WORSE
70.1 295 2 SOMEWHAT WORSE
1 8 DK
15 9 NA
31943 . (No Data)
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econfutr PREDICTIONS FOR NATIONAL ECONOMY IN NEXT
PCT N VALUE LABEL
29.2 416 1 GET BETTER
53.9 768 2 STAY THE SAME
16.9 241 3 GET WORSE
39 8 DK
10 9 NA
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futrup DEGREE ECONOMY WILL IMPROVE IN NEXT YEAR
PCT N VALUE LABEL
14.6 60 1 MUCH BETTER
85.4 351 2 SOMEWHAT BETTER
2 8 DK
13 9 NA
31954 . (No Data)
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futrdown DEGREE ECONOMY WILL GET WORSE OVER NEXT
PCT N VALUE LABEL
23.1 54 1 MUCH WORSE
76.9 180 2 SOMEWHAT WORSE
17 9 NA
32129 . (No Data)
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rdiscaff CHANCES FAMILY MEMBER NOT PROMOTED FOR O
A. What do you think the chances are these days
that you or anyone in your family won't get
a job or promotion while an equally or less qualified
[White/(Black/African-American)] employee receives
one instead? Would you say the chances of this
happening are very likely, somewhat likely, somewhat
unlikely, or very unlikely?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
15.6 213 1 VERY LIKELY
33.5 458 2 SOMEWHAT LIKELY
24.8 340 3 SOMEWHAT UNLIKELY
26.2 358 4 VERY UNLIKELY
88 8 DK
17 9 NA
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rimmdisc CHANCES ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FAVORED OVER
B. What about immigrants? Is it very likely, somewhat
likely, somewhat unlikely, or very unlikely that you or
anyone in your family won't get a job or promotion
while an equally or less qualified immigrant employee
receives one instead?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
9.4 126 1 VERY LIKELY
23.0 309 2 SOMEWHAT LIKELY
31.8 427 3 SOMEWHAT UNLIKELY
35.8 480 4 VERY UNLIKELY
110 8 DK
22 9 NA
30906 . (No Data)
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pubdef SHOULD MEDIA PUBLISH DEFENSE PLANS
Suppose a newspaper got hold of confidential
government papers about defense plans and wanted to
publish them. Should the newspaper be allowed to
publish the papers? (or) Should the government have
the power to prevent publication?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
16.8 97 1 ALLOW PUBLICATION
83.2 479 2 STOP PUBLICATION
84 8 CANT CHOOSE
17 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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pubecon SHOULD MEDIA PUBLISH ECONOMIC PLANS?
Now suppose the confidential government papers were
about economic plans. Should the newspaper be allowed
to publish the papers? (or) Should the government have
the power to prevent publication?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
61.3 359 1 ALLOW PUBLICATION
38.7 227 2 STOP PUBLICATION
70 8 CANT CHOOSE
21 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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obeylaw SHOULD PEOPLE OBEY LAWS WITHOUT EXCEPTN?
In general, would you say that people should obey the
law without exception, or are there exceptional
occasions on which people should follow their
consciences even if it means breaking the law?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
43.0 745 1 ALWAYS OBEY LAW
57.0 988 2 FOLLOW CONSCIENCE
117 8 CANT CHOOSE
44 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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protest1 ALLOW PUBLIC MEETINGS PROTESTING GOVT.
There are many ways people or organizations can
protest against a government action they strongly
oppose. Please show which you think should be allowed
and which should not be allowed by circling a number
after each question. A. Organizing public meetings to
protest against the government.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
48.9 869 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
27.9 495 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
13.7 244 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
9.5 168 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
83 8 CANT CHOOSE
35 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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protest2 ALLOW PUBLICATIONS PROTESTING GOVT.
B. Publishing pamphlets to protest against the
government.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
41.6 728 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
28.0 490 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
16.7 292 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
13.8 241 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
94 8 CANT CHOOSE
49 9 NA
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protest3 ALLOW DEMONSTRATIONS PROTESTING GOVT.
C. Organizing protest marches and demonstrations.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
37.6 656 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
32.0 558 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
17.7 309 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
12.7 221 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
98 8 CANT CHOOSE
52 9 NA
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protest4 ALLOW OCCUPATION OF GOVT OFFICE.
D. Occupying a government office and stopping work
there for several days.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
3.6 62 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
7.5 128 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
28.5 488 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
60.5 1037 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
125 8 CANT CHOOSE
54 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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protest5 ALLOW DAMAGE OF GOVT BUILDINGS.
E. Seriously damaging government buildings.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
2.1 36 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
1.7 30 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
6.4 111 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
89.8 1564 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
101 8 CANT CHOOSE
52 9 NA
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protest6 ALLOW NATIONAL ANTI-GOVT STRIKE.
F. Organizing a nationwide strike of all workers
against the government.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
9.5 162 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
14.5 248 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
20.1 343 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
56.0 957 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
132 8 CANT CHOOSE
52 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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revspeak ALLOW REVOLUTIONARY PUBLIC MEETINGS.
There are some people whose views are considered
extreme by the majority. First, consider people who
want to overthrow the ogvernment by revolution. Please
circle a number after each question to show if you
think such people should be allowed to: A. Hold public
meetings to express their views.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
31.7 569 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
26.0 467 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
13.9 250 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
28.3 507 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
82 8 CANT CHOOSE
19 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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revtch15 ALLOW REVOLUTIONARIES TO TEACH CHILDREN.
B. Teach 15 year olds in schools.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
8.6 50 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
11.9 69 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
20.6 119 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
58.9 341 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
36 8 CANT CHOOSE
62 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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revpub ALLOW REVOLUTIONARIES TO PUBLISH BOOKS.
C. Publish books expressing their views.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
30.4 535 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
32.4 570 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
14.5 255 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
22.8 401 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
95 8 CANT CHOOSE
38 9 NA
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racspeak ALLOW RACISTS TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS.
Second, consider people who believe that whites are
racially superior to all other races. Circle a number
after each question to show if you think such people
should be allowed to: A. Hold public meetings to
express their views.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
27.9 493 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
31.8 562 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
18.2 321 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
22.1 391 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
104 8 CANT CHOOSE
23 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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ractch15 ALLOW RACISTS TO TEACH 15 YR. OLDS.
B. Teach 15 year olds in schools.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
9.5 59 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
13.7 85 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
23.1 143 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
53.7 333 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
43 8 CANT CHOOSE
14 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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racpub ALLOW RACISTS TO PUBLISH BOOKS.
C. Publish books expressing their views.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
28.5 497 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
34.1 594 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
17.1 298 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
20.3 353 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
114 8 CANT CHOOSE
38 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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crimtail SHOULD POLICE TAIL A KNOWN CRIMINAL?
Suppose the police get an anonymous tip that a man
with a long criminal record is planning to break into
a warehouse. Please circle a number for each question
to show if you think police should be allowed without
a court order to: A. Keep the man under surveillance.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
72.8 1328 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
22.5 411 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
2.2 40 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
2.5 46 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
20 8 CANT CHOOSE
49 9 NA
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crimtap SHOULD POLICE TAP PHONE OF A CRIMINAL?
B. Tap his telephone.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
21.5 375 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
26.4 461 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
26.1 456 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
25.9 452 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
69 8 CANT CHOOSE
81 9 NA
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crimread SHOULD POLICE OPEN MAIL OF A CRIMINAL?
C. Open his mail.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
9.9 170 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
11.3 194 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
28.8 495 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
50.0 859 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
92 8 CANT CHOOSE
84 9 NA
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crimhold SHOULD POLICE DETAIN A KNOWN CRIMINAL?
D. Detain the man overnight for questioning.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
28.2 488 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
30.7 532 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
20.2 349 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
20.9 362 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
83 8 CANT CHOOSE
80 9 NA
30486 . (No Data)
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mantail SHOULD POLICE TAIL A SUSPECT?
Now, suppose the tip is about a man without a criminal
record. Please circle a number for each qeustion to
show if you think police should be allowed without a
court order to: A. Keep the man under surveillance.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
53.9 349 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
28.7 186 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
8.3 54 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
9.1 59 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
19 8 CANT CHOOSE
10 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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mantap SHOULD POLICE TAP PHONE OF A SUSPECT?
B. Tap his telephone.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
8.1 51 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
13.9 88 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
26.4 167 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
51.7 327 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
24 8 CANT CHOOSE
20 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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manread SHOULD POLICE OPEN MAIL OF A SUSPECT?
C. Open his mail.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
3.0 19 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
6.4 40 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
22.4 141 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
68.2 429 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
27 8 CANT CHOOSE
21 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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manhold SHOULD POLICE DETAIN A SUSPECT?
D. Detain the man overnight for questioning.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
15.2 95 1 DEFINITELY ALLOWED
19.1 119 2 PROBABLY ALLOWED
21.8 136 3 PROB NOT ALLOWED
43.8 273 4 DEFINT. NOT ALLOWED
36 8 CANT CHOOSE
18 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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verdict WORSE TYPE OF JUDICIAL MISTAKE.
All systems of justice make mistakes, but which do you
think is worse? 1. To convicet an innocent person. 2.
To let a guilty person go free.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
74.3 1103 1 CONVICT INNOCENT
25.7 381 2 FREE THE GUILTY
358 8 CANT CHOOSE
52 9 NA
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databank COMPUTER DATA THREAT TO INDIVIDL PRIVACY
The federal government has a lot of different pieces
of information about people which computers can bring
together very quickly. Is this a very serious threat
to individual privacy, a fairly serious threat, not a
serious threat, or not a threat at all to individual
privacy?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
31.8 197 1 VERY SERIOUS THREAT
30.8 191 2 FAIRLY SERIOUS
28.4 176 3 NOT SERIOUS
9.0 56 4 NOT A THREAT AT ALL
46 8 CANT CHOOSE
11 9 NA
31703 . (No Data)
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1972-1994 General Social Survey Cumulative File