1972-1994 General Social Survey Cumulative File
godchnge DESCRIBE YOUR BELIEFS ABOUT GOD
Which best describes your beliefs about God?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
2.0 24 1 DON'T BELIEVE NOW, NEVER HAVE
3.9 47 2 DON'T BELIEVE NOW, USED TO
5.2 63 3 BELIEVE NOW, DIDN'T USED TO
88.9 1074 4 BELIEVE NOW, ALWAYS HAVE
127 8 DK
24 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 4
Input location: 1/2724
afterlif BELIEF IN LIFE AFTER DEATH
Do you believe in: A. Life after death.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
55.0 674 1 YES, DEFINITELY
22.7 278 2 YES, PROBABLY
12.2 150 3 NO, PROBABLY NOT
10.0 123 4 NO, DEFINITELY NOT
94 8 DK
40 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 4
Input location: 1/2725
devil BELIEF IN THE DEVIL
B. The Devil.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
45.4 550 1 YES, DEFINITELY
20.0 242 2 YES, PROBABLY
16.8 204 3 NO, PROBABLY NOT
17.8 216 4 NO, DEFINITELY NOT
65 8 DK
82 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 4
Input location: 1/2726
heaven BELIEF IN HEAVEN
C. Heaven.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
63.1 776 1 YES, DEFINITELY
22.4 275 2 YES, PROBABLY
9.4 115 3 NO, PROBABLY NOT
5.1 63 4 NO, DEFINITELY NOT
68 8 DK
62 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 4
Input location: 1/2727
hell BELIEF IN HELL
D. Hell.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
49.6 597 1 YES, DEFINITELY
21.3 256 2 YES, PROBABLY
15.7 189 3 NO, PROBABLY NOT
13.5 162 4 NO, DEFINITELY NOT
72 8 DK
83 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 4
Input location: 1/2728
miracles BELIEF IN RELIGIOUS MIRACLES
E. Religious miracles.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
45.6 543 1 YES, DEFINITELY
27.8 331 2 YES, PROBABLY
16.2 193 3 NO, PROBABLY NOT
10.3 123 4 NO, DEFINITELY NOT
95 8 DK
74 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 4
Input location: 1/2729
bible1 DESCRIBE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE BIBLE
Which of these statements comes closest to describing
your feelings about the Bible? 1. The Bible is the
actual word of God and it is to be taken literally. 2.
The Bible is the inspired word of God but not
everything should be taken literally, word for word.
3. The Bible is an ancient book of fables, legends,
history, and moral precepts recorded by man. 4. This
does not apply to me.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
33.5 430 1 WORD OF GOD, TAKE LITERALLY
49.8 639 2 GOD-INSPIRED, SHOULDN'T TAKE LITERALLY
14.6 188 3 BOOK OF FABLES, BY MAN
2.1 27 4 THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO ME
50 8 DK
25 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 4
Input location: 1/2730
theism GOD CONCERNED WITH HUMAN BEINGS PERSONAL
Do you agree or disagree with the following: A. There
is a God who concerns Himself with every human being
personally.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
47.0 585 1 STRONGLY AGREE
26.8 333 2 AGREE
16.0 199 3 NEITHER AGREE NOR DISAGREE
5.8 72 4 DISAGREE
4.4 55 5 STRONGLY DISAGREE
65 8 DK
50 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 5
Input location: 1/2731
fatalism PEOPLE CAN'T CHANGE THE COURSE OF THEIR
B. There is little that people can do to change the
course of their lives.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
4.4 55 1 STRONGLY AGREE
9.0 113 2 AGREE
8.2 104 3 NEITHER AGREE NOR DISAGREE
41.6 525 4 DISAGREE
36.8 464 5 STRONGLY DISAGREE
33 8 DK
65 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 5
Input location: 1/2732
godmeans LIFE MEANINGFUL BECAUSE GOD EXISTS
C. To me, life is meaningful only because God exists.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
24.1 298 1 STRONGLY AGREE
24.6 305 2 AGREE
25.2 312 3 NEITHER AGREE NOR DISAGREE
15.3 190 4 DISAGREE
10.7 133 5 STRONGLY DISAGREE
58 8 DK
63 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 5
Input location: 1/2733
nihilism LIFE SERVES NO PURPOSE
D. In my opinion, life does not serve any purpose.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
1.1 14 1 STRONGLY AGREE
2.3 29 2 AGREE
4.6 57 3 NEITHER AGREE NOR DISAGREE
34.1 423 4 DISAGREE
57.9 718 5 STRONGLY DISAGREE
41 8 DK
77 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 5
Input location: 1/2734
predeter GOD DECIDES THE COURSE OF OUR LIVES
E. The course of our lives is decided by God.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
18.6 229 1 STRONGLY AGREE
20.9 258 2 AGREE
22.0 272 3 NEITHER AGREE NOR DISAGREE
22.1 273 4 DISAGREE
16.4 202 5 STRONGLY DISAGREE
65 8 DK
60 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 5
Input location: 1/2735
egomeans LIFE MEANINGFUL ONLY IF YOU PROVIDE MEAN
F. Life is only meaningful if you provide the meaning
yourself.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
22.5 280 1 STRONGLY AGREE
38.3 476 2 AGREE
15.0 186 3 NEITHER AGREE NOR DISAGREE
15.5 192 4 DISAGREE
8.7 108 5 STRONGLY DISAGREE
49 8 DK
68 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 5
Input location: 1/2736
ownfate WE EACH MAKE OUR OWN FATE
G. We each make our own fate.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
21.4 266 1 STRONGLY AGREE
41.7 517 2 AGREE
20.5 254 3 NEITHER AGREE NOR DISAGREE
11.7 145 4 DISAGREE
4.8 59 5 STRONGLY DISAGREE
50 8 DK
68 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 5
Input location: 1/2737
relexper TURNING POINT IN LIFE FOR RELIGION
Has there ever been a turning point in your life when
you made a new and personal commitment to religion?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
46.8 615 1 YES
53.2 698 2 NO
3 8 DK
43 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 2
Input location: 1/2738
marelkid MOTHERS RELIGION WHEN R WAS CHILD
What was your mother's religious preference when you
were a child? Was it Protestant, Catholic, Jewish,
some other religion, or no religion?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
63.1 810 1 PROTESTANT
30.2 388 2 CATHOLIC
2.3 30 3 JEWISH
0.6 8 4 ORTHODOX GREEK, RUSSIAN, ETC
0.2 3 5 MOSLEM
1.3 17 6 OTHER -SPECIFY
2.2 28 7 NO RELIGION
54 8 DK
21 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 7
Input location: 1/2739
madenkid IF PROTESTANT, MOTHER'S DENOMINATION
If Protestant, what specific denomination was that?
32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 10000 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 70000
Input location: 1/2740-2744
parelkid FATHER'S RELIGION WHEN R WAS CHILD
What was your father's religious preference when you
were a child? Was it Protestant, Catholic, Jewish,
some other religion, or no religion?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
57.7 704 1 PROTESTANT
30.2 368 2 CATHOLIC
2.6 32 3 JEWISH
0.7 9 4 ORTHODOX GREEK, RUSSIAN, ETC
0.3 4 5 MOSLEM
1.1 14 6 OTHER -SPECIFY
7.3 89 7 NO RELIGION
114 8 DK
25 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 7
Input location: 1/2745
padenkid IF PROTESTANT, FATHER'S DENOMINATION
If Protestant, what specific denomination was that?
32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 10000 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 70000
Input location: 1/2746-2750
religkid RELIGION R WAS RAISED IN
What religion, if any, were you raised in? Was it
Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, some other religion, or
no religion?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
61.8 813 1 PROTESTANT
30.0 395 2 CATHOLIC
2.2 29 3 JEWISH
0.6 8 4 ORTHODOX GREEK, RUSSIAN, ETC
0.2 3 5 MOSLEM
1.6 21 6 OTHER -SPECIFY
3.5 46 7 NO RELIGION
24 8 DK
20 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 7
Input location: 1/2751
denkid IF PROTESTANT, DENOMINATION R RAISED IN
If Protestant, what specific denomination was that?
32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 10000 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 70000
Input location: 1/2752-2756
religsp R'S SPOUSE'S RELIGION
What is your husband's/wife's religious preference? Is
it Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, some other religion,
or no religion?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
59.5 413 1 PROTESTANT
29.8 207 2 CATHOLIC
2.3 16 3 JEWISH
0.1 1 4 ORTHODOX GREEK, RUSSIAN, ETC
0.1 1 5 MOSLEM
1.3 9 6 OTHER -SPECIFY
6.8 47 7 NO RELIGION
12 8 DK
12 9 NA
31662 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 7
Input location: 1/2757
densp IF PROTESTANT, R'S SPOUSE'S DENOMINATION
If Protestant, what specific denomination was that?
32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 10000 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 70000
Input location: 1/2758-2762
attendma FREQ OF R'S MOM'S RELIG SVC ATTENDANCE
When you were a child, how often did your mother
attend religious services?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
4.2 51 1 NEVER
4.3 52 2 LESS THAN ONCE A YR
6.8 82 3 ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A YR
11.6 140 4 SEVERAL TIMES A YR
4.0 48 5 ABOUT ONCE A MONTH
10.4 126 6 2-3 TIMES A MONTH
17.8 215 7 NEARLY EVERY WEEK
30.5 368 8 EVERY WEEK
9.5 114 9 SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK
0.8 10 10 NO FATHER-MOTHER PRESENT
96 98 CANT SAY or CANT REMEMBER
57 99 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 10
Input location: 1/2763-2764
attendpa FREQ OF R'S DAD'S RELIG SVC ATTENDANCE
When you were a child, how often did your father
attend religious services?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
13.0 155 1 NEVER
7.8 93 2 LESS THAN ONCE A YR
10.3 123 3 ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A YR
11.1 132 4 SEVERAL TIMES A YR
5.0 60 5 ABOUT ONCE A MONTH
8.7 103 6 2-3 TIMES A MONTH
12.6 150 7 NEARLY EVERY WEEK
22.5 267 8 EVERY WEEK
5.3 63 9 SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK
3.6 43 10 NO FATHER-MOTHER PRESENT
134 98 CANT SAY or CANT REMEMBER
36 99 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 10
Input location: 1/2765-2766
attend12 FREQ OF R'S RELIG SVC ATTENDANCE AT AGE
And what about when you were around 11 or 12, how
often did you attend religious services then?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
4.1 53 1 NEVER
2.4 31 2 LESS THAN ONCE A YR
4.8 62 3 ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A YR
8.7 113 4 SEVERAL TIMES A YR
3.9 50 5 ABOUT ONCE A MONTH
10.1 131 6 2-3 TIMES A MONTH
23.0 299 7 NEARLY EVERY WEEK
33.5 435 8 EVERY WEEK
9.6 124 9 SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK
37 98 CANT SAY or CANT REMEMBER
24 99 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 9
Input location: 1/2767-2768
prayfreq HOW OFTEN DOES R PRAY
Now thinking about the present, about how often do you
pray?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
7.9 105 1 NEVER
2.8 37 2 LESS THAN ONCE A YEAR
5.5 73 3 ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR
8.3 110 4 SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR
4.9 65 5 ABOUT ONCE A MONTH
5.4 71 6 2-3 TIMES A MONTH
5.8 77 7 NEARLY EVERY WEEK
4.6 61 8 EVERY WEEK
12.5 166 9 SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK
21.8 289 10 ONCE A DAY
20.5 271 11 SEVERAL TIMES A DAY
1 98 DK
33 99 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 11
Input location: 1/2769-2770
relactiv HOW OFTEN DOES R TAKE PART IN RELIG ACTI
How often do you take part in the activities and
organizations of a church or place of worship other
than attending services?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
38.1 507 1 NEVER
12.0 160 2 LESS THAN ONCE A YEAR
12.9 171 3 ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR
9.6 128 4 SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR
6.2 83 5 ABOUT ONCE A MONTH
6.2 82 6 2-3 TIMES A MONTH
4.6 61 7 NEARLY EVERY WEEK
6.7 89 8 EVERY WEEK
3.6 48 9 SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK
30 99 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 9
Input location: 1/2771-2772
feelrel HOW RELIGIOUS IS R
Would you describe yourself as:
PCT N VALUE LABEL
4.7 61 1 EXTREMELY RELIGIOUS
21.7 284 2 VERY RELIGIOUS
47.5 620 3 SOMEWHAT RELIGIOUS
16.8 219 4 NEITHER
4.0 52 5 SOMEWHAT NON-RELIGIOUS
2.9 38 6 VERY RELIGIOUS
2.5 32 7 EXTREMELY NON-RELIGIOUS
28 8 DK
25 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 7
Input location: 1/2773
schlpray SHOULD THERE BE DAILY PRAYER IN PUBLIC S
In your opinion, should there be daily prayers in all
public schools?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
38.7 466 1 YES, DEFINITELY
24.9 300 2 YES, PROBABLY
16.7 201 3 NO, PROBABLY
19.6 236 4 NO, DEFINITELY
135 8 DK
21 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 4
Input location: 1/2775
godright GOD'S LAWS SHOULD DECIDE RIGHT AND WRONG
Do you agree or disagree with the following
statements: A. Right and wrong should be based on
God's laws.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
28.5 358 1 STRONGLY AGREE
28.7 361 2 AGREE
21.4 269 3 NEITHER AGREE NOR DISAGREE
12.3 155 4 DISAGREE
9.1 115 5 STRONGLY DISAGREE
60 8 DK
41 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 5
Input location: 1/2776
socright SOCIETY'S LAWS SHOULD DECIDE RIGHT AND W
B. Right and wrong should be decided by society.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
9.2 113 1 STRONGLY AGREE
34.2 418 2 AGREE
25.3 309 3 NEITHER AGREE NOR DISAGREE
19.7 241 4 DISAGREE
11.6 142 5 STRONGLY DISAGREE
59 8 DK
77 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 5
Input location: 1/2777
perright CONSCIENCE SHOULD DECIDE RIGHT AND WRONG
C. Right and wrong should be a matter of personal
conscience.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
14.7 180 1 STRONGLY AGREE
32.0 393 2 AGREE
20.8 255 3 NEITHER AGREE NOR DISAGREE
17.2 211 4 DISAGREE
15.3 188 5 STRONGLY DISAGREE
60 8 DK
72 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 5
Input location: 1/2778
antirel ANTI-RELIGIOUS MATERIAL SHOULD BE BANNED
Some books or films offend people who have strong
religious beliefs. Should books and films that attack
religions be prohibited by law or should they be
allowed?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
15.6 184 1 DEFINITELY SHOULD
17.9 211 2 PROBABLY SHOULD
34.7 409 3 PROBABLY SHOULD NOT
31.7 373 4 DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT
158 8 DK
24 9 NA
31021 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 4
Input location: 1/2779
obeythnk SHOULD CHLDRN BE OBEDIENT OR THINK FOR S
Which of the these would you say is more important in
preparing children for life?
PCT N VALUE LABEL
31.2 1262 1 TO BE OBEDIENT
68.8 2785 2 TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES
235 8 DK
108 9 NA
27990 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 2
Input location: 1/2785
privent PRIVATE ENTERPRISE WILL SOLVE U.S. PROBL
How much do you agree or disagree with each of these
statements? Private enterprise is the best way to
solve America's economic problems.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
16.7 450 1 STRONGLY AGREE
38.6 1043 2 AGREE
30.8 832 3 NEITHER AGREE NOR DISAGREE
12.6 340 4 DISAGREE
1.4 37 5 STRONGLY DISAGREE
174 8 DK
67 9 NA
29437 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 5
Input location: 1/2786
postmat1 HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR AMERICA
Looking at the list below, please check a box next to
the one thing you think should be America's highest
priority, the most important thing it should do.
America should: 1. Maintain order in the nation; 2.
Give people more say in government decisions; 3. Fight
rising prices; 4. Protect freedom of speech.
PCT N VALUE LABEL
34.9 923 1 MAINTAIN ORDER
37.0 980 2 GIVE PEOPLE MORE SAY
17.2 456 3 CONTROL PRICES
10.8 287 4 PROTECT FREE SPEECH
198 8 DK
99 9 NA
29437 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 4
Input location: 1/2787
postmat2 2ND HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR AMERICA
And which one do you think should be America's next
highest priority, the second most important thing it
should do? America should:
PCT N VALUE LABEL
28.7 744 1 MAINTAIN ORDER
29.9 775 2 GIVE PEOPLE MORE SAY
23.3 604 3 CONTROL PRICES
18.0 465 4 PROTECT FREE SPEECH
256 8 DK
99 9 NA
29437 . (No Data)
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32380 cases
Type: numeric Min: 1 MD Codes: 0
Decimals: 0 Max: 4
Input location: 1/2788
1972-1994 General Social Survey Cumulative File