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GSS 1972-2024 Cumulative Datafile - Release 3


Adult Religious Participation

lapseddid r ever lapse in church attendance
Text of this Question or Item
Since you were 16 years old, has there ever been a period of 2 years 
or more when you did not attend religious services?
Percent N Value Label
54.5 807 1 yes
45.5 673 2 no


67,365 .i iap


1 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
churhmemis r a member of church or synagogue
Text of this Question or Item
Are you, yourself, a member of a church or synagogue? 
Yes........(ASK CHURHACT)....1 
No..........(GO TO  TVRELIG)........2
Percent N Value Label
61.0 904 1 yes
39.0 577 2 no


67,365 .i iap


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
churhactdoes r participate in church activities
Text of this Question or Item
Do you take part in any of the activities or organizations of your 
church (synagogue) other than attending service?
Percent N Value Label
45.9 408 1 yes
54.1 480 2 no


67,942 .i iap


16 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
tvrelighours per week r watches religious tv
Text of this Question or Item
About how much time per week, in hours and minutes, do you normally 
spend watching religious shows on television?
Total Cases: 75,699 (Range of valid codes: 0.0-9.0)
Properties
Data type: numeric
Decimals: 1
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
godr's confidence in the existence of god
Text of this Question or Item
Please look at this card and tell me which statement comes closest to 
expressing what you believe about God. 
I don''t believe in God.....................1 
I don''t know whether there is a God and I don''t believe there is 
any way to find out..................................2 
I don''t believe in a personal God, but I do believe in a Higher 
Power of some kind........................3 
I find myself believing in God some of the time, but not at 
others........4 
While I have doubts, I feel that I do believe in 
God.............................5 
I know God really exists and I have no doubts about 
it...........................6
Percent N Value Label
3.9 1,235 1 don't believe
5.8 1,843 2 don't know, no way to find out
11.2 3,566 3 higher power
4.3 1,351 4 believe sometimes
16.4 5,201 5 believe with doubts
58.5 18,569 6 no doubts


193 .d don't know


43,366 .i iap


325 .n no answer


50 .s skipped on web

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
rebornhas r ever had a 'born again' experience
Text of this Question or Item
Would you say you have been "born again" or have had a "born again" 
experience -- that is, a turning point in your life 
when you committed yourself to Christ?
Percent N Value Label
38.7 12,106 1 yes
61.3 19,157 2 no


359 .d don't know


43,763 .i iap


217 .n no answer


97 .s skipped on web

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
savesoultried to convince others to accept jesus
Text of this Question or Item
Have you ever tried to encourage someone to believe in Jesus Christ 
or to accept Jesus Christ as his or her savior?
Percent N Value Label
42.3 11,440 1 yes
57.7 15,610 2 no


39 .d don't know


45,102 .i iap


147 .n no answer


52 .s skipped on web


3,309 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
saygracedoes r's family say grace before meals
Text of this Question or Item
At your family meals at home, does anyone say grace or give thanks to 
God aloud before meals?
Percent N Value Label
50.2 737 1 yes
49.8 732 2 no


67,365 .i iap


12 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
readwordhow often did r read bible last year
Text of this Question or Item
Have you read any part of the Bible at home within the last year. 
Yes..........(ASK A)...............1 
No.................................2 
IF YES: A. How often have you read the Bible in the last year? (USE 
CATEGORIES AS PROBES IF NEEDED).
Percent N Value Label
3.0 86 1 several x day
8.6 251 2 once a day
10.3 300 3 several x week
9.0 262 4 once a week
29.3 852 5 lt once a week
39.8 1,159 6 didnt read last year


65,924 .i iap


12 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z

Religious Beliefs

punsinr agrees that sinners must be punished
Text of this Question or Item
Please consider the following statements and tell me whether you 
agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or disagree 
strongly with each statement. 
A. Those who violate God''s rules must be punished.
Percent N Value Label
16.9 1,352 1 agree strongly
30.7 2,449 2 agree somewhat
29.8 2,378 3 disagree somewhat
22.6 1,805 4 disagree strongly


443 .d don't know


60,306 .i iap


113 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
blkwhiter agrees right & wrong not black & white
Text of this Question or Item
Please consider the following statements and tell me whether you 
agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or disagree 
strongly with each statement. 
B. Right and wrong are not usually a simple matter of black and 
white; there are many shades of gray.
Percent N Value Label
44.0 3,654 1 agree strongly
39.7 3,298 2 agree somewhat
9.2 762 3 disagree somewhat
7.2 597 4 disagree strongly


203 .d don't know


60,306 .i iap


26 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
rotappler agrees immoral person corrupts society
Text of this Question or Item
Please consider the following statements and tell me whether you 
agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or disagree 
strongly with each statement. 
C. Immoral actions by one person can corrupt society in general.
Percent N Value Label
24.6 2,048 1 agree strongly
37.6 3,128 2 agree somewhat
24.3 2,020 3 disagree somewhat
13.5 1,127 4 disagree strongly


194 .d don't know


60,306 .i iap


23 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
permoralr agrees that morality a personal matter
Text of this Question or Item
Please consider the following statements and tell me whether you 
agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or disagree 
strongly with each statement. 
D. Morality is a personal matter and society should not force 
everyone to follow one standard.
Percent N Value Label
35.3 2,922 1 agree strongly
40.1 3,314 2 agree somewhat
17.1 1,411 3 disagree somewhat
7.5 622 4 disagree strongly


232 .d don't know


60,306 .i iap


39 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z

Important Factors in Life Decisions

decbibleimportance of bible in making decisions
Text of this Question or Item
Can you tell me how important is each of the following in helping you 
to make decisions about your life. Please indicate your answer by 
stating where you would place your feelings on a scale from 1 to 5 as 
shown on this hand Card. Consider the first topic. If you think the 
Bible is very important in helping you to make decisions about your 
life, you would place yourself at 1. If you feel it is not very 
important in helping you to make decisions about your life, then you 
would place yourself at 5. If you feel the Bible is "somewhere 
between these two" in helping you make decisions about your life, 
then you would place yourself at 2, 3 or 4.
A. The Bible
Percent N Value Label
34.4 505 1 very important
13.9 204 2
21.8 320 3
12.3 181 4
17.7 260 5 not very important


6 .d don't know


67,365 .i iap


5 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
decothsimp. of family & friends to make decisions
Text of this Question or Item
Can you tell me how important is each of the following in helping you 
to make decisions about your life. Please indicate your answer by 
stating where you would place your feelings on a scale from 1 to 5 as 
shown on this hand Card. 
B. Your family and friends
Percent N Value Label
48.7 715 1 very important
26.5 389 2
15.5 227 3
4.6 68 4
4.7 69 5 not very important


7 .d don't know


67,365 .i iap


6 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
decchurhimp of church teachings to make decision
Text of this Question or Item
Can you tell me how important is each of the following in helping you 
to make decisions about your life. Please indicate your answer by 
stating where you would place your feelings on a scale from 1 to 5 as 
shown on this hand Card. 
C. The teachings of your church or synagogue
Percent N Value Label
29.1 424 1 very important
19.9 291 2
24.0 350 3
11.0 161 4
16.0 233 5 not very important


14 .d don't know


67,365 .i iap


8 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
decselfimp of personal judgment to make decision
Text of this Question or Item
Can you tell me how important is each of the following in helping you 
to make decisions about your life.
Please indicate your answer by stating where you would place your 
feelings on a scale from 1 to 5 as shown on this hand Card. 
D. Your own personal judgment
Percent N Value Label
71.6 1,052 1 very important
17.0 250 2
7.6 111 3
2.1 31 4
1.8 26 5 not very important


4 .d don't know


67,365 .i iap


7 .n no answer


6,853 .y not available in this year

100.0 75,699
Total
Properties
Data type: numeric
Missing-data codes: .d,.i,.j,.m,.n,.p,.r,.s,.u,.x,.y,.z
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