GSS 1972-2024 Cumulative Datafile - Release 3

When you think of social and political issues, do you think of 
yourself mainly as a member of a particular ethnic, racial, or 
nationality group or do you think of yourself mainly as just an 
American?

A. Do you think of yourself as "just an American" on all issues, most 
issues, some issues, or just a few issues?

B. Do you think of yourself as a(n) (ethnic group or groups 
specified) on all issues, most issues, some issues, or just a few 
issues?

C. Well, if you had to choose, which would you think of yourself most 
of the time--mainly as a member of a particular ethnic, racial, or 
nationality group, or mainly as just an American?

D. Do you think of yourself as "just an American" on all issues, most 
issues, some issues, or just a few issues?

E. Do you think of yourself as a(n) (ethnic group or groups 
specified) on all issues, most issues, some issues, or just a few 
issues?

Do you feel that the quality of life is better in America than in 
most other advanced industrial countries, about the same, or do you 
feel that people are better off in most other advanced industrial 
countries than they are in the United States?

How proud are you to be an American . . . extremely proud, very 
proud, somewhat proud, or not very proud?

Some people say that it is better for America if different racial and 
ethnic groups maintain their distinct cultures. Others say that it is 
better if groups change so that they blend into the larger society as 
in the idea of a melting pot. Here is a card with a scale from 1 to 
7. Think of a score of 1 as meaning that racial and ethnic groups 
should maintain their distinct cultures, and a score of 7 as meaning 
that groups should change so that they blend into the larger society. 
What score between 1 and 7 comes closest to the way you feel? (CIRCLE 
ONE):

Some people say that it is better for America if different racial and 
ethnic groups maintain their distinct cultures. Others say that it is 
better if groups change so that they blend into the larger society as 
in the idea of a melting pot. Here is a card with a scale from 1 to 
7. Think of a score of 1 as meaning that racial and ethnic groups 
should maintain their distinct cultures, and a score of 7 as meaning 
that groups should change so that they blend into the larger society. 
What score between 1 and 7 comes closest to the way you feel? (CIRCLE 
ONE):
A. Should it be up to the government to help racial and ethnic groups 
maintain their distinct cultures, or should this be left up to the 
groups themselves?

Some people say that it is better for America if different racial and 
ethnic groups maintain their distinct cultures. Others say that it is 
better if groups change so that they blend into the larger society as 
in the idea of a melting pot. Here is a card with a scale from 1 to 
7. Think of a score of 1 as meaning that racial and ethnic groups 
should maintain their distinct cultures, and a score of 7 as meaning 
that groups should change so that they blend into the larger society. 
What score between 1 and 7 comes closest to the way you feel? (CIRCLE 
ONE):
B. Should it be up to the government to help racial and ethnic groups 
change so that they blend into the larger society, or should this be 
left up to the groups themselves?

Now I'm going to read you some statements and would like to get your 
reaction to them. After I read each statement, please tell me if you 
strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree, or 
strongly disagree with the statement.
Political organizations based on race or ethnicity promote separatism 
and make it hard for all of us to live together.

A. Under the First Amendment guaranteeing free speech, people should 
be allowed to express their own opinions even if they are harmful or 
offensive to members of other religious or racial groups.

B. People should not be allowed to express opinions that are harmful 
or offensive to members of other religious or racial groups.

Now, I would like to ask whether you have ever felt the following 
ways about blacks and their families. For each of the feelings that I 
ask you about, please tell me whether you have felt that way very 
often, fairly often, not too often, or never?
A. How often have you felt sympathy for blacks?

Now, I would like to ask whether you have ever felt the following 
ways about blacks and their families. For each of the feelings that I 
ask you about, please tell me whether you have felt that way very 
often, fairly often, not too often, or never?
B. How often have you felt admiration for blacks?