>> CUMULATIVE DATA FILE - CODEBOOK INFORMATION
The following example describes the general format for Cumulative Data File
codebook variable documentation.
1 ==============================
2 VAR CF0310 HOW INTERESTED WAS R IN POLIT CAMPAIGNS
3 COLUMNS XX - XX
4 NUMERIC
5 MD EQ 0
6
7 Some people don't pay much attention to political campaigns. How
8 about you, would you say that you have been/were very much interested,
9 somewhat interested, or not much interested in following the political
10 campaigns (so far) this year?
11 -------------------------------------------------------------------
12
13 USE WEIGHT VARIABLE VCF0009/VCF0009A/VCF0009B.
14
15 In 1988 and 1992, this question was present in both the pre and post.
16 The pre version is represented here.
17
18 1. Not much interested
19 2. Somewhat interested
20 3. Very much interested
21 9. DK
22
23 0. NA; INAP, no pre IW (1952,1960); question not used
24
25 1952: 44 1956: 97 1958: 75
26 1960: 98 1962: 39 1964: 157
27 1966: 87 1968: 130 1970: 201(type 0)
28 1972: 163 1976: 3031 1978: 43
29 1980: 53 1982: 58 1984: 75
30 1986: 59 1988: 97 1990: 62
31 1992: 3101 1994: 124 1996: 960201
32 1998: 980201
Line 2 - VARIABLE NAME. Note that in the codebook the variable name
(which usually includes a 'number', e.g. CF0310) does not include
the "V" prefix that is used in the release SAS and SPSS data
definition files (.sas and .sps files). For example, the
variables "VERSION" and "CF0310" in this codebook are "VVERSION"
and "VCF0310" in the data definition files.
Line 2 - VARIABLE LABEL. This is the variable label used in the SAS and
spss data definition files (.sas and .sps files).
Line 3 - COLUMNS. Columns in the ASCII data file (.dat file).
Line 4 - CHARACTER or NUMERIC. If numeric and the variable is a decimal
rather than integer variable, the numer of decimal places is
also indicated (e.g. "NUMERIC DEC 4"), unless 0.
Line 5 - Values which are assigned to missing by default in the Study's
SAS and and SPSS data definition files (.sas and .sps files).
[If not present in this version of the codebook, inclusion is
planned in future].
Line 7 - Actual question text for survey variables or a description of
non-survey variables (for example, congressional district number).
Line 11- A dashed line separates question text from any other documentation
which follows.
Line 15- When present, annotation provided by Study staff is presented
below the question text/description, preceding code values.
Specification of weights usable with the variable is always
provided.
Lines 18-23
Code values are listed with descriptive labels. Valid codes
(those not having 'missing' status in line 5) are presented
first, followed by the values described in line 5. For
continuous variables, one line may appear providing the range
of possible values. A blank line usually separates the 'valid'
and 'missing' values.
Lines 25-32
The variable numbers from source individual studies are provided.
Data in these variables from the individual NES time-series studies
were combined to produce the Cumulative Data File variable.
For years not listed, the question was not administered /the
non-survey variable was not constructed (in that year).
SPECIAL NOTE: these variable numbers in most instances have not
yet been updated to the new NES 'numbering' system, for example
variable "44" for 1952 data actually signifies V520044.
(For a description of the NES 'numbering' system in general use
for variables within all NES datasets, see the annotation
preceding variable documentation in this codebook).
>> CUMULATIVE DATA FILE - VARIABLE DESCRIPTION LIST
NOTE: The Cumulative Data File was originally constructed with each
"100s" series of variables corresponding to a general content
group. To some degree, the original organization can still
be detected ("VCF" prefixes omitted):
0-99 Administration/Processing
101-199 Demographics;
201-229 Group Thermometers
301-399 Partisanship (Traits/Affects added)
401-499 Candidate evaluation
501-599 Party Positions on Issues
601-699 Support of the Political System
701-799 Turnout, Vote, Participation and Media
801-899 Respondent Positions on Issues
900s Congressional-level additions
However, as questions have been added and numbers have become
less available in appropriate number series, overall organization
has become less systematic. In particular, the addition of
variables VCF9001-VCF9155 introduced a number series covering
great variety of content.
A general reorganization of the Cumulative Data File is planned
in future, in conjunction with the addition of a number of
new variables.
Variables preceded by ** are represented in the tables of the Guide
to Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior found at the NES Web site,
http://www.umich.edu/~nes.
Administration/Processing (1)
VVERSION NES VERSION NUMBER
VDSETNO NES DATASET NUMBER
VCF0001 ICPSR ARCHIVE NUMBER
VCF0004 YEAR OF STUDY
VCF0006 RESPONDENT NUMBER
VCF0009 TYPE 0 WEIGHT
VCF0009A TYPE 0, PRE 1996 POST-STRATIFIED
VCF0009B TYPE 0, POST 1996 POST-STRATIFIED
VCF0010 TYPE 1 WEIGHT
VCF0010A TYPE 1, PRE 1996 POST-STRATIFIED
VCF0010B TYPE 1, POST 1996 POST-STRATIFIED
VCF0011 TYPE 2 WEIGHT
VCF0011A TYPE 2, PRE 1996 POST-STRATIFIED
VCF0011B TYPE 2, POST 1996 POST-STRATIFIED
VCF0012 FORM FILTER
VCF0012A PRE CAPI QUESTION SELECTION
VCF0012B POST CAPI QUESTION SELECTION
VCF0013 PRE FILTER-PRES YRS
VCF0014 POST FILTER-PRES YRS
VCF0015A ABBREV. IW - PRE
VCF0015B ABBREV. IW - POST
VCF0016 PANEL/CROSS
VCF0017 MODE PERSONAL/TELEPH