VAR CF0503 DEMOCRATS- LIBERAL/CONSERVATIVE SCALE

VAR CF0503    DEMOCRATS- LIBERAL/CONSERVATIVE SCALE
              COLUMNS 475-475
              NUMERIC
              MD EQ 0


        We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives.

        I'm going to show you (1996 and later: Here is) a seven-point scale
        on which the political views that people might hold are arranged
        from extremely liberal to extremely conservative.
        Where would you place the Democratic party {on this scale}?  (7-POINT
        SCALE SHOWN TO R)

        DEMOCRATIC PARTY - R'S RATING OF PARTY ON LIBERAL/CONSERVATIVE SCALE
        -------------------------------------------------------------------

        USE WEIGHT VARIABLE VCF0009/VCF0009A/VCF0009B.

        1998 and later:  All respondents were asked this question, regardless
        of the status of self-placement.
        1984-1996:  If R responded "DK," NA or "haven't thought much about
        it" to self-placement on the liberal/conservative 7-point scale
        (VCF0803) AND if s/he responded "DK" or NA (1996: or 'refused to
        choose') to the followup, "If you had to choose, would you consider
        yourself a liberal or a conservative?" (VCF0849), then R was not asked
        for Democratic party or Republican party placements on the 7-point.

        1972-1982:  Self-placement had no follow-up question in these years
        ("if you had to choose..."):  if the single self-placement var was
        "DK," NA or "haven't thought much" then R was not asked for party
        placements.

        This var was present in 1980 in both the pre and post.  The pre
        version is represented here.

        In 1996 and later, the order in which this rating was administered
        for the 2 major parties was randomized.

             1.  Extremely liberal
             2.  Liberal
             3.  Slightly liberal
             4.  Moderate, middle of the road
             5.  Slightly conservative
             6.  Conservative
             7.  Extremely conservative

             0.  DK party placement; NA party placement; DK/NA self-placement
                 (1984-1996); refused to choose self-placement (1996);
                 INAP, no post IW (1972,2000); form III or IV (1972); question
                 not used

        1972:  656     1974:  2309     1976:  3289
        1978:  401     1980:  279      1982:  405
        1984:  373     1986:  393      1988:  235
        1990:  413     1992:  3518     1994:  847
        1996:  960379  1998:  980411   2000:  001382


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