VAR CF0301 7-PT SCALE PARTY IDENTIFICATION

VAR CF0301    7-PT SCALE PARTY IDENTIFICATION
              COLUMNS 305-305
              NUMERIC
              MD EQ 0


        Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican,
        a Democrat, an Independent, or what?  (IF REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT)
        Would you call yourself a strong (REP/DEM) or a not very strong
        (REP/DEM)?  (IF INDEPENDENT, OTHER [1966 and later: OR NO
        PREFERENCE]:)  Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican or
        Democratic party?

        PARTY ID - 7 CATEGORIES
        -------------------------------------------------------------------

        USE WEIGHT VARIABLE VCF0009/VCF0009A/VCF0009B.

        APOLITICAL:    Code 9:
           In 1952-1966, an R who voluntarily specified complete
           disinterest in politics ('I never vote,' 'I don't get
           involved in politics,' etc.) in response to party
           identification was coded as apolitical.  S/he was not
           then asked if s/he felt closer to either major party.
           In 1968-1980, 1984 an R who responded 'no preference'
           to party identification and who responded with
           'neither', DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer to
           either major party was coded as apolitical if s/he
           otherwise also expressed a general disinterest in
           politics.

           In 1982, 1986 and later, an R who expressed 'no
           preference' for party identification and who responded
           with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer
           to either major party was coded as apolitical IF s/he
           also indicated little or no interest in politics in
           response to the following 4 questions (CUM FILE VARS
           VCF0310, VCF0311/VCF0312, VCF0313, VCF0702):
             1) How much would you say you cared about (1982,1986:
             the way the congressional election came out;  1988:
             which party wins the election);
             2) Would you say you follow what's going on in
             government and public affairs most of the time, some
             of the time, only now and then, or hardly at all;
             3) Did you vote in the elections this November;
             4) Would you say you were very much interested, somewhat
             interested or not much interested in following the
             political campaigns this year.

        INDEPENDENT:   Code 4:
           In 1952-1966, an R was defined as independent if s/he
           responded 'independent' to party identification and
           then responded with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if
           s/he felt closer to either major party.
           In 1968-1980 and 1984 an R was defined as independent
           (code 4 in VCF0301) if s/he responded 'independent' to
           party identification and then responded with 'neither,'
           DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer to either major
           party.  An R was also defined as independent (code 4 in
           VCF0301) if:  #1. s/he responded 'no preference' to party
           identification  AND #2. responded with 'neither,' DK or
           NA when asked if s/he felt closer to either major party
           AND #3. if s/he otherwise expressed some interest in
           politics.

        INDEPENDENT/APOLITICAL:   Codes 4/9:
           In 1982, 1986 and later,  an R who responded
           'independent' to party identification and who then
           responded with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he
           felt closer to either major party was coded as
           independent (code 4 in VCF0301).  An R who expressed 'no
           preference' for party identification and who responded
           with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer
           to either major party was coded as independent (code 4
           in VCF0301) IF s/he also indicated some interest in
           politics in response to the 4 questions listed above.

        OTHER:    Code 0:
           In all years, if an R responded to the party
           identification question with the mention of a minor
           party and then responded 'neither,' DK or NA when asked
           if s/he felt closer to either major party, then s/he
           has been coded "other."

        LEANERS:  Codes 3,5:
           'Leaners' have included the following (all years):
           a.   Rs who responded 'independent' to party
                identification and who responded with the
                mention of a major party when asked if s/he
                felt closer to either major party.
           b.   Rs who responded to the party
                identification question with the mention of
                a minor party but who said they felt closer
                to one major party.
           c.   Rs who responded to the party
                identification with 'no preference' but who
                said they felt closer to one major party.

        1.  Strong Democrat
        2.  Weak Democrat
        3.  Independent - Democrat
        4.  Independent - Independent
        5.  Independent - Republican
        6.  Weak Republican
        7.  Strong Republican
        9.  Apolitical (1966 only: and DK)

        0.  DK; NA; other; refused to answer; INAP, no pre (1952,1960)

        1952:  237         1954:  12         1956:  88
        1958:  62          1960:  91         1962:  35
        1964:  146         1966:  82         1968:  120
        1970:  184(type 0) 1972:  140        1974:  2204
        1976:  3174        1978:  433        1980:  266
        1982:  291         1984:  318        1986:  300
        1988:  274         1990:  320        1992:  3634
        1994:  655         1996:  960420     1998:  980339
        2000:  000523


=============================