VAR CF0849 LIBERAL/CONSERVATIVE 3-CATEGORY SUMMARY

VAR CF0849    LIBERAL/CONSERVATIVE 3-CATEGORY SUMMARY
              COLUMNS 655-655
              NUMERIC
              MD EQ 0 OR GE 7


        We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives. I'm
        going to show you [1996-later: Here is] a 7-point scale on which the
        political views that people might hold are arranged from extremely
        liberal to extremely conservative.  Where would you place yourself
        on this scale, or haven't you thought much about this? (7-POINT SCALE
        SHOWN TO R).

        (IF R RESPONDS "DON'T KNOW" OR "HAVEN'T THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT THIS"In
        1984 AND LATER; IF R RESPONDS "MODERATE" IN 1988, 1992, 1996-later:)
        If you had to choose, would you consider yourself a liberal or a
        conservative?

        SUMMARY:  R'S LIBERAL/ CONSERVATIVE SELF-PLACEMENT
        -------------------------------------------------------------------

        USE WEIGHT VARIABLE VCF0009/VCF0009A/VCF0009B.

        SEE ALSO VCF0803 and VCF0824.

        THIS IS THE FINAL 3-CATEGORY SUMMARY FOR YEARS 1984 AND LATER,
        CONSTRUCTED USING THE INITIAL 7-POINT SCALE QUESTION (VCF0803)
        AND THE THE FOLLOWUP 'CHOICE' QUESTION (VCF0824), WHICH WAS ASKED
        OF RESPONDENTS WHO HAD REPLIED "DON'T KNOW" OR "HAVEN'TTHOUGHT
        MUCH" TO THE 7-POINT SCALE QUESTION AND, EXCEPT FOR YEARS 1984,
        1986, AND 1990, ALSO ASKED OF RESONDENTS WHO HAD ANSWERED
        "MODERATE".

        If R's response to the 7-point scale question was NA, then the
        follow-up question ('if you had to choose...') was not asked and
        VCF0849 has been coded 9.  If DK/HTM in first question and the
        response to the follow-up was "don't know," VCF0848 has been
        coded 8.  If R refused to choose in the follow-up, VCF0848 has
        been coded 7. If R's response to the follow-up was NA, then
        VCF0849 has been coded 0.

        Code 1 is comprised of "extremely liberal," "liberal," and "slightly
        liberal" responses to the 7-point scale question (codes 1-3 in
        VCF0803) and of "liberal" responses to the follow-up.

        Code 3 for 1984,1986,1990 is comprised of Rs who replied "moderate"
        to the 7-point scale question (code 4 in VCF0803, with the followup
        not asked) and also of Rs who replied DK or "haven't thought much"
        to the 7-point scale question and then replied "moderate" to the
        follow-up.
        For 1988, 1992, 1996 and later, code 3 is comprised of:
        1) cases where R replied "moderate" to the 7-point scale question
        and then refused to choose another category or replied DK/NA to
        the follow-up;  and  2) Rs who replied DK or 'haven't thought much'
        to the 7-point scale question and then replied "moderate" in the
        follow-up.

        Code 5 is comprised of "extremely conservative," conservative," and
        "slightly conservative" responses to the 7-point scale question (codes
        5-7 in VCF0803) and of "conservative" responses in the follow-up.

        2000: 801 of 1807 interviews were conducted by telephone, without
        use of respondent booklet.  This variable represents 7-point scale
        followup data from interviews conducted using both modes.

        2000:  In addition to the traditional 7-point scale version of this
        question, approximately half of the 2000 Study respondents (both
        modes) were instead randomly selected for administration of a series
        of branching format questions.  The latter respondents are coded 0
        missing data in this variable.

               1.  Liberal
               3.  Moderate ('middle of the road')
               5.  Conservative

               7.  Refuses to choose (in follow-up [exc. 1988 moderates])
               8.  DK
               9.  NA to entire question
               0.  NA to follow-up; INAP, R not administered 7pt scale series
                   (2000); question not used (1952-1982)

        1984:  369,370          1986:  385,386        1988:  230
        1990:  406,407          1992:  3513           1994:  839,840
        1996:  960365-960368    1998:  980399-980402  2000:  000441a


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