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>> CUMULATIVE DATA FILE - CODEBOOK INFORMATION
The following example describes the general format for Cumulative Data File
codebook variable documentation.
1 ==============================
2 VAR CF0310 R INTEREST IN THE ELECTION
3 COLUMNS 314-314
4 NUMERIC
5 MD EQ 0
6
7
8 Some people don't pay much attention to political campaigns. How
9 about you, would you say that you have been/were very much interested,
10 somewhat interested, or not much interested in following the political
11 campaigns (so far) this year?
12 -------------------------------------------------------------------
13
14 USE WEIGHT VARIABLE VCF0009/VCF0009A/VCF0009B.
15
16 In 1988 and 1992, this question was present in both the pre and post.
17 The pre version is represented here.
18
19 1. Not much interested
20 2. Somewhat interested
21 3. Very much interested
22 9. DK
23
24 0. NA; INAP, no pre IW (1952,1960); question not used
25
26 1952: 44 1956: 97 1958: 75
27 1960: 98 1962: 39 1964: 157
28 1966: 87 1968: 130 1970: 201(type 0)
29 1972: 163 1976: 3031 1978: 43
30 1980: 53 1982: 58 1984: 75
31 1986: 59 1988: 97 1990: 62
32 1992: 3101 1994: 124 1996: 960201
33 1998: 980201 2000: 000301
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) and in the NES Work Server.
For example, the variables "VERSION" and "CF0310" in this
codebook are "VVERSION" and "VCF0310" in the data definition
files.
Line 2 - VARIABLE LABEL. This (R INTEREST IN THE ELECTION) 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).
Line 8 - Actual question text for survey variables or a description of
non-survey variables (for example, congressional district number).
Line 12- A dashed line separates question text from any other documentation
which follows.
Line 16- 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 19-24
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 26-33
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
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.
Variables are not sorted by variable number but organized topically
into the following general groupings (by variable numbber within
groupings:)
ADMINISTRATION/PROCESSING
DEMOGRAPHICS
GROUP THERMOMETERS
PARTISANSHIP; PARTY MEASURES
PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL EVALUATIONS
MASS SUPPORT OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM (and trust in media /people)
TURNOUT, VOTE, PARTICIPATION, MEDIA EXPOSURE
RESPONDENT IDEOLOGY AND ISSUE POSITIONS/VIEWS
CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL MEASURES (and Senate)
VOTE VALIDATION
ADMINISTRATION/PROCESSING
-------------------------
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
VCF0018A PRE LANGUAGE OF IW
VCF0018B POST LANGUAGE OF IW
Walter Mebane
2002-10-26