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Codebook
for the Instructional Subset of 1995 Princeton Survey Research Associates (rc00092)
Trust in Government Study
JeDon
Emenhiser, Humboldt State University and
John L. Korey, California State Polytechnic University Pomona
© The Authors, 1998; Last Modified 16 August 1998
Introduction
This survey was designed by The Washington Post, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University and conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates.
The data for the instructional subset were extracted and the codebook prepared by JeDon Emenhiser, Humboldt State University, and John L. Korey, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, from material provided by the Inter-universtiy Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). The material was downloaded from the Social Science Data Base Archive (SSDBA) September 27, 1997. For complete documentation visit the SSDBA Web Site or contact your campus ICPSR Official Representative.
Study ID: rc00092
Title: Distrust of Government
Author: Princeton Survey Research Associates
Universe: U.S. Adults
Interviewing Period: November 28 through December 4, 1995
Method of Interview: Telephone
Number of Cases: 1514
Subset Original
Variable Name Variable Label Number Number
TSTNAT Trust National Government 1 Q4
TSTATE Trust State Government 2 Q5
TSTPEOP Trust People 3 Q56
CNAT Confidence in National Government 4 Q15
CMIL Confidence in Military 5 Q3A
CSUPCT Confidence in U.S. Supreme Court 6 Q3B
CCLINTON Confidence in Clinton Admin. 7 Q3C
CCON Confidence in Congress 8 Q3D
CCORP Confidence in Large Business Corps. 9 Q3E
CMED Confidence in Medicine 10 Q3F
CMEDIA Confidence in the News Media 11 Q3G
INTEREST Interest in Politics and Govt. 12 Q3H
VOT92 Participation in 1992 Pres. Election 13 Q84
VOT94 Participation in 1994 Cong. Election 14 Q86
ECON Nation's Economy 15 Q1
PERSFIN Personal Financial Situation 16 Q2
EFF1 Efficacy 1 17 Q40A
EFF2 Efficacy 2 18 Q40B
EFF3 Efficacy 3 19 Q40C
EFF4 Efficacy 4 20 Q40D
PARTY Party Self-Identification 21 Q81
PARLEAN Independents Lean Rep. or Dem. 22 Q82
IDEO Ideology 23 Q88
CIVIC Attend Civic Organization 24 Q70
NEWS Source of News 25 Q60
LIMB Listen to Rush Limbaugh 26 Q68
SENPOV Senior Poverty 27 Q9
INCGAP Income Gap 28 Q10
SENATE Senate Term 29 Q20
MLEADER Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate 30 Q24A
VP Vice President of the U.S. 31 Q24B
SPEAKER Speaker of the U.S. House of Reps. 32 Q24C
CHIEF Chief Justices of the U.S. 33 Q24D
HEALTH National Health Insurance 34 Q25A
TERMLIM Term Limits 35 Q25B
FAMLEAVE Family Leave 36 Q25C
SPEND Spending on Medicare and Foreign Aid 37 Q27
GENDER Gender 38 SEX
RACE Race 39 RACE
LATIN Latin Heritage 40 HISP
AGE Age in Years 41 AGE
EDUC Education 42 EDUC
MARRIED Marital Status 43 Q73
DIVORCED Ever Been Divorced 44 Q74
RELIGION Religious Preference 45 Q78
BORNAGN Born Again Christian 46 Q80
INCOME 1994 Family Income 47 Q93
DIVWT Weightings 48 DIVWT
Question Items
1. TSTNAT Trust National Government
How much of the time do you trust the government in Washington
to do the right thing? Just about always, most of the time,
or only some of the time?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Just about Always 1 44 2.9
Most of the Time 2 310 20.5
Only Some of the Time 3 1095 72.3
None of the Time 4 54 3.6
Don't Know 8 11 .7
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
2. TSTATE Trust State Government
How much of the time do you trust your state government to do
the right thing? Just about always, most of the time, or only
some of the time?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Just about Always 1 69 4.6
Most of the Time 2 449 29.7
Only Some of the Time 3 951 62.8
None of the Time 4 34 2.2
Don't Know 8 11 .7
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
3. TSTPEOP Trust People
Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted
or that you can't be too careful in dealing with people.
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
People Can Be Trusted 1 596 39.4
Can't Be Too Careful 2 894 59.0
Don't Know 8 21 1.4
Refused 9 3 .2
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
4. CNAT Confidence in National Government
When the government in Washington decides to solve a
problem, how much confidence do you have that the problem will
actually be solved, a lot, some, just a little, or none at all?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
A Lot 1 49 3.2
Some 2 513 33.9
Just a Little 3 598 39.5
None at ALL 4 347 22.9
Don't Know 8 7 .5
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
Now I'm going to read you the names of some insitutions in
American society. Please tell me how much confidence you,
yourself, have in each one--a great deal, quite a lot, some,
or very little.
5. CMIL Confidence in the Military
First, how much confidence do you have in the military?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
A Great Deal 1 475 31.4
Quite a Lot 2 583 38.5
Some 3 331 21.9
Very Little 4 103 6.8
None 7 7 .5
Don't Know 8 13 .9
Refused 9 2 .1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
6. CSUPCT Confidence in the U.S. Supreme Court
Next, how much confidence do you have in the U.S. Supreme Court?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
A Great Deal 1 207 13.7
Quite a Lot 2 414 27.3
Some 3 611 40.4
Very little 4 240 15.9
None 7 21 1.4
Don't Know 8 20 1.3
Refused 9 1 .1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
7.CCLINTON Confidence in the Clinton Administation
Next, how much confidence do you have in the Clinton
Administration?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
A Great Deal 1 131 8.7
Quite a lot 2 249 16.4
Some 3 545 36.0
Very Little 4 492 32.5
None 7 79 5.2
Don't Know 8 16 1.1
Refused 9 2 .1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
8. CCON Confidence in Congress
Next, how much confidence do you have in the Congress?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
A Great Deal 1 58 3.8
Quite a lot 2 160 10.6
Some 3 633 41.8
Very Little 4 612 40.4
None 7 36 2.4
Don't Know 8 14 .9
Refused 9 1 .1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
9. CCORP Confidence in Large Business
Corporations
Next, how much confidence do you have in large business
corporations?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
A Great Deal 1 93 6.1
Quite a Lot 2 233 15.4
Some 3 695 45.9
Very Little 4 436 28.8
None 7 25 1.7
Don't Know 8 30 2.0
Refused 9 2 .1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
10. CMED Confidence in Medicine
Next, how much confidence do you have in medicine?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
A Great Deal 1 370 24.4
Quite a Lot 2 566 37.4
Some 3 407 26.9
Very Little 4 145 9.6
None 7 9 .6
Don't Know 8 17 1.1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
11. CMEDIA Confidence in the News Media
Next, how much confidence do you have in the news media?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
A Great Deal 1 79 5.2
Quite a Lot 2 210 13.9
Some 3 614 40.6
Very Little 4 564 37.3
None 7 41 2.7
Don't Know 8 6 .4
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
12. INTEREST Interest in Politics and Government
Generally speaking, how interested are you in politics and
government: Very interested, fairly interested, not interested,
or not interested at all?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Very Interested 1 449 29.7
Fairly Interested 2 725 47.9
Not Very Interested 3 231 15.3
Not Interested at All 4 106 7.0
Don't Know 8 3 .2
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
13. VOT92 Participation in 1992
Presidential Election
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Yes 1 1148 75.8
No 2 348 23.0
Not Sure 8 13 .9
Refused 9 5 .3
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
14. VOT94 Participation in 1994
Congressional Election
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Yes 1 761 50.3
No 2 698 46.1
Not Sure 8 51 3.4
Refused 9 4 .3
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
15. ECON Nation's Economy
To begin, do you think the nation's economy is getting better,
getting worse, or staying about the same?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Getting Better 1 271 17.9
Getting Worse 2 551 36.4
Staying about the Same 3 660 43.6
Don't Know 8 31 2.0
Refused 9 1 .1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
16. PERSFIN Personal Financial Situation
Is your personal financial situation getting better, getting
worse or staying about the same?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Getting Better 1 326 21.5
Getting Worse 2 346 22.9
Staying about the Same 3 831 54.9
Don't Know 8 5 .3
Refused 9 6 .4
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
Now I'm going to read you some statements that may or may not
describe your own feelings about politics and government. Please
tell me whether you agree or disagree with each one.
Do you agree/disagree strongly or only somewhat?
17. EFF1 Efficacy 1
I don't think public officials care much what people like me think.
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Agree Strongly 1 568 37.5
Agree Somewhat 2 428 28.3
Disagree Somewhat 3 373 24.6
Disagree Strongly 4 124 8.2
Don't Know 8 16 1.1
Refused 9 5 .3
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
18. EFF2 Efficacy 2
People like me don't have any say about what the government does.
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Agree Strongly 1 416 27.5
Agree Somewhat 2 345 22.8
Disagree Somewhat 3 447 29.5
Disagree Strongly 4 298 19.7
Don't Know 8 8 .5
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
19. EFF3 Efficacy 3
Politics and government are so complicated that a person like
me can't realy understand what's going on.
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Agree Strongly 1 400 26.4
Agree Somewhat 2 380 25.1
Disagree Somewhat 3 332 21.9
Disagree Strongly 4 389 25.7
Don't Know 8 11 .7
Refused 9 2 .1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
20. EFF4 Efficacy 4
Politicians tell voters what they want to hear, not what
they will actually try to do if elected.
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Agree Strongly 1 1015 67.0
Agree Somewhat 2 345 22.8
Disagree Somewhat 3 99 6.5
Disagree Strongly 4 39 2.6
Don't Know 8 15 1.0
Refused 9 1 .1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
21. PARTY Party Self-Identification
In politics today, do you consider yourself a Republican,
Democrat or Independent?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Republican 1 453 29.9
Democrat 2 485 32.0
Independent 3 513 33.9
Other 7 11 .7
Don't Know 8 38 2.5
Refused 9 14 .9
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
22. PARLEAN Independents Lean Republican or Democratic
As of today, do you lean more to the Republican Party or the
Democratic Party?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Republican 1 199 13.1
Democrat 2 193 12.7
Neither 3 153 10.1
Don't Know 8 22 1.5
Refused 9 9 .6
Missing . 938 62.0
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
23. IDEO Ideology
Would you say your views in most political matters are very
liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative,
or very conservative?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Very Liberal 1 87 5.7
Somewhat Liberal 2 289 19.1
Moderate 3 468 30.9
Somewhat Conservative 4 431 28.5
Very Conservative 5 182 12.0
Don't Know 8 48 3.2
Refused 9 9 .6
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
24. CIVIC Attend Civic Organization
Do you regularly attend or participate in a civic organization
or service club, like the Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis
Club, or the PTA?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Yes 1 343 22.7
No 2 1169 77.2
Refused 9 2 .1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
25. NEWS Source of News
Where do you usually get most of your news and information
about national politics and government? Is it from: television,
radio, newspapers, news magazines like Time and Newsweek, from
family, frieds or co-workers, or someplace else?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Television 1 838 55.4
Radio 2 131 8.7
Newspaper 3 386 25.5
News Magazines 4 57 3.8
Family 5 23 1.5
Friends/Coworkers 6 26 1.7
Someplace Else 7 41 2.7
Don't Know 8 12 .8
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
26. LIMB Listen to Rush Limbaugh
How often, if ever, do you listen to Rush Limbaugh's radio program
regularly, sometimes, hardly ever or never?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Regularly 1 106 7.0
Sometimes 2 179 11.8
Hardly 3 250 16.5
Never 4 974 64.3
Don't Know 8 3 .2
Refused 9 2 .1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
27. SENPOV Senior Poverty
Compared with 20 years ago, do you think the share of Americans
over 65 who live in poverty has increased, decreased or stayed
about the same?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Increased 1 866 57.2
Decreased 2 229 15.1
Stayed about the Same 3 367 24.2
Don't Know 8 51 3.4
Refused 9 1 .1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
28. INCGAP Income Gap
Compared with 20 years ago, do you think the difference in
income between wealthy and middle-class Americans today is
wider, not as wide, or about the same?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Wider 1 1004 66.3
Not as Wide 2 153 10.1
About the Same 3 335 22.1
Don't Know 8 22 1.5
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Total 1514 100.0
29. SENATE Senate Term
How many years is a single term in office for a U.S. Senator?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Correct (6 yrs) 1 454 30.0
Incorrect 2 626 41.3
Not Sure 8 434 28.7
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Total 1514 100.0
Now I'd like to ask if you happen to know the names of some
people who now hold different titles. Can you tell me the
name of the current ...
30. MLEADER Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Correct (Dole) 1 581 38.4
Incorrect 2 165 10.9
Not Sure 8 766 50.6
Refused 9 2 .1
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Total 1514 100.0
31. VP Vice President of the U.S.
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Correct (Gore) 1 983 64.9
Incorrect 2 53 3.5
Not Sure 8 474 31.3
Refused 9 4 .3
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
32. SPEAKER Speaker of the U.S. House of
Representatives
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Correct (Gingrich) 1 875 57.8
Incorrect 2 51 3.4
Not Sure 8 585 38.6
Refused 9 3 .2
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
33. CHIEF Chief Justice of the U.S.
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Correct (Rehnquist) 1 120 7.9
Incorrect 2 123 8.1
Not Sure 8 1265 83.6
Refused 9 6 .4
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
I am going to read you some major legislation that the Congress
in Washington has debated over the last three years. As I read
each one, please tell me whether you think it was passed by
Congress, or not.
34. HEALTH National Health Insurance
First, how about legislation providing for a national health
insurance plan?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Passed 1 272 18.0
Not Passed (Correct) 2 1077 71.1
Not Sure 8 165 10.9
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
35. TERMLIM Term Limits
Next, how about legislation limiting the number of terms members
of Congress can serve?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Passed 1 343 22.7
Not Passed (Correct) 2 878 58.0
Not Sure 8 293 19.4
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
36. FAMLEAVE Family Leave
Next, how about legislation providing for family leaves that
require businesses to give employees time off after the birth
of a child or for an illness in the family?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Passed 1 1212 80.1
Not Passed 2 137 9.0
Not Sure 8 165 10.9
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
37. SPEND Spending on Medicare and Foreign Aid
As far as you know, is more of the federal budget now spent
on Medicare, or is more spent on foreign aid?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Medicare 1 449 29.7
Foreign Aid 2 836 55.2
Not Sure 8 227 15.0
Refused 9 2 .1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
38. GENDER Gender
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Male 1 724 47.8
Female 2 790 52.2
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
39. RACE Race
What is your race? Are you white, black, Asian or some other race?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
White 1 1262 83.4
Black or African American 2 127 8.4
Asian 3 22 1.5
Other or Mixed 4 86 5.7
Don't Know 8 1 .1
Refused 9 16 1.1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
40. LATIN Latin Heritage
Are you Hispanic or Latino background, such as Mexican, Puerto
Rican, Cuban, or some other Spanish background?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Hispanic 1 94 6.2
Not Hispanic 2 1410 93.1
Refused 9 10 .7
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
41. AGE Age in Years
42. EDUC Education
What was the last grade or class that you completed in school?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
<8 1 48 3.2
9-11 2 110 7.3
High School Graduate 3 460 30.4
Technical or Vocational 4 24 1.6
Some College 5 416 27.5
Four-Year Degree 6 280 18.5
Post Graduate 7 170 11.2
Don't Know 8 2 .1
Refused 9 4 .3
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
43. MARRIED Marital Status
Are you now married, living as married, widowed, divorced, separated,
or have you never been married?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Married 1 876 57.9
Living as Married 2 38 2.5
Widowed 3 116 7.7
Divorced 4 171 11.3
Separated 5 39 2.6
Never Married 6 268 17.7
Don't Know 8 1 .1
Refused 9 5 .3
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Total 1514 100.0
44. DIVORCED Ever Been Divorced
Have you ever been divorced?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Yes 1 221 14.6
No 2 850 56.1
Missing . 439 29.0
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
45. RELIGION Religious Preference
What is your religious preference? Are you Protestant, Roman
Catholic, Jewish, or some other relgion?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Protestant 1 602 39.8
Catholic 2 413 27.3
Jewish 3 32 2.1
Other 4 358 23.6
No Religion 5 88 5.8
Don't Know 8 5 .3
Refused 9 16 1.1
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
46. BORNAGN Born Again Christian
Would you describe yourself as a born-again or evangelical
Christian or not?
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
Yes 1 484 32.0
No 2 380 25.1
Don't Know 8 29 1.9
Refused 9 2 .1
Missing . 619 40.9
------- -------
Total 1514 100.0
47. INCOME 1994 Family Income
Last year, that is in 1994, what was your total family income
from all sources, before taxes? Just stop me when I get to
the right category.
Value Label Value Frequency Percent
<$10,000 1 120 7.9
$10,000-$19,999 2 199 13.1
$20,000-$29,999 3 260 17.2
$30,000-$49,999 4 372 24.6
$50,000-$74,999 5 245 16.2
$75,000-$99,999 6 85 5.6
>$99,999 7 76 5.0
Don't Know 8 50 3.3
Refused 9 107 7.1
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Total 1514 100.0
48. DIVWT Weight by Divwt
Weighting of variables ECON, PERSFIN, RELIGION, BORNAGN, LATIN
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