NES Dataset ID: 1972.M76
ICPSR Study Number: 7607
Number of Cases: 4455
Number of Variables: 3099

Study Content Highlights: The primary objective of this study was analysis of the current attitudes and voting patterns of a cross-section of American citizens, particularly in comparison with attitudes and voting patterns found in past cross-section studies. In addition to the continuing emphasis on the role of the political parties and candidates, the reactions of the American people to contemporary social issues were investigated. General themes of trust in government, alienation, and efficacy were emphasized in an attempt to determine the causes of the observed decrease in public support of the political system.

In the 1972 study, respondents' party identification, voting history, early political socialization, and general evaluation of the major political parties were obtained. The respondents' sense of political efficacy and civic duty, trust in government, and evaluation of governmental responsiveness were the subjects of questions designed to measure perceptions of the relationship of the government to its citizens.

Other items dealt more specifically with the 1972 campaign and election. The study recorded respondents' interest in the campaign and concern for the election outcome, reports of their voting behavior, feelings about potential presidential candidates on a "feeling thermometer," specific likes and dislikes about the presidential candidates, and reactions to the "Eagleton affair." Respondents were probed about the nature and extent of their exposure to the mass media. They were also asked questions that tested their knowledge of political institutions and government officials. The 1972 study also contained an extensive series of items which were designed to measure the respondents' degree of satisfaction with their lives and anticipation of change in areas such as their occupations, leisure-time activities, homes and communities.

The 1974 study explored political attitudes and behavior in the context of the Watergate events and the 1974 Congressional elections. Party identification of the respondents, their voting history, and information about facets of early political efficacy and civic duty, trust in government, and their evaluations of governmental responsiveness were the subjects of questions designed to measure the respondents' perceptions of the relationship of the government to its citizens. The respondents' interest in the campaign and concern for the outcome of the election were ascertained. Reports of their voting behavior were recorded. Respondents were asked to report their feelings about potential residential candidates on a feeling thermometer and to give their specific likes and dislikes about the senatorial candidates. Media-related attitudes and behavior were also explored.

The 1974 study also probed respondents for the major problems facing the country. A feeling thermometer series was used to measure respondent perceptions of group influences in American life and politics. Another series of scales measured the respondents' position and the position of the political parties on issues such as busing, women's liberation, urban unrest, rights of accused persons, aid to minorities and the importance of government guarantees of living standards. Respondents were asked to evaluate themselves, political leaders, and parties on a liberal-conservative scale. Non-political issues were also explored, including questions about personal finance, and business and economic conditions in the nation as a whole. Respondents were asked to evaluate the quality of their own life in a series of questions designed to measure personal esteem, trust and quality of life.

The 1976 study explored political attitudes and behavior in the context of the 1976 campaign and election. Items dealing specifically with the campaign and election elicited respondents' interest in the campaign, concern for the election outcome, voting behavior, and evaluation of the candidates. Party identification, respondents' voting history, information about facets of early political socialization, and evaluation of the political parties were also obtained.

1976 study questions included identification of the major problems thought to be facing the country, the respondents' sense of political efficacy and civic duty, the degree of their trust in government, and their evaluations of government responsiveness. Respondents were asked to indicate their feelings toward potential candidates and group influences in American life and politics on a feeling thermometer. Several questions were designed to measure the respondents' position and their perceptions of the positions of the political parties, positions of certain political leaders and various social groups with regard to political issues such as busing, race relations, women's liberation, marijuana use, national health insurance, the rights of accused persons, aid to minorities, and the importance of government guarantees of living standards. Respondents were also asked to evaluate themselves, the parties, and the candidates on a liberal-conservative scale. The study also contained specific inquiries into the impact of the mass media. A series of questions was designed to measure the impact of the 1976 presidential debates on political learning and information holding.

Another series of questions dealt with non-political issues. Respondents were questioned about perceptions of their own financial condition as well as business and economic conditions in the nation as a whole. Respondents were questioned about perceptions of their own life in a series of questions designed to measure personal esteem, trust, and quality of life.

Study Design Highlights: The 1972 study included 2705 respondents, and 1070 variables. Respondents were interviewed both before and after the election. There were two forms of the questionnaire for both waves: 1372 respondents were administered the form I pre-election questionnaire and 1333 respondents were administered the form II pre-election questionnaire. For the post-election wave, 1176 respondents received form I and 1109 form II. The two forms have approximately 80% of the same items and 20% unique questions.

After the 1974 election, attempts to contact the 2191 respondents who granted both a pre- and post-election interview in 1972 were made. If a panel member had moved from his or her 1972 residence, every reasonable effort was made to locate that person and interview her or him at the 1974 residence. Approximately 1625 interviews were obtained with panel members.

1976 study respondents were interviewed both before and after the election. The pre-election questionnaire was administered to 2,248 respondents and the post-election questionnaire was administered to 1,909 respondents. The design of the 1976 study includes a subset of respondents who had previously been interviewed in both the 1972 post-election survey and the 1974 election study. This set of panel respondents was then augmented with a set of new interviews selected to provide a representative cross-section of U.S. citizens when combined with the non-moving panel respondents. New respondents were not selected at the same sampling rate as panel respondents, so weighting was necessary to form a representative cross-section from the two types of respondents.