Questionnaires Wave 5 — post-election questionnaire
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Below is a list of different types of television programs that some people like to watch. Which of these types of programs do you like the best? Put a 1 next to it. Then select your second best liked type of television program, and put a 2 next to it, and put a 3 and 4 next to your third and fourth most liked type of program.
Accept multiple answers:
Science fiction shows like Heroes or Star Trek Voyager
A
Comedies/sitcoms like Two and a Half Men or The Simpsons
B
Drama shows like Grey's Anatomy or Law and Order
C
Soap operas like General Hospital or One Life to Live
D
Reality TV shows like Survivor or Cops
E
Sports programs
F
Game shows like Jeopardy! or Family Feud
G
News programs
H
Documentary programs on channels like the History Channel or the Discovery Channel
J
Music videos
K
Number: 1 – 4
5 = not ranked in top four
Skipped
999
Last night, how many hours, if any, did you watch television between 6 and 11 pm?
Did not watch TV between 6 and 11 last night
1
Less than 1 hour
2
Between 1 and 2 hours, but less than 2 hours
3
Between 2 and 3 hours, but less than 3 hours
4
Between 3 and 4 hours, but less than 4 hours
5
Between 4 and 5 hours, but less than 5 hours
6
5 hours
7
Skipped
999
From which of the following sources have you heard anything about the presidential campaign?
Accept multiple answers:
Television news programs (morning or evening)
A
Newspapers
B
Television talk shows, public affairs, or news analysis programs
C
Internet sites, chat rooms, or blogs
D
Radio news or radio talk shows
E
News magazines
F
1 = yes
2 = no
Have not heard anything about the presidential campaign
3
Skipped
999
As you've probably heard, Barack Obama won the recent presidential election. Why do you think more people voted for Barack Obama than John McCain?
Answer:
1
Skipped
999
Which of the following programs do you watch regularly on television? Please check any that you watch at least once a month.
Accept multiple answers:
The Simpsons
A
ABC News Nightline
B
ABC World News
C
Today Show
D
NBC Nightly News
E
The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
F
BET News
G
Fox News
H
Good Morning America
J
CBS Evening News
K
CBS Morning News
L
CNN Headline News / Newsroom
M
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
N
America This Morning
P
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Q
America's Election Headquarters
R
1 = yes
2 = no
None of the above
X
Skipped
999
Below are some additional television programs. Which of these do you watch regularly? Please check any that you watch at least once a month.
Accept multiple answers:
60 Minutes
A
The Late Show with David Letterman
B
The O'Reilly Factor
C
The Early Show
D
Ellen DeGeneres Show
E
Face the Nation
F
Fox and Friends
G
Brothers and Sisters
H
Frontline
J
Hannity and Colmes
K
Hannity's America
L
Hardball with Chris Matthews
M
24
P
Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer
Q
Morning Joe
R
The Rachel Maddow Show
S
1 = yes
2 = no
None of the above
X
Skipped
999
Generally speaking, do you think of yourself as a ...
Republican
1
Democrat
2
Independent
3
Another party, please specify:
4
No preference
5
Skipped
999
Ask only if think of self as a Republican [Q7_5 = 1].
Would you call yourself a ...
Strong Republican
1
Not very strong Republican
2
Skipped
999
Ask only if think of self as a Democrat [Q7_5 = 2].
Would you call yourself a ...
Strong Democrat
1
Not very strong Democrat
2
Skipped
999
Ask only if think of self as an Independent or of another political party, or have no party preference [Q7_5 = 3 – 5, 999].
Do you think of yourself as closer to the ...
Republican Party
1
Democratic Party
2
Skipped
999
Party ID — most recent answer (7-point scale):
Strong Republican
1
Not strong Republican
2
Leans Republican
3
Independent / other / undecided
4
Leans Democrat
5
Not strong Democrat
6
Strong Democrat
7
In general, do you think of yourself as ...
Extremely liberal
1
Liberal
2
Slightly liberal
3
Moderate, middle of the road
4
Slightly conservative
5
Conservative
6
Extremely conservative
7
Skipped
999
We'd like to get your feelings toward some people.
Please rate the person on a thermometer that runs from 0 to 100 degrees. Rating above 50 means that you feel favorable and warm toward the person. Rating below 50 means that you feel unfavorable and cool toward the person.
The (first / next) person is __. Where on the thermometer would you rate __?
[Show response scale as thermometer from 0 to 100.]
George W. Bush
Number: 0 – 100
0 = unfavorable
100 = favorable
Don't know who person is
101
Don't know enough about person
102
Skipped
999
Barack Obama
Number: 0 – 100
0 = unfavorable
100 = favorable
Don't know who person is
101
Don't know enough about person
102
Skipped
999
John McCain
Number: 0 – 100
0 = unfavorable
100 = favorable
Don't know who person is
101
Don't know enough about person
102
Skipped
999
Ask only on 11/5/08 – 11/14/08.
Joe Biden
Number: 0 – 100
0 = unfavorable
100 = favorable
Don't know who person is
101
Don't know enough about person
102
Skipped
999
Ask only on 11/5/08 – 11/14/08.
Sarah Palin
Number: 0 – 100
0 = unfavorable
100 = favorable
Don't know who person is
101
Don't know enough about person
102
Skipped
999
Ask only if heard about presidential campaign from newspapers [Q3rB_5 = 1].
What newspaper or newspapers do you read regularly? Please list their complete names as well as you can, along with the city where they are published.
Accept multiple answers:
Newspaper #1:
A
City of publication #1:
B
Newspaper #2:
C
City of publication #2:
D
1 = gave answer
2 = did not give answer
Skipped
999
This question is about the 2008 November election. In talking to people about elections, we often find that a lot of people were not able to vote because they weren't registered, they were sick, or they just didn't have time. Which of the following statements best describes you?
I did not vote in the November election.
1
I thought about voting in that election but didn't.
2
I usually vote but didn't in that election.
3
I am sure I voted in the November election.
4
Skipped
999
Ask only if voted in presidential election [Q18_5 = 4].
Some states allow individuals to vote before Election Day, that is vote early at a polling station or by filling out an absentee ballot. How about you? Did you vote early in the November election or did you vote on Election Day?
Yes, voted early
1
Voted on Election Day
2
Skipped
999
Ask only if early voted in presidential election [Q19_5 = 1].
How did you cast your ballot?
By voting at an early polling station
1
By sending in a ballot by mail
2
By sending in a ballot by fax
3
By personally dropping off a ballot at an election office
4
By having someone else drop off a ballot at an election office for you
5
By voting over the telephone
6
Some other way, please specify:
7
Skipped
999
Ask only if early voted in presidential election [Q19_5 = 1].
When did you cast your ballot early in the general election?
The day before Election Day
1
A couple of days before Election Day
2
About a week before Election Day
3
Two or more weeks before Election Day
4
Skipped
999
Ask only if voted in presidential election [Q18_5 = 4].
In the 2008 presidential election who did you vote for?
John McCain and Sarah Palin, the Republicans
1
Barack Obama and Joe Biden, the Democrats
2
Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez, the Independents
3
Bob Barr and Wayne Allyn Root, the Libertarians
4
Other, please specify:
5
Skipped
999
Ask only if early voted in presidential election [Q19_5 = 1].
If you voted at the polls on Election Day, would your vote for president have been different than it was on your early ballot?
Yes
1
No
2
Skipped
999
Ask only if voted in presidential election [Q18_5 = 4].
When did you finally decide for whom to vote in the presidential election?
On Election Day
1
In the last three days before the election
2
Sometime in the last week before the election
3
Earlier in October
4
Sometime in September
5
Before that
6
Skipped
999
Ask only if voted in presidential election [Q18_5 = 4].
In deciding your vote for president, was the race of the candidate ...
The single most important factor
1
One of several important factors
2
Not an important factor
3
Skipped
999
In the November election you were able to vote for a member of Congress, that is the US House of Representatives in Washington. Did you vote for ...
[Name of Republican candidate in respondent's district], the Republican
1
[Name of Democratic candidate], the Democrat
2
Someone else / another party, specify:
3
Did not vote for member of Congress
4
Skipped
999
Not asked — do not live in competitive congressional district
9999
In the election you were able to vote for a US senator. Did you vote for ...
[Name of Republican candidate in respondent's state], the Republican
1
[Name of Democratic candidate], the Democrat
2
Someone else / another party, specify:
3
Did not vote for US senator
4
Skipped
999
Not asked — do not live in state with Senate election
9999
There was also a special election for US senator in your state. In that election, did you vote for ...
[Name of Republican candidate in respondent's state], the Republican
1
[Name of Democratic candidate], the Democrat
2
Someone else / another party, specify:
3
Did not vote for US senator
4
Skipped
999
Not asked — do not live in state with special Senate election
9999
In the election you were able to vote for governor. Did you vote for ...
[Name of Republican candidate in respondent's state], the Republican
1
[Name of Democratic candidate], the Democrat
2
Someone else / another party, specify:
3
Did not vote for governor
4
Skipped
999
Not asked — do not live in state with gubernatorial election
9999
Ask only if rated favorability of Obama [Q13_5 = 0 – 100].
Is there anything in particular that you like or dislike about Barack Obama? If so, please fill in the boxes below.
Accept multiple answers:
I like:
A
I dislike:
B
1 = gave answer
2 = did not give answer
Nothing in particular
3
Don't know enough about this person
4
Skipped
999
Ask only if rated favorability of McCain [Q14_5 = 0 – 100].
Is there anything in particular that you like or dislike about John McCain? If so, please fill in the boxes below.
Accept multiple answers:
I like:
A
I dislike:
B
1 = gave answer
2 = did not give answer
Nothing in particular
3
Don't know enough about this person
4
Skipped
999
{11/5/08 – 11/14/08 : Here are some questions about the presidential candidates. Below are left-right scales on which you can rate characteristics of the candidates.
For the item below, the far left side of the scale means that you think the candidate is extremely "trustworthy." Placing the slider on the far right side means that you think the candidate is extremely "untrustworthy." The middle means that you think the candidate is not particularly toward one end or the other.}
Ask Q32_5 – Q33_5 only on 11/5/08 – 11/14/08.
Where would you rate __ on this scale?
[Show response scale as horizontal slider with "extremely trustworthy" at left, "extremely untrustworthy" at right. Do not display numeric equivalents to respondent.]
In the past 12 months, have you participated in any of the following activities on behalf of a candidate for elected office?
Told any people why they should vote for or against a candidate
Yes
1
No
2
Skipped
999
Gone to a political meeting, speech, dinner, or things like that
Yes
1
No
2
Skipped
999
Worn campaign buttons, put campaign stickers on your car, or placed a sign in your window or in front of your house
Yes
1
No
2
Skipped
999
In the past 12 months, did someone else try to tell you why you should vote for or against a candidate?
Yes
1
No
2
Skipped
999
Which one of these five issues is the most important facing the country?
Energy policy
1
The war in Iraq
2
The economy
3
Terrorism
4
Health care
5
Skipped
999
Do you mainly consider yourself ...
A "hawk" who believes military force should be used frequently to promote US policy
1
A "dove" who believes the US should rarely or never use military force
2
Skipped
999
Which comes closer to your view?
Government should do more to solve problems.
1
Government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individuals.
2
Skipped
999
Ask Q43_5 – Q44_5 only on 11/5/08 – 11/14/08.
How much would you say you know about each of these people? For each name, please tell us whether you know quite a lot, a fair amount, a little, or almost nothing at all about this person.
Barack Obama
Quite a lot
1
A fair amount
2
A little
3
Almost nothing
4
Skipped
999
John McCain
Quite a lot
1
A fair amount
2
A little
3
Almost nothing
4
Skipped
999
Using this scale that ranges from extremely liberal to extremely conservative, where would you place each of these candidates? Just click "don't know" if you don't know enough to rate the person.
Barack Obama
Extremely liberal
1
Liberal
2
Slightly liberal
3
Moderate, middle of the road
4
Slightly conservative
5
Conservative
6
Extremely conservative
7
Don't know
8
Skipped
999
John McCain
Extremely liberal
1
Liberal
2
Slightly liberal
3
Moderate, middle of the road
4
Slightly conservative
5
Conservative
6
Extremely conservative
7
Don't know
8
Skipped
999
We are interested in how people are getting along financially these days.
Would you say that you and your family living here are better off, worse off, or just about the same financially as you were a year ago?
A lot better off
1
A little better off
2
A little worse off
3
A lot worse off
4
Just about the same
5
Skipped
999
Thinking about the economy in the country as a whole, would you say that over the past year the nation's economy has gotten better, stayed about the same, or gotten worse?
Gotten a lot better
1
Gotten a little better
2
Gotten a little worse
3
Gotten a lot worse
4
Stayed about the same
5
Skipped
999
Below are some additional television programs. Which of these do you watch regularly? Please check any that you watch at least once a month.
Accept multiple answers:
Meet the Press
A
MSNBC Live
B
CSI: Miami
C
Out in the Open
D
Oprah
E
Law and Order
F
Situation Room
G
Special Report with Brit Hume
H
Larry King Live
J
CBS Sunday Morning
K
The Beltway Boys
L
20/20
N
The Fox Report with Shepard Smith
P
Campbell Brown's Election Center
Q
1 = yes
2 = no
None of the above
X
Skipped
999
Here is the last list of television programs. Please check any that you watch at least once a month.
Accept multiple answers:
Big Love
A
This Week with George Stephanopoulos
B
The View
C
Scrubs
D
Lou Dobbs
E
The Colbert Report
F
Anderson Cooper 360
G
Geraldo at Large
H
Countdown with Keith Olbermann
J
Dateline NBC
K
Family Guy
L
Studio B with Shepard Smith
M
Reliable Sources
N
Your World with Neil Cavuto
P
McLaughlin Group
Q
1 = yes
2 = no
None of the above
X
Skipped
999
Ask only if heard about presidential campaign from radio news or talk shows [Q3rE_5 = 1].
Which of the following radio programs do you listen to regularly? Please check any that you listen to at least once a month.
Accept multiple answers:
The Rush Limbaugh Show
A
The Sean Hannity Show
B
Michael Savage, The Savage Nation
C
The Glenn Beck Program
D
Bill O'Reilly, Radio Factor
E
Dr. Laura Schlessinger
F
Laura Ingraham
G
The Neal Boortz Show
H
The Mike Gallagher Show
J
The Jim Bohannon Show
K
The Clark Howard Show
L
The Mark Levin Show
M
Bill Bennett's Morning in America
N
The Jerry Doyle Show
P
NPR's All Things Considered
Q
1 = yes
2 = no
None of the above
X
Skipped
999
There has been much talk recently about whether gays and lesbians should have the legal right to marry someone of the same sex. Which of the following options comes closest to your position on this issue?
I support full marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.
1
I support civil unions or domestic partnerships, but not gay marriage.
2
I do not support any form of legal recognition of the relationships of gay and lesbian couples.
3
Skipped
999
Which of the following plans for United States policy in Iraq comes closest to your own position?
The US should withdraw all troops from Iraq as soon as possible, regardless of conditions in Iraq.
1
The US should set a deadline for withdrawing its troops if the Iraqi government doesn't show definite progress in training Iraqi forces and controlling violence on its own.
2
The US should keep its troops in Iraq as long as is needed until a stable democratic government is established there.
3
Skipped
999
Ask Q54_5 – Q55_5 only on 11/5/08 – 11/14/08.
Please indicate whether you favor or oppose each of the following proposals addressing immigration.
Provide a path to citizenship for some illegal aliens who agree to return to their home country for a period of time and pay substantial fines
Strongly favor
1
Somewhat favor
2
Somewhat oppose
3
Strongly oppose
4
Skipped
999
Increase border security by building a fence along part of the US border with Mexico
Strongly favor
1
Somewhat favor
2
Somewhat oppose
3
Strongly oppose
4
Skipped
999
Reference point for questions about social group perceptions:
Respondent is white male
1
Respondent is white female
2
Respondent is black male
3
Respondent is black female
4
Respondent is Hispanic male
5
Respondent is Hispanic female
6
Respondent is other/undefined race/ethnicity, male
7
Respondent is other/undefined race/ethnicity, female
8
Here are some questions about various groups in our society. Below are left-right scales on which you can rate characteristics of people in different groups.
For the item below, the far left side of the scale means that you think most of the people in that group are extremely "hardworking." Placing the slider on the far right side means that you think most of the people in that group are extremely "lazy." The middle means that you think the people in this group are not particularly toward one end or the other.
Ask only if respondent is white, black, or Hispanic [SOC-REF_5 = 1 – 6].
Where would you rate physicians in general on this scale?
[Show response scale as horizontal slider with "extremely hardworking" at left, "extremely lazy" at right. Do not display numeric equivalents to respondent.]
Number: 0 – 100
Skipped
999
Randomly display Q57_5 – Q59_5 next, Q60_5 – Q62_5 after Q65_5; or Q60_5 – Q62_5 next, Q57_5 – Q59_5 after Q65_5.
Ask Q57_5 – Q59_5 only if respondent is white, black, or Hispanic [SOC-REF_5 = 1 – 6].
Where would you rate ([if white in SOC-REF_5:] whites / [if black:] blacks / [if Hispanic:] Hispanic Americans) in general on these scales?
[Show response scale as horizontal slider with "extremely hardworking" at left, "extremely lazy" at right. Do not display numeric equivalents to respondent.]
Number: 0 – 100
Skipped
999
[Show response scale as horizontal slider with "extremely intelligent" at left, "extremely unintelligent" at right. Do not display numeric equivalents to respondent.]
Number: 0 – 100
Skipped
999
[Show response scale as horizontal slider with "extremely trustworthy" at left, "extremely untrustworthy" at right. Do not display numeric equivalents to respondent.]
Number: 0 – 100
Skipped
999
Ask Q60_5 – Q62_5 only if respondent is white, black, or Hispanic [SOC-REF_5 = 1 – 6].
Where would you rate ([if non-black in SOC-REF_5:] blacks / [if black:] whites) in general on these scales?
[Show response scale as horizontal slider with "extremely hardworking" at left, "extremely lazy" at right. Do not display numeric equivalents to respondent.]
Number: 0 – 100
Skipped
999
[Show response scale as horizontal slider with "extremely intelligent" at left, "extremely unintelligent" at right. Do not display numeric equivalents to respondent.]
Number: 0 – 100
Skipped
999
[Show response scale as horizontal slider with "extremely trustworthy" at left, "extremely untrustworthy" at right. Do not display numeric equivalents to respondent.]
Number: 0 – 100
Skipped
999
Ask only on 11/5/08 – 11/14/08.
Do you favor or oppose the federal government in Washington negotiating more free trade agreements like NAFTA?
Strongly favor
1
Somewhat favor
2
Somewhat oppose
3
Strongly oppose
4
Skipped
999
Which of the following options comes closest to your view on what we should be doing about federal income taxes?
Taxes should be cut.
1
Taxes should be kept pretty much as they are.
2
Taxes should be raised if necessary in order to maintain current federal programs and services.
3
Skipped
999
Which of the following options comes closest to your view on abortion?
Abortion should be available to anyone who wants it.
1
Abortion should be available, but with stricter limits than it is now.
2
Abortion should not be permitted except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the woman is at risk.
3
Abortion should not be permitted under any circumstances.
4
Skipped
999
How confident are you that the votes across the country were accurately counted on Election Day?
Very confident
1
Somewhat confident
2
Not too confident
3
Not at all confident
4
Skipped
999
How much do you feel that having elections makes the government pay attention to what the people think: a good deal, some, or not much?
A good deal
1
Some
2
Not much
3
Skipped
999
How much do you feel that political parties help to make the government pay attention to what the people think: a good deal, some, or not much?
A good deal
1
Some
2
Not much
3
Skipped
999
In general, do you think the best candidates win the elections, or is it just the candidates who raise the most money that get elected, or something in between?
Best candidates win
1
Candidates who raise the most money win
2
Something in between
3
Skipped
999
In some countries, people believe their elections are conducted fairly. In other countries, people believe that their elections are conducted unfairly. Do you believe presidential elections in the United States are generally ...
Very fair
1
Somewhat fair
2
Neither fair nor unfair
3
Somewhat unfair
4
Very unfair
5
Skipped
999
Please tell us to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
Black elected officials are more likely to __.
Favor blacks for government jobs over white applicants
Strongly agree
1
Somewhat agree
2
Somewhat disagree
3
Strongly disagree
4
Skipped
999
Support government spending that favors blacks
Strongly agree
1
Somewhat agree
2
Somewhat disagree
3
Strongly disagree
4
Skipped
999
Support policies that could cost whites jobs
Strongly agree
1
Somewhat agree
2
Somewhat disagree
3
Strongly disagree
4
Skipped
999
Give special favors to the black community
Strongly agree
1
Somewhat agree
2
Somewhat disagree
3
Strongly disagree
4
Skipped
999
Thinking about the statements you just read, would it be good or bad if black elected officials favored blacks?
Very good
1
Somewhat good
2
Somewhat bad
3
Very bad
4
Skipped
999
In general, do you think race relations in the United States are very good, fairly good, fairly bad, very bad, or neither good nor bad?
Very good
1
Fairly good
2
Fairly bad
3
Very bad
4
Neither good nor bad
5
Skipped
999
Over the course of the past 10 years, do you feel that race relations have gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same?
Gotten a lot better
1
Gotten a little better
2
Gotten a little worse
3
Gotten a lot worse
4
Stayed about the same
5
Skipped
999
Looking ahead 10 years from today, do you feel that race relations will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
Get a lot better
1
Get a little better
2
Get a little worse
3
Get a lot worse
4
Stay about the same
5
Skipped
999
Do you think that most white Americans hold the following perceptions of black Americans, or not?
The perception that blacks __
Ask only if respondent is black [SOC-REF_5 = 3, 4].
Is it more important for blacks to build good relations with whites or for blacks to build pride and respect for themselves, even if it means causing tension between blacks and whites?
More important for blacks to build good relations with whites
1
More important for blacks to build pride and respect for themselves
2
Skipped
999
Ask Q88_5 – Q89_5 only if respondent is black [SOC-REF_5 = 3, 4].
Please tell us to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
Blacks should have control over the economy in mostly black communities.
Strongly agree
1
Somewhat agree
2
Somewhat disagree
3
Strongly disagree
4
Skipped
999
Black people should shop in stores owned by other blacks whenever possible.
Strongly agree
1
Somewhat agree
2
Somewhat disagree
3
Strongly disagree
4
Skipped
999
Ask only on 11/5/08 – 11/14/08.
Ask only if respondent is black [SOC-REF_5 = 3, 4].
Do you think what happens generally to black people in this country will have something to do with what happens in your life, or not?
Yes
1
No
2
Skipped
999
Ask only on 11/5/08 – 11/14/08.
Ask only if think what happens to blacks in the country will affect own life (and respondent is black) [Q90_5 = 1].
Will it affect you a lot, some, or not very much?
A lot
1
Some
2
Not very much
3
Skipped
999