Showing 1 – 33 of 33 results.
Curated
ABC News Daniloff Freedom Poll, September 1986 (ICPSR 8640)
Released/updated on: 2007-05-07
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was conducted after the release of Nicholas Daniloff, a reporter who had been held by the Soviet Union on charges of spying. The United States government negotiated his release but denied that there was any connection between his release and the release of Gennadi Zakharov, a Soviet physicist who had been held by the United States on spying charges. Respondents were asked about: their knowledge of the Daniloff case, whether or not they thought there was a swap, if they considered the case a victory or a defeat for the United States, and their evaluation of how Reagan handled the case. Respondents were also asked to evaluate Reagan's handling of the hostage situation in Beirut, Lebanon. In addition, they were asked whether or not they expected any important accomplishments to come from the upcoming summit meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev in Iceland.
Curated
ABC News START Talks Poll, January 1985 (ICPSR 8556)
Released/updated on: 2007-09-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was conducted just prior to Secretary of State George Shultz's meeting with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko in Geneva to discuss arms control. Respondents were asked if they approved of Ronald Reagan's handling of foreign affairs and relations with the Soviet Union in particular, if they felt the United States or the Soviet Union was ahead in military power, and if the United States should strive for military superiority. They also were asked whether they approved of the United States' entering into a new round of arms control talks, how they would rate the chances of success of the talks, and whether they felt the Soviet Union would cheat on an agreement if one were reached. In addition, respondents were queried for their opinions on the new defensive weapons that use lasers to shoot down enemy missiles and the impact of this technology on the arms race.
Curated
ABC News Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Coup Poll, August 1991 (ICPSR 9757)
Released/updated on: 2007-09-18
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey focuses on issues related to the military takeover in the Soviet Union and the removal of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev from power. Respondents were asked if they approved of the way George Bush was handling the situation in the Soviet Union, whether the events in the Soviet Union posed a major threat to world peace, whether the economic and political reforms in the Soviet Union would continue under the new leaders, whether the new leaders could be trusted to honor the Soviet Union's international treaties, how likely it was that the Soviet Union would go back to hard-line communism, and whether the people who took power in the Soviet Union would be able to remain in power over the long term. Respondents were also questioned about whether the United States should cut long-range nuclear missiles, scale back sales of wheat to the Soviet Union, and help the republics that wanted to break away from the Soviet Union. They were also asked if they thought the Cold War would start again. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, age, sex, and state/region of residence.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, November 1985 (ICPSR 8593)
Released/updated on: 2008-05-14
Geographic coverage: United States
In this survey respondents were asked for their opinions on Reagan's performance as president, arms control, United States and Soviet military power, the buildup of nuclear weapons, and the possibility of nuclear war. Other topics covered included the upcoming summit meeting between Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, the seriousness with which each leader was seeking progress in arms control, and space-based weapons or "Star Wars." Demographic data on respondents also were recorded.
Curated
ABC News West Germany Poll, May 1989 (ICPSR 9248)
Released/updated on: 2007-12-13
Geographic coverage: Federal Republic of Germany, Germany, Global
Time period: 1989-05-12--1989-05-22
This survey of West German respondents elicited their opinions on West Germany and its relationship with the United States and other countries. Topics covered include the respondent's view of Helmut Kohl's handling of his job as chancellor of West Germany, impressions of political leaders, the political leader most interested in arms control, and Gorbachev's motives in relationships with western countries. In addition, respondents were asked which countries they thought were working for peace, which countries were more involved in unrest, and which countries were friends to West Germany. They also were queried about whether there was a need to change West Germany's foreign policy, whether the Soviets should reduce their conventional forces in Europe, whether NATO was necessary for the defense of Western Europe, and whether the cold war between West and East was coming to an end. Views on the United States' short-range nuclear weapons and on American troops in West Germany also were included. Background information on respondents includes region and age.
Curated
American Foreign Policy Officials Study, 1966 (ICPSR 5809)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: United States, Global
This data collection contains information on the personal background of 95 United States civilian and military officials involved in foreign policy and their attitudes toward aspects of the international political environment, United States foreign policy, and their own jobs in 1966. Respondents were asked questions about the most important political issues of their generation and their view of the structure of the world political arena, the major causes of war, the just-concluded bilateral agreement between the United States and Russia banning nuclear testing and further arms control, the role of the United Nations (UN) in world affairs, the usefulness of force, the greatest threat to American security, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization-controlled nuclear force, the primary foreign policy objective of the Soviet Union, the impact of the Cold War on American values, institutions, and ways of thinking, and American communists' eligibility for public office. Also elicited were respondents' attitudes toward non-aligned nations. Other variables provide personality scales measuring respondents' degree of dogmatism and rigidity. Demographic variables on respondents provide information on sex, race, nationality, education, religion, family, occupation, political party identification, self-perceived ideological leanings, and official status.
Curated
American Public Opinion and U.S. Foreign Policy, 1982 (ICPSR 8130)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: United States
This data collection consists of two surveys conducted in the United States during the final months of 1982 by the Gallup Organization. Variables measure attitudes concerning the role of the United States in the world. Issues include the relationship between domestic and foreign policy priorities, the appropriate response to the increasing diplomatic and political as well as military reach of the Soviet Union, the shift in foreign policy priorities, and the roles of various individuals and institutions in the implementation of foreign policy. Part 1 is a public survey involving a stratified, weighted, systematic national sample of 1,547 respondents aged 18 and older. Part 2 is a leadership sample including 341 individuals representing Americans in senior positions with knowledge of international affairs. Roughly equal proportions were chosen from the national political and governmental world, including senators and representatives (members of the Foreign Relations, International Relations, and Armed Services committees), and officials with international responsibilities from the State, Treasury, Defense, and other departments, and from the business community, the communications field, education, and foreign policy institutes. A smaller number of leaders was drawn from national unions, churches, voluntary organizations, and ethnic organizations.
Curated
American Public Opinion and U.S. Foreign Policy: General Public, 1978 (ICPSR 7748)
Released/updated on: 2007-10-16
Geographic coverage: United States
These data were gathered in personal interviews with a national sample of United States citizens by the Gallup Organization, Inc., to measure attitudes toward foreign affairs in November 1978. Respondents were asked to list the biggest problems facing the country, in general, as well as the biggest foreign policy problems. Other questions explored the relationship between domestic and foreign policy priorities, e.g., aid to education, defense spending, farm subsidies, economic and military aid to other nations, and domestic welfare/reliefprograms. Respondents gave their opinions of what constituted appropriate responses to the growing military power of the United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), and they rated the threat that communism presented in several other countries. Respondents were asked to respond favorably or unfavorably to several scenarios in which the use of United States armed forces in other parts of the world could be justified. Respondents were asked to rate the performance of Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and to use a "thermometer" scale to measure their feelings (warm or cold) toward several politicians and world leaders, as well as toward several countries that were important to the United States for political, economic, or security reasons. Opinions were sought about the type of role that various individuals and institutions (e.g., the president, the CIA, the military, the United Nations, and the Congress) should play in the creation of foreign policy. Respondents' political participation was also measured. Demographic information includes age, race, sex, income, sources of information in the media, religion, educational level, occupation, and political orientation. In a similar survey conducted from November 1978 to January 1979, many of the same questions were asked of Americans in senior positions with knowledge of and influence on foreign policy. The results of that survey are collected in AMERICAN PUBLIC OPINION AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY: NATIONAL LEADERS, 1979 (ICPSR 7786).
Curated
American Public Opinion and U.S. Foreign Policy: National Leaders, 1979 (ICPSR 7786)
Released/updated on: 2007-08-02
Geographic coverage: United States
These data were gathered in personal interviews with respondents who represented Americans in senior positions with knowledge of and influence upon international affairs and foreign policy by the Gallup Organization, Inc., between November 20, 1978, and January 12, 1979. These individuals were chosen from the areas of national politics, governmental offices, business, education, the media, national unions, and other organizations with national influence. Respondents were asked to list the biggest problems facing the country, in general, as well as the biggest foreign policy problems. Other questions explored the relationship between domestic and foreign policy priorities, e.g., aid to education, defense spending, farm subsidies, and domestic welfare/relief programs. Respondents' opinions were sought about the roles of various individuals and institutions in the creation of foreign policy, and the appropriate responses of the United States to actions by the former Soviet Union and other countries. They also guaged the threat of communism to the United States in several countries. Other questions covered foreign economic aid, military aid/selling military equipment to other nations, the role of the United States in world affairs, and the use of United States troops in other parts of the world. Respondents were asked to rate the performance of Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, and opinions were sought about the type of role that various individuals and institutions (e.g., the president, the CIA, the military, the United Nations, and the Congress) should play in the creation of foreign policy. Respondents' political participation and orientation was also measured. In a similar survey conducted in November 1978, many of the same questions were asked of a sample of the general public in the United States. The results of that survey are collected in AMERICAN PUBLIC OPINION AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY: GENERAL PUBLIC, 1979 (ICPSR 7748).
Curated
Attitudes Toward American Foreign Policy: West Germany, 1962 (ICPSR 7230)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: United States
This study presents a subset of questions from the SURVEY OF CONSUMER ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR, SPRING 1962 (ICPSR 3637) focusing on American opinions of and attitudes toward West Germany. Respondents were asked open-ended questions relating to their impressions of West Germany, if and why their attitudes had changed over the past several years, how dependable an ally West Germany was, and what their positions were on a divided Germany and the Berlin issue. Other questions elicited extensive information on socioeconomic characteristics and probed attitudes toward the economy and buying foreign goods. Demographic data include sex, age, race, marital status, income, religion, occupation, and party identification.
Curated
Burdens of National Defense, 1961-1968 (ICPSR 7388)
Released/updated on: 2006-01-18
Geographic coverage: Canada, United States, United Kingdom, France
Time period: 1938-01-01--1968-01-01
This study includes state-level information on expenditures of the United States Department of Defense and National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the years 1961-1962 and 1967-1968 (Part 1), and U.S. Senate roll-call votes on defense-related issues during the 87th and 90th Congresses (Part 2). The study also contains time-series data representing a breakdown of the gross national product (GNP) by component categories for Canada in the years 1947-1964 (Part 3), for France in 1950-1965 (Part 4), for the United Kingdom in 1947-1965 (Part 5), and for the United States in 1938-1967 (Part 6).
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #1, October 1990 (ICPSR 9615)
Released/updated on: 2010-03-31
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1990-10-08--1990-10-10
This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Demographic information collected includes sex, age, race, education, family income, religion, ethnicity, political orientation, party preference, and voting behavior. Specific topics covered in this survey include foreign policy, the economy and the recession, the federal budget deficit, Dan Quayle, state election campaigns, voter registration status, party preference in the 1990 election for United States House of Representatives, likelihood of voting in the 1990 elections for Congress, and term limits for members of Congress. Other areas on which respondents' opinions were sought include the savings and loan crisis, whether the interests of the government and Congress were self-serving or beneficial to all, re-election of respondent's representative and members of Congress, Democratic vs. Republican control of the White House and House of Representatives, the Cold War, whether the Soviet Union and Germany were peace-loving or aggressive, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the response of the United States, female reporters in professional sports team locker rooms, and major league baseball. A series of items focusing on marriage included whether divorce or constant domestic arguments were more harmful to children, respondent's marital status, likelihood of remarriage if divorced, initiating party in divorce, divorce vs. keeping the marriage together, quality of communication and trust in marriage, and whether the respondent would marry the same person again.
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Overnight Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Survey, August 20, 1991 (ICPSR 9804)
Released/updated on: 1992-10-31
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey focused on the Soviet Union. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George Bush was dealing with the current situation in the the Soviet Union, whether the United States should try harder to reduce tensions with the Soviets, what their opinion was of Mikhail Gorbachev, how important it was to the interests of the United States that Gorbachev be in power, whether President Bush offered enough encouragement and support of the changes Gorbachev initiated in the Soviet Union, and whether Gorbachev would still be in power if the United States had given more support to his changes. Respondents were also asked about the likelihood of nuclear war within the next ten years, how closely they had followed the news about the situation in the Soviet Union, what their opinion was of Boris Yeltsin, and whether the new leaders of the Soviet Union would live up to arms control agreements, try to regain control over Eastern Europe, reverse the trend toward democracy inside the Soviet Union, escalate the Cold War, or cause a civil war inside the Soviet Union. Additional questions included whether Gorbachev's attempts to restructure the Soviet economy were a success, whether the Soviet Union should be given the same privileges in international trade as other friendly nations, whether the new leaders who had taken power in the Soviet Union were likely to retain control of the government, whether the United States should take action to help restore Gorbachev to power, and if most people in the Soviet Union would prefer living in a democracy.
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Polls, 1979 (ICPSR 7819)
Released/updated on: 2006-01-18
Geographic coverage: United States
This study is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Each data file in the collection represents a distinct nationwide survey that was conducted during 1979. Approximately 1,000-1,500 randomly selected adults were interviewed by telephone in each poll. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Jimmy Carter and his handling of the presidency, foreign affairs, and the economy, as well as their views on a range of current social and economic issues. In addition the March 1979 Poll on Peace in the Middle East (Part 3) focused specifically on the peace treaty signed by Egypt and Israel. Respondents were asked if they believed this agreement would lead to long-term peace between the two nations, whether peace between Israel and other Arab countries was likely, and whether President Carter's participation and the United States' role in facilitating negotiations were necessary to achieve the peace agreement. Nuclear power and energy shortages were explored in Part 4, April 1979 Poll on Nuclear Power. Respondents were asked if they agreed that there was a need for more nuclear power plants, how they felt about having a nuclear power plant in their own community, and, given the choice, if they would rather build more power plants, cut back on personal use of energy, or pay higher prices for foreign oil. Other questions concerned how increasing gasoline prices might affect driving habits, the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident, and whether or not solar energy could solve the energy crisis. The June 1979 Poll-Pre-1980 Election (Part 5) focused on qualities voters looked for in presidential candidates and how ongoing domestic and international issues might affect their pre-election voting preferences. Specific topics included inflation, the energy crisis, and the arms race. Respondents were asked how rising gasoline prices, lines at gas stations, and the prospect of gasoline rationing had impacted their lives and driving habits, what they thought about the arms limitation talks between the United States and the Soviet Union, and whether the SALT treaty, if approved, would reduce the chance of war with the Soviet Union. The primary focus of Part 6, July 1979 Poll on the Oil Shortage, were gasoline and oil shortages, gasoline rationing, increasing energy prices, proposals for reducing energy consumption, and the United States' dependence on foreign oil. Respondents' views on presidential candidates, the influx of Asian refugees ('boat people'), and the possible legalization of marijuana were also elicited. The Mid-July 1979 Poll after President Carter's Speech (Part 7) explored respondents' reactions to the crisis in national confidence that President Carter had referred to in his televised speech. Respondents were asked whether they believed there was a crisis in confidence in the country, and if listening to the speech had changed their own sense of confidence in the United States. In Part 8, November 1979 Poll on Issues of 1979 (with Pre-1980 Election Focus), respondents were asked to rate how they felt things were going in the United States and in their personal life, how this compared to five years before and whether they anticipated the following five years to be better or worse. Additional questions concerned leadership qualities of presidential candidates, abortion rights, the ordination of women, whether the United States should negotiate with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and whether the SALT treaty should or should not be approved by the Senate. Background information on respondents includes voter participation history, political party affiliation, political orientation, age, race, religion, education, household income, armed forces service, and participation in labor unions.
Curated
CBS News Polls, 1977-1979 (ICPSR 7817)
Released/updated on: 2006-01-18
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1977-01-01--1979-01-01
This study is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Each data file in this collection represents a distinct nationwide survey that was conducted during 1977-1979. Approximately 1,000-1,500 randomly selected adults were surveyed by telephone in each poll. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Jimmy Carter and his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, and the economy, as well as their views on a range of current social and economic issues. The January 1977 Inauguration Poll (Part 1) asked respondents whether they believed newly inaugurated President Carter would be able to balance the federal budget, contain inflation, reduce unemployment, cut defense spending, restore trust in government, work effectively with Congress, and bring peace to the Middle East. Opinions were also elicited on other current issues, including capital punishment, amnesty for Vietnam draft evaders, building closer ties with China, and United States support for Black majority rule in South Africa. Part 2, June 1978 Education Poll, covered topics concerning the quality of public school education, school busing and racial integration of schools, the effects of single parents, working mothers, and television viewing on a child's education, standardized tests, classroom discipline, and homework. In Part 3, September 1978 Poll on Mid-East Summit Meeting, respondents were asked for their assessment of the chances for peace in the Middle East, their knowledge of the results of the Camp David summit with Egypt, Israel, and the United States, whether Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, or President Carter was most responsible for the agreements, and whether President Carter met their expectations with what he accomplished at the summit. Part 4, December 1978 Poll on China, focused on United States relations with China, the impact closer ties with China may have on relations between the United States and Taiwan, prospects for peace in the Middle East, and United States negotiations with the Soviet Union to cut back on military weapons. In the October 1979 Poll on Current Issues (Part 5) respondents were asked to identify what they believed to be the most important problems facing the country, and whether problems associated with rising prices and energy shortages had affected their lives directly. Background information on respondents includes voter participation history, political party affiliation, political orientation, age, race, religion, education, employment and household income.
Curated
Cohorts, Chronology, and Collective Memories (ICPSR 1318)
Released/updated on: 2006-01-31
Geographic coverage: United States
We asked Americans to tell us the national and world events that they believe to have been especially important since the 1930's, using replicated cross-section surveys carried out in 1985, in 2000, and September 11, 2001. Our primary interests are, first, in how collective memories change as new events occur, such as the end of the Cold War or the 9/11 terrorist attack, and second, in whether the origin of such memories during the critical period of adolescence and early adulthood, as well as their connection with education, remain stable over time and consistent with theory. As part of our investigation we consider four related issues: collective forgetting as well as collective remembering. The distinction between ease of recalling events and judgments of their importance. Compound events which are composed of sub-events that can be remembered separately by respondents. And larger social and technological changes difficult or impossible to date with any precision. Panel data from the second and third surveys, obtained shortly before and after 9/11, aid in determining which earlier collective memories were superseded by the terrorist attack itself.
Curated
Domestic Politics and United States Foreign Policy: A Study of Cold War Conflict Behavior (ICPSR 1289)
Released/updated on: 2003-06-25
Geographic coverage: United States
This study reexamines an empirical claim that is broadly accepted in international relations: during the Cold War, United States foreign policy belligerence was influenced strongly by domestic factors. The authors develop a rational expectations theory that produces hypotheses that are at odds with that result. They test these hypotheses and report findings that are both consistent with their rational expectations theory and inconsistent with the domestic effects hypothesis. They conclude that international politics, rather than domestic politics, was the primary determinant of United States foreign policy behavior during the Cold War.
Curated
Foreign Affairs Perspectives of United States Business and Military Elites, 1973 (ICPSR 7491)
Released/updated on: 2006-01-18
Geographic coverage: United States, Global
This study explored perspectives and sources of opinions about United States foreign policy among American business and military elites. The data collection includes information obtained from surveys of military and business elites, as well as content analysis of articles on American intervention abroad published in business and military journals. Military officers (Part 1) and senior business executives (Part 2) were asked about causes of war, prospects for peace, the most serious domestic and international problems faced by the United States, and possible solutions to these problems. Respondents' views on military and economic aid, defense spending, maintaining troops overseas, and the presence of ground troops in Vietnam were also assessed. Of the survey variables, 62 are common to the military and business officials. A limited number of separate questions were also asked of each individual group. Part 3 contains variables coded from content analysis of articles published in military and business journals, focusing on the authors' attitudes toward various acts of political, diplomatic, or military intervention as well as economic sanctions. Also explored were the apparent reasons for such attitudes, whether economic, strategic, or ideological. The study sought to identify patterns of media responses that might account for the formation of, or changes in, opinions among business or military circles.
Curated
Historical Analogies, Generational Effects, and Attitudes Toward War in the United States, October 1990-February 1991 (ICPSR 9959)
Released/updated on: 1993-05-13
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1990-10-01--1991-02-01
This data collection explores the attitudes of different generations of Americans toward war. Questions pertained to respondents' views of the Cold War, World Wars I and II, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War. Respondents were also asked for their opinions of Saddam Hussein and Adolf Hitler, and for their views regarding President George Bush's declaration that force was necessary to make Iraq withdraw completely from Kuwait. A portion of the interviews were conducted before the Persian Gulf War (up to and including January 15), some were conducted during the War (January 17 and later), and others the day the bombing started (January 16). Questions were also asked about the respondent's educational background, month and year of birth, race or ethnic origin, and sex.
Curated
Organizational Behavior of the John Birch Society and Americans for Democratic Action, 1965 (ICPSR 7346)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
This study, conducted in 1965, collected data from 650 members of the John Birch Society, and 769 members of Americans for Democratic Action. Respondents were asked to name the magazines, news columnists, and television news programs that they were most familiar with, and to list all groups they belonged to, specifying their position in those groups. In addition, the respondents were queried on needs for improvements in the government. Demographic information includes sex, age, race, income, occupation, and religion. The data were received from the Social Science Data Center at the University of Connecticut.
Curated
Organization for Comparative Social Research: Seven Nation Study (ICPSR 7239)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain, Belgium, Norway, Europe, France, Germany, Global
This study surveyed primary and secondary school teachers in Belgium, Great Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, using the same questionnaire across all countries. France has 350 respondents, Norway 400, Germany 365, Sweden 443, the Netherlands 400, Belgium 400, and England 400. Questions in the first section of the interviews were directly related to the respondents' roles as teachers: their job satisfaction, estimates of the prestige of their jobs, comparisons of secondary and grammar school teachers and public and private school teachers, suggested educational reforms, teaching experience, and the influence of teachers as professionals on political and international affairs. In addition, respondents were asked open-ended questions probing their tolerance of political differences, their attitudes toward war, national defense efforts, and world government, their optimism or pessimism regarding international events, perceptions of other nationalities and their government's relationship with other countries, their identification of interest groups with influence in the government, and their political identification. Demographic variables include sex, age, marital status, number of children, other professional experience, and war experience.
Curated
Political Use of the United States Armed Forces, 1946-1976 (ICPSR 7595)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1946-01-01--1976-01-01
The data in this collection were generated in 1976 as part of a Brookings Institution project studying the use of the United States Armed Forces as a political instrument. By the study's definition, political use of the armed forces occurs when physical actions are taken by one or more components of the uniformed military services as part of a deliberate attempt by the national authorities to influence, or to be prepared to influence, specific behavior of individuals in another nation without engaging in a contest of violence. The study yielded 226 such cases between January 1, 1946, and December 31, 1976. The data can be grouped into seven categories: dates of the events, contextual characteristics of events, types and sizes of United States Armed Forces involved, movement and readiness of forces, activities of forces, non-United States actors involved, and United States public approval of the president within two months of the event.
Curated
Presidential Uses of Force During the Cold War: Aggregation, Truncation, and Temporal Dynamics (ICPSR 1254)
Released/updated on: 2002-03-08
Geographic coverage: United States
This study identifies three methodological issues that affect inferences drawn in studies of presidential decisions to use force: aggregation, truncation, and dynamics. The authors suggest that a dichotomous measure of uses of force introduces aggregation bias, while the decision to examine only major uses of force introduces truncation bias. In addition, they argue that the presence of rivalry creates temporal dependence or dynamics in the use of force series. They re-examine the empirical findings reported in a seminal study of United States presidents' use of force during the Cold War (Ostrom and Job, 1986). The findings demonstrate the importance of these three methodological issues. Results of a Poisson Autoregressive (PAR) model show dynamics in the use of force series. Contrary to Ostrom and Job, the authors find that international variables have a larger substantive effect on the president's decision to use force than political variables like approval and domestic variables like economic performance.
Curated
Prospects for Peace, 1973-1977 (ICPSR 5803)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: United States, Global
Time period: 1973-01-01--1977-01-01
This study contains data derived from a survey of 151 respondents from leading American universities' centers of international studies and some United States government officials and non-United States scholars on the likelihood of war and peace in the period 1972-1977. Respondents were asked questions about the probability of a nuclear or major conventional war breaking out, the forces most dangerous and most conducive to international peace and economic development, and the future of the United Nations (UN). Other questions were asked concerning respondents' opinions of the United States-Soviet military balance, the viability of the 1972 Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) and the prospects for other arms control measures, the relationship of certain international events to the arms race, alternative scenarios for the future of Indochina, Middle East, and United States-Soviet relations, the probability of certain destabilizing political and ecological events occurring in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and the likely maximum United States' response to these events, the likely linkages between trade and political relations among the great powers, and the United States' position toward the UN. Most questions ask respondents to rate the relative probability of some events occurring within a four-year period on a scale of 1 to 5 and other questions ask respondents to select alternative future events considered most likely to have occurred by 1977.
Curated
Soviet Elites in the Post-Stalin Period, 1966 (ICPSR 7521)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: Global, Soviet Union
The data were collected in 1966 to facilitate the exploration of relationships between the demographic and career pattern attributes of the Soviet leadership and attitudinal variance within the leadership. Two types of data were included in the study: attitudinal and demographic/career pattern data. The attitudinal data were generated by a content analysis of a sample of articles in "representative" Soviet periodicals for the year 1965. Information on the process of policy-making, socialization, resource allocation, and popular mobilization within the Soviet party was collected. Demographic and career pattern data were also gathered to supplement the information on the Soviet officials in the attitudinal sample. Demographic variables specify date of birth, nationality, social class, education, party membership and positions held, membership year, membership of the Communist Politburo, types of career, and fields of specialization.
Curated
Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, Fall 1961 (ICPSR 3628)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was undertaken to assess consumer sentiment and buying plans, respondents' satisfaction with the appliances owned, and their opinions about the Cold War between the former Soviet Union and the West and its perceived effect on taxes and the economy, as well as their assessment of the possibility of an outbreak of a major world war in the near future. Open-ended questions were asked concerning evaluations and expectations about price changes, employment, tax reduction, recession, and the national business situation. Additional variables probe respondents' buying intentions for a house, automobiles, appliances, and other consumer durables, as well as their appraisals of present market conditions for purchasing these items. Other variables probe respondents' satisfaction with their location, neighborhood, and living space, and their assessment of their financial status relative to the previous year. Information is also provided on savings. Demographic variables provide information on age, sex, race, marital status, education, occupation, and family income.
Curated
Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, Fall 1962 (ICPSR 3626)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was undertaken to assess consumer sentiment and buying plans, as well as to provide information on the geographic mobility of adults and families. Open-ended questions were asked concerning evaluations and expectations about price changes, the unemployment problem, recession, and the national business situation. Questions were also asked on travel, reasons for travel, cost, mode of transportation, and vacation place preference. Other questions focused on welfare, state or local government aid or assistance, respondents' pension plans, savings, self-perceived class status, United States citizenship, type of house and neighborhood lived in, political party identification, voting behavior, and the degree of respondents' interest in politics. Information was also obtained on respondents' attitudes toward various forms of savings and various types of employment agencies. Additional variables probe respondents' buying intentions for a house, automobiles, appliances, and other consumer durables, as well as respondents' appraisals of present market conditions for purchasing these items. Other variables probe respondents' opinions of the Cold War between the former Soviet Union and the West and its effect on business conditions in the United States, as well as their assessment of their financial status relative to the previous year. Demographic variables provide information on actual and expected family size, age, marital status, sex, race, place of birth, education, occupation, family income, and religion.
Curated
Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, Fall 1963 (ICPSR 3623)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was undertaken to assess consumer sentiment and buying plans, as well as to gauge attitudes toward the atomic test ban treaty and its implication for the business environment, the tax reduction, the unemployment problem, and the automobile market, and to provide information about geographic mobility of adults of working age within different labor market areas. Open-ended questions were asked concerning evaluations and expectations about price changes, employment, recession, and the national business situation. Additional variables probe respondents' buying intentions for a house, automobiles, appliances, and other consumer durables, as well as respondents' appraisal of present market conditions for purchasing these items. Other variables probe respondents' opinions of the Cold War between the former Soviet Union and the West, the nuclear test ban treaty, the proposed government tax reduction, and the effect of all of these on business conditions, as well as their assessment of their financial status relative to the previous year. Also provided are respondents' psychological profiles, their reasons for moving within the different labor market areas, and their mode of transportation when they moved. Demographic variables provide information on age, place of birth, race, sex, religion, education, marital status, occupation, and family income.
Curated
Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, Spring 1963 (ICPSR 3630)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was undertaken to assess consumer sentiment and buying plans, as well as hidden unemployment among males aged 16-21, the extent to which youths continued their education, joined the armed forces, or took part-time work when they could not find full-time jobs, the cost and perceived importance and meaning of college education for males and females, and the perceived relative merits of state and private universities. Open-ended questions were asked concerning evaluations and expectations about price changes, employment, retirement, recession, and the national business situation. Other variables probe respondents' buying intentions for a house, automobiles, appliances, and other consumer durables, as well as their appraisals of present market conditions for purchasing these items. Additional variables probe respondents' opinions on the Cold War between the former Soviet Union and the West, the proposed government tax reduction, and the effect of these on business conditions, as well as their assessment of their financial status relative to the previous year. Information is also provided on respondents' savings, monthly bill payments, political party affiliation, club membership, and type of house and neighborhood lived in. Demographic variables provide information on age, race, sex, religion, education, marital status, occupation, family size, and family income.
Curated
Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, Summer 1962 (ICPSR 3627)
Released/updated on: 2009-07-08
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was undertaken to assess consumer sentiment and buying plans, as well as to provide information about attitudes toward tax reduction, the recent stock market decline and its impact on consumers, and the geographic mobility of adults of working age from one town to another. Open-ended questions were asked concerning evaluations and expectations about personal finances, employment, recession, price changes, and the national business situation. Other variables probe respondents' buying intentions for a house, automobiles, appliances, and other consumer durables, as well as respondents' appraisals of present market conditions for purchasing these items. Additional variables probe respondents' opinions on the Cold War between the former Soviet Union and the West, the proposed government tax reduction, and the effect of these on business conditions, as well as their assessment of their financial status relative to the previous year. Information is also provided on respondents' attitudes toward various forms of savings, and on the frequency with which people used public transportation or their personal cars for specific purposes. Also provided are respondents' psychological profiles, political party identification, club membership, type of house and neighborhood lived in, pension plans, and experience with and feelings about various employment agencies. Demographic variables provide information on age, sex, race, place of birth, religion, education, occupation, employment, marital status, family composition, and family income.
Curated
U.S. and U.S.S.R. Crises, 1946-1976 (ICPSR 7702)
Released/updated on: 2006-01-18
Geographic coverage: United States, Global, Soviet Union
This data collection contains three files of United States and Soviet crises data that focus on behavior and policy responses that took place after international crises occurring in 1946-1976. The dataset contains one file of crises that were considered to be of concern to the Soviet Union, 1946-1975 (Part 1), and two files of crises data that were of concern to the United States, 1946-1976 (Parts 2 and 3). The data in Part 1 encompass 386 crises, including a subset of 101 crises (1956-1975) chosen for intensive coding. Variables include 29 general characteristics coded for the 386 crises. The subset crises were selected because of their relation to the Soviet policy process and are associated with variables for 43 Soviet management problems, 59 Soviet objectives, and 64 Soviet actions. Part 2 contains 307 crises coded into 21 crises characteristics. Part 3 contains a subset of 101 crises chosen for intensive coding from the 307 crises in Part 2. The 101 crises are associated with variables for 79 United States management problems, 48 United States objectives, and 57 United States actions. The variables for all three parts of the data collection were designed to answer questions concerning the crisis event (who, when, how did it turn out), Soviet or United States actions (what), objectives (why), and problems (what went wrong). Differences between United States and Soviet crises concerns and behavior rendered many variables drawn from research on the United States inapplicable to the Soviet research. Therefore, not all specific variables in the United States data collection are contained in the data collection for the Soviet Union and vice versa.
Curated
Words and Deeds in Soviet Military Expenditures, 1955-1983 (ICPSR 8188)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: Asia, Europe, Global, Soviet Union
Time period: 1955-01-01--1983-01-01
This data collection assesses the relationship between Soviet policy statements and military expenditures. Annual speeches given by Soviet Finance Ministers to the Supreme Soviet were analyzed for references to intended defense spending, the United States, and the threat of imperialism. Other variables in this dataset include estimates from various Western sources of the level of Soviet defense spending and identification of the appropriate year in the Soviet planning cycle. A year is the unit of analysis in this dataset.
Curated
Simple Crosstabs
World Survey II: Attitudes Toward Domestic and Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1964 (ICPSR 7048)
Released/updated on: 2018-07-09
Geographic coverage: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro
This United States Information Agency (USIA) study was conducted in February and March of 1964 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In its survey of 466 respondents aged 18+, the study explored respondent attitudes toward Brazilian national affairs such as standard of living, population control, Brazilian political parties and their leaders, Brazil's stand in the conflict between communist and anti-communist ideologies.
Variables concerned with international affairs examined the respondents' views on the achievements and foreign policies of the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as respondent opinions about the nuclear test ban and disarmament, the position of the United Nations, and respondent attitudes towards the Alliance for Progress.
The study also focused on Fidel Castro and his impact on life in Cuba in addition to his influence on Brazil, and the treatment of Blacks in France, the United States, the Soviet Union, and South Africa.
Demographic data include the respondents' occupation, marital status, sex, age, and education.