Showing 1 – 50 of 146 results.
Curated
Simple Crosstabs
2012 Chicago Council Survey on American Public Opinion and Foreign Policy (ICPSR 36230)
Released/updated on: 2015-12-07
Geographic coverage: United States
The Chicago Surveys are part of a long-running series of public opinion surveys conducted by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs every two years. This study is the 2012 Chicago Council Survey, designed to investigate the opinions and attitudes of the general public on matters related to foreign policy, and to define the parameters of public opinion within which decision-makers must operate.
The 2012 Chicago Council Survey focuses on respondents' opinions of the United States' leadership role in the world and the challenges the country faces domestically and internationally.
The survey covers the following international topics: relations with other countries, role in foreign affairs, possible threats to vital interests in the next ten years, foreign policy goals, benefits or drawbacks of globalization, situations that might justify the use of United States troops in other parts of the world, the number and location of United States military bases overseas, respondent feelings toward people of other countries, opinions on the influence of other countries in the world and how much influence those countries should have, United States participation in potential treaties, the United States' role in the United Nations and NATO, which side the United States should take in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, what measures should be taken to deal with Iran's nuclear program, the military effort in Afghanistan, opinions on efforts to combat terrorism, and the rise of China as a global power.
Domestic issues include economic prospects for American children when they become adults, funding for government programs, the fairness of the current distribution of income in the United States, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and United States dependence on foreign energy sources.
Demographic and other background information include age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, left-right political self-placement, political affiliation, employment status, highest level of education, and religious preference. Also included are household size and composition, whether the respondent is head of household, household income, housing type, ownership status of living quarters, household Internet access, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) status, and region and state of residence.
Curated
Simple Crosstabs
2015 Chicago Council Survey of American Public Opinion and U.S. Foreign Policy (ICPSR 36437)
Released/updated on: 2016-07-29
Geographic coverage: United States
The Chicago Council Surveys are part of a long-running series of public opinion surveys conducted by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs beginning in 1974. They were conducted quadrennially from 1974 to 2002, biennially from 2002 to 2014, and are now conducted annually. The surveys are designed to investigate the opinions and attitudes of the general public on matters related to foreign policy, and to define the parameters of public opinion within which decision-makers must operate. This public opinion study of the United States focused on respondents' opinions of the United States' leadership role in the world and the challenges the country faces domestically and internationally. Data were collected on a wide range of international topics, including: United States' relations with other countries, role in foreign affairs, possible threats to vital interests in the next ten years, foreign policy goals, situations that might justify the use of United States troops in other parts of the world, international trade, United States' participation in potential treaties, U.S. policy towards Russia in Ukraine, the embargo on Cuba and the effects of renewed diplomatic relations with Havana, views of the nuclear deal with Iran and what effects that deal is likely to have, and United States' relations with allies in Asia. Respondents were also asked their opinion on domestic issues including climate change, measures to improve the United States' economic competitiveness, and their views on US immigration policy. Demographic information collected includes age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, left-right political self-placement, political affiliation, employment status, highest level of education, and religious preference, household income, state of residence, and living quarters ownership status.
Curated
Simple Crosstabs
2016 Chicago Council Survey of American Public Opinion on U.S. Foreign Policy (ICPSR 36806)
Released/updated on: 2018-04-13
Geographic coverage: United States
The 2016 Chicago Council Survey continues the Chicago Council on Global Affairs' series of investigations into American public opinion on US foreign policy. These studies were conducted quadrennially from 1974 to 2002, biennially from 2002 to 2014, and are now conducted annually. They are designed to investigate the opinions and attitudes of the general public on matters related to foreign policy, and to define the parameters of public opinion within which decision-makers must operate. This public opinion study of the United States focused on respondents' opinions of the United States' leadership role in the world and the challenges the country faces domestically and internationally. Data were collected on a wide range of international topics, including: United States' relations with other countries, role in foreign affairs, possible threats to vital interests in the next ten years, foreign policy goals, international trade, the United States' participation in potential treaties, the United States' commitment to NATO, the basing of American troops abroad, policy towards the conflict in Syria, and the United States' relations in Asia. Respondents were also asked their opinion on domestic issues including climate change and US immigration policy. Demographic information collected includes age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, left-right political self-placement, political affiliation, employment status, highest level of education, religious preference, household income, state of residence, living quarters ownership status, and specifics about the metropolitan area in which they live.
Curated
Simple Crosstabs
2017 Chicago Council Survey of American Public Opinion on U.S. Foreign Policy (ICPSR 37970)
Released/updated on: 2021-06-21
Geographic coverage: United States
The 2017 Chicago Council Survey continues the Chicago Council on Global Affairs' series of investigations into American public opinion on United States foreign policy. These studies were conducted quadrennially from 1974 to 2002, biennially from 2002 to 2014, and are now conducted annually. They are designed to investigate the opinions and attitudes of the general public on matters related to foreign policy, and to define the parameters of public opinion within which decision-makers must operate. This public opinion study of the United States focused on respondents' opinions of the United States' leadership role in the world and the challenges the country faces domestically and internationally. Data were collected on a wide range of international topics, including: United States' relations with other countries, role in foreign affairs, possible threats to vital interests in the next ten years, foreign policy goals, international trade, the United States' participation in potential treaties, the United States' commitment to NATO, the basing of American troops abroad, policy towards the conflict in Syria, and the United States' relations with other countries. Respondents were also asked their opinion on US institutions, the US president, and federal government programs. Demographic information collected includes age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, left-right political self-placement, political affiliation, employment status, highest level of education, religious preference, household income, state of residence, and living quarters ownership status.
Curated
ABC News 9/11 Anniversary Poll, September 2006 (ICPSR 4665)
Released/updated on: 2008-01-24
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 5-7, 2006, is a part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of political and social issues. The focus of this poll was the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the presidency and issues such as the campaign against terrorism and the situation in Iraq. Information was collected on how closely respondents were following the upcoming congressional and gubernatorial election, whether they would vote for a Democratic or Republican candidate if the election for the United States House of Representatives were being held that day, and the single most important issue in their vote for Congress members. Other questions asked which political party they trusted to do a better job handling the main problems the nation would face over the next few years, and whether they approved of the way Congress and their own representative to the United States House of Representatives were handling their jobs. Views were also sought on the war in Iraq and Donald Rumsfield's handling of his job as Secretary of Defense. Respondents were asked how well they thought the campaign against terrorism was going, whether the country was safer from terrorism compared to before September 11, 2001, and whether Osama bin Laden would have to be captured or killed for the war on terrorism to be a success. Information was collected about the impact of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on respondents' lives, how concerned they were about the possibility of more major terrorist attacks in the United States, how much confidence they had in the government's ability to prevent another major terrorist attack, whether the federal government was intruding on the privacy rights of Americans in its investigation of possible terrorist attacks, and whether this intrusion was justified. Additional topics addressed the religion of Islam, new airport security measures, and how proud they felt to be an American. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, household income, voter registration and participation history, political party affiliation, political philosophy, employment status, marital status, and type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural).
Curated
ABC News Abortion/Cuba Poll, January 1998 (ICPSR 2506)
Released/updated on: 2006-11-13
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on the presidency, abortion, and Cuba. Those queried were asked if they believed that abortion is justifiable under the following circumstances: if the woman's life is endangered, the woman's mental and/or physical health is endangered, there is evidence that the baby is mentally and/or physically impaired, the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest, the woman is unwed and does not want the baby, or if the pregnant woman is a teenager. The January 1998 papal visit to Cuba was also addressed. Respondents were asked for their opinions of President Bill Clinton, Pope John Paul II, and Cuban President Fidel Castro. Additional topics covered Clinton's handling of Cuba, the impact of the Pope's visit on Cuba, whether Cuba posed a national security threat to the United States, whether United States vital interests were at stake, whether diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba should be reestablished, and whether the trade embargo and travel restrictions on Cuba should be lifted. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, education, race, ethnicity, religion, political party, political orientation, family income, interest in visiting Cuba, and personal experience involving abortion.
Curated
ABC News Bush National Intelligence Poll, May 2002 (ICPSR 3566)
Released/updated on: 2003-03-11
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll was undertaken to assess respondents reactions to and feelings about intelligence reports regarding terrorist threats on the United States before and after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC. Respondents were asked to give their views of President George W. Bush, his handling of the presidency, and the United States campaign against terrorism. Those polled also expressed their level of confidence in the government's ability to prevent further terrorist attacks against Americans in the United States. Respondents' opinions were elicited on the actions the government took or could have taken to prevent the September 11 terrorist attacks, and to prevent further terrorist attacks. In addition, respondents were queried about their knowledge of past news stories regarding intelligence reports, and they also gave their opinions on the Bush administration's follow-up on those intelligence reports. Other questions focused on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's response to a proposed investigation of Arabs taking flight-school training in the United States, and the United States Congress's investigation of the Bush administration's knowledge of terrorist threats before September 11, 2001, and its handling of that knowledge. Background information includes respondents' political affiliation, education, age, race, and gender.
Curated
ABC News National Security Council Poll, November 1986 (ICPSR 8852)
Released/updated on: 2007-07-03
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was conducted in response to the November 25, 1986 announcement by the Justice Department that money from arms sales to Iran was given to the Nicaraguan contras. Respondents were asked if they had heard about this transaction, if they approved of it, and if they believed that Ronald Reagan had only just learned of the transfer of money. Respondents also were asked if they thought the staff changes at the National Security Council would end the controversy, if Reagan's proposed review board for the National Security Council would prevent future unauthorized actions, and if they approved of Reagan's handling of the situation. Other questions included which person or persons respondents thought made most of the important decisions in the White House--Reagan or his advisors, and whether Reagan was too old to be president. Demographic characteristics of respondents are included.
Curated
ABC News NHK Japan Poll, March 1990 (ICPSR 9442)
Released/updated on: 2008-11-24
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted March 20-22, 1990, examined Americans' attitudes toward Japan and was fielded for the Japanese broadcasting company NHK. Views were sought on whether the French and Japanese were as friendly as other people in the world and which group was more difficult for Americans to deal with. A series of questions addressed Japanese trade and investment in the United States, whether the federal budget deficit or the international trade deficit posed a bigger problem for the United States, whether an economically strong Japan threatened United States' national security, and whether the economic power of Japan or the military power of the Soviet Union was a bigger threat to the United States. Other topics covered recent trade disputes between the United States and Japan, reasons for the United States' trade deficit with Japan, the impact of Japan building up its military force, and stereotyped images of the Japanese people. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, employment status, and household income.
Curated
ABC News Nukes Poll, August 2005 (ICPSR 4516)
Released/updated on: 2006-11-13
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, undertaken August 18-21, 2005, queried respondents on their opinions about the possibilities of a terrorist attack. Respondents were asked if they felt the country was safer today than before September 11, 2001, if the United States was doing all it could to prevent another terrorist attack, how concerned they were about the possibility of another attack and if they might personally become a victim. The survey sought information on how prepared respondents felt for an attack, if they had emergency supplies on hand, and if they had an emergency plan in place. Respondents were also asked how they felt people would react to various types of attacks, how they would react to a nuclear bomb, if they felt nuclear and radiological materials were being protected, and how prepared they thought the government, law enforcement, and hospitals were for an attack. The survey also contained questions regarding respondents' driving habits, what type of vehicle they drove, their opinions of gas prices, whether or not their driving habits were being affected by the gas prices, and their opinions on the impact of gas prices on the national economy. Demographic information included party affiliation, political ideology, education, age, number of children under 18, type of residential area, race, income, and sex.
Curated
ABC News Poll on Nicaragua, March 1986 (ICPSR 8577)
Released/updated on: 2007-05-07
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was conducted after President Reagan's speech of March 16, 1986. In his speech Reagan requested that Congress approve increased military aid to the Nicaraguan rebels (the contras). Respondents were asked if they had heard the speech, whether or not they approve of aid to the rebels, whether or not they approve of Reagan's handling of the situation in Nicaragua, and if they consider the situation in Nicaragua to be a threat to the security of the United States.
Curated
ABC News September 11th Anniversary Poll, September 2003 (ICPSR 3939)
Released/updated on: 2004-03-30
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 4-7, 2003, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on a range of political and social issues. The poll was conducted a few days before the second anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, the economy, the United States campaign against terrorism, and the situation in Iraq. Those polled were asked whether terrorism or the economy was a bigger problem, whether they supported the Bush administration's policy on Iraq and the United States military presence there, whether the number of United States military casualties was acceptable, and how well the United States was doing in restoring order in Iraq. Specific questions asked whether the war in Iraq was worth fighting, whether it was part of or separate from the war against terrorism, whether it would decrease terrorism in the long run, and whether it would be a success if Saddam Hussein was not killed or captured. Respondents were asked to rate the performance of groups, institutions, and individuals in dealing with the events of September 11, 2001, and the war on terrorism. They were also asked to evaluate the job done by the United States in preventing terrorist attacks, winning the cooperation of other countries in fighting terrorism, breaking up the al Qaeda network, improving United States intelligence, and reorganizing government agencies. Questions sought respondent views on whether Osama bin Laden had to be captured or killed in order to win the war on terrorism, and whether other countries had done enough to support the United States campaign against terrorism. Respondents were asked to comment on their feelings about the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, how often they thought about it, whether it changed the United States and the respondent's life, whether the changes were long- or short-term, big or small, positive or negative, if spending time with family was important to them, how concerned they were about being a victim of a terrorist attack, and how concerned they were about the possibility of more terrorist attacks in the United States. A series of questions addressed whether respondents worried about flying because of the risk of terrorism, if the respondent had flown on a commercial airplane since September 11, 2001, if airport security was better than before the attacks, whether security measures were justified, the usefulness of the government's threat alert system, and whether the United States was safer from terrorism than before the attacks. Opinions were also solicited on whether the United States government was doing enough to protect the rights of American citizens, Arab-Americans, non-citizens, and terrorist suspects, if the federal government was intruding on the respondent's personal privacy rights and whether this was justified, and whether it was more important for the FBI to investigate possible terrorist threats even if it intruded on personal privacy, or for the FBI not to intrude on personal privacy, even if it limited its ability to investigate possible threats. Respondents were also polled on whether they would support or oppose the federal government holding suspected terrorists without trial and using physical torture in an attempt to get information from them. Additional questions addressed whether respondents felt they had a good understanding of the beliefs of Islam, whether it taught respect for the beliefs of non-Muslims, and if their opinion of Islam was favorable or unfavorable. Background variables include age, sex, education, ethnicity, religion, political orientation, political party affiliation, subjective size of community, and household income.
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/Washington Post Afghanistan Attack Poll #2, October 2001 (ICPSR 3299)
Released/updated on: 2001-10-31
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted October 8, 2001, was undertaken to assess respondents' reactions to and feelings about the United States military action in Afghanistan. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President Bush was handling the response to terrorist attacks in the United States, and whether they supported United States air strikes on Afghanistan and sending a significant number of United States ground troops into that country. Respondents were asked whether they believed that the United States government was doing all it reasonably could do to try to prevent further terrorist attacks and whether they supported United States military action against other countries supporting terrorism. Those polled expressed their level of concern about the possibility of further terrorist attacks (specifically biological and chemical) in America, and how confident they were in the abilities of the federal and local governments, police, and health agencies to respond effectively to a biological or chemical attack in the United States. A battery of questions focused on the Muslim religion and its believers, including whether respondents had a good basic understanding of Islam, how they viewed this religion, whether Arabs and Muslims had positive or negative opinions about the United States and reasons for these opinions, whether they thought the terrorists who attacked the United States in September were close in their views to the mainstream teachings of Islam, and whether they knew anyone who was a Muslim. Respondents also gave their opinions on whether the United States was doing enough to improve its image among Arabs and Muslims. Another subject of this survey was the Middle East. Those polled commented on whether they had more sympathy for Israel or for the Palestinian Authority, whether the United States should increase support for Israel or decrease support for Israel and recognize Palestine as an independent nation, and what was more important at this time--United States relations with Israel or with the Arab nations. Additional questions focused on the possibility of a broader war between the United States and its allies on one side and Arabs and Muslims on the other side, the efforts of the United States to avoid a broader war, and racial profiling and social consent for racial profiling as a tool against terrorism. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, race, Hispanic origin, religion, political party affiliation, political orientation, education, and objective size of community.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Anthrax Poll #2, October 2001 (ICPSR 3320)
Released/updated on: 2002-02-22
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted October 24, 2001, was undertaken to assess respondents' reactions to and feelings about the recent anthrax attacks involving letters contaminated with anthrax bacteria being distributed through the mail. Respondents were asked to describe their reaction to the anthrax threat, and their concern that a close relative, friend, or they themselves would contract anthrax. Those queried were asked if they thought that the mail they received at home was safe, if they were satisfied with the way the government was handling the anthrax situation, whether the anthrax situation was an isolated incident or the first of a continuing series of cases, how confident they were in the government's ability to respond to a large-scale biological or chemical attack on the United States, whether the government was as prepared as it reasonably could have been to deal with a biological attack like the anthrax situation, and if the United States was doing all that it reasonably could to prevent further biological attacks. In addition, respondents were asked if they approved of the way the Office of Homeland Security was handling its job, and whether the news media was exaggerating the danger in the anthrax situation. Respondents were asked if, since September 11th, anyone in their household had bought a supply of antibiotics in case of biological attack, spoken with a doctor about anthrax or some other biological attack, started to exercise caution in opening mail, gathered information about what to do in case of an anthrax or other biological attack, started avoiding crowded places such as shopping malls because of the chance of terrorism, or tried to reduce the amount of mail they handled by asking people to send e-mail instead. With respect to exercising caution with the mail, respondents were asked whether someone in their household was currently looking over mail more carefully than usual, throwing away unfamiliar mail without opening it, wearing gloves or a mask when handling mail, washing their hands after handling the mail, or doing anything else with the mail to take precautions. Background information on respondents includes gender and political party.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Bush Iraq Speech Poll, June 2005 (ICPSR 4329)
Released/updated on: 2007-03-07
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted June 23-26, 2005, 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. Respondents were asked to give their opinions on the effectiveness of United States President George W. Bush in relation to the conflict in Iraq. Questions addressed such issues as whether deploying the United States military in Iraq was worth the human and economic costs, the effect military action in Iraq had on relations with countries like France or Germany that disagreed with the United States on military action in Iraq, the effect military action in Iraq had on the stability and peace in the Middle East, and the effect military action in Iraq had on United States security domestically and internationally. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of the Bush administration's actions and statements prior to military action in Iraq, of the effect of Iraqi elections on the stability of Iraq, whether military action in Iraq was part of the broader "war on terror," when or if the United States military would withdraw or reduce troop size in Iraq, and the effect on world opinion and events if the United States military were to be successful in establishing and maintaining a democratic government in Iraq. Additional questions sought opinions of the death penalty and other punishments for convicted murderers and whether respondents would advise youth to join the United States military. Background information includes age, sex, education, household income, political ideology, political party affiliation, race, religious affiliation, whether that religion was protestant, and whether the respondent considers herself or himself "born-again."
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll #1, January 2006 (ICPSR 4654)
Released/updated on: 2008-03-13
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted January 5-8, 2006, 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. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, ethics in government, and the United States campaign against terrorism. Views were sought on whether the war in Iraq was worth fighting, and whether the federal government was doing enough to protect the rights of American citizens and people suspected of involvement in terrorism. A series of questions addressed the level of honesty of members of the United States Congress, the level of corruption in federal, state, and local government, corruption charges against prominent lobbyist Jack Abrahmoff, and whether it should be legal for registered lobbyists to make campaign contributions to congressional members or candidates, give them gifts, or organize fund raisers on their behalf. Additional questions asked about upcoming Senate confirmation hearings for federal Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito and whether Alito would vote to overturn the Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized abortion. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, political party affiliation, political philosophy, religious preference, and whether respondents considered themselves to be born-again Christians.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll #1, December 2007 (ICPSR 24593)
Released/updated on: 2009-07-13
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded December 6-9, 2007, is a part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on various political and social issues. A national sample of 1,136 adults was surveyed, including an oversample of African Americans, for a total of 205 African Americans respondents. Respondents were asked whether they approved of George W. Bush and the way he was handling the presidency and other issues such as the economy and terrorism, whether they approved of the way Congress was handling its job, and which political party they trusted to handle issues such as the war in Iraq. Opinions were also solicited on the 2008 presidential candidates. Respondents were asked who they would vote for if the 2008 Democratic and Republican primaries were being held that day, what was the single most important issue in their choice for president in the 2008 presidential election, and whether they were more likely to vote for a candidate based on qualities such as religion, race, gender, or political interests. A series of questions asked how closely respondents were following the 2008 presidential race and how likely they were to vote in the 2008 presidential primary in their state, which candidate they thought was most likely to be elected president, and how much candidates' religious beliefs, endorsements, spouses, and professional abilities weighed in deciding who to support for president. Respondents were also asked whether Oprah Winfrey's endorsement of Barack Obama made them more likely to support him. Several questions asked about the war in Iraq, including whether the Iraq War was worth fighting, whether United States military forces should remain in Iraq until civil order is restored there, and whether the war in Iraq has contributed to the long-term security of the United States. Additional topics included abortion, whether the respondents considered themselves feminists, whether respondents had a good, basic understanding of the Mormon religion, respondents' own financial situation, and the state of the national economy. Demographic information includes sex, age, race, education level, household income, religious preference, frequency of religious attendance, marital status, whether respondents own or rent their home, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), voter registration status, political party affiliation, political philosophy, and the presence of children under 18 in the household.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll #1, June 2006 (ICPSR 4661)
Released/updated on: 2007-11-30
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted June 22-25, 2006, 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. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the presidency and issues such as the economy and the situation in Iraq. Several questions asked which political party respondents trusted to handle the main problems the country would face in the next few years, whether they would vote for a Democrat or Republican candidate if the November 2006 election for the United States House of Representatives were being held that day, and which issue was most important in their vote. Views were sought on the war in Iraq and whether it had improved the lives of the Iraqi people, encouraged democracy in other Arab nations, and contributed to the long-term security of the United States. Respondents were polled on whether the Bush Administration and the Democrats in the United States Congress had a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq, how well the United States campaign against terrorism was going, whether the country was safer from terrorism than before September 11, 2001, and whether President Bush would be remembered more for the United States campaign against terrorism or the war in Iraq. A series of questions asked respondents whether they approved of the way United States military forces in Iraq were doing their job, whether a deadline should be set for their withdrawal from Iraq, and respondents' reactions to the alleged killings of Iraqi civilians by United States military forces. Additional topics addressed the death penalty, the federal government's detention of suspected terrorists without trial in the United States military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the federal government's progress in its efforts to rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, household income, political party affiliation, political philosophy, voter registration status, religious preference, and whether respondents considered themselves born-again or evangelical Christians.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll #1, March 2006 (ICPSR 4657)
Released/updated on: 2007-06-01
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted March 2-5, 2006, 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. Respondents were asked their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency as well as his handling of issues such as the situation in Iraq and health care. Those polled also gave their opinions of the condition of the national economy, the United States Congress, Vice President Dick Cheney, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John McCain, and the Democratic and Republican parties. A series of questions asked whether the war in Iraq was worth fighting, whether United States military forces should be increased, decreased, or maintained, whether progress was being made to restore civil order in Iraq and establish a democratic government, and whether the Bush Administration and the Democrats in Congress had a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq. Views were also sought on the use of wiretapping and surveillance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Security Agency in conducting the war on terrorism, whether the government was doing enough to protect the rights of American citizens, and whether the country was safer from terrorism now, as compared to before September 11, 2001. Additional topics addressed the bird flu virus, the Terri Schiavo case, the recent controversy surrounding a merger deal that would give management of six United States ports to a company owned by the United Arab Emirates, the religion of Islam, and whether respondents and any of their friends and relatives were prejudiced against Muslims and Arabs. Demographic variables included sex, age, race, household income, education level, religious affiliation, political party affiliation, political philosophy, and type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural).
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll #1, May 2006 (ICPSR 4660)
Released/updated on: 2007-10-08
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted May 11-15, 2006, 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. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the presidency and issues such as the federal budget deficit and the economy, whether they approved of the way the United States Congress and their own representative were doing their jobs, and which political party they trusted to handle the main problems the country would face in the next few years. Several questions asked how closely respondents were following the upcoming November 2006 election, whether they would vote for a Democratic or Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives, the reasons for their choice, and which political party they hoped would win control of Congress. Views were also sought on the war in Iraq, and whether the Bush administration intentionally misled the American public in making its case for war with Iraq. A series of questions asked respondents whether the country, their state, and their local community were headed in the right direction, how satisfied they were with their life, and whether they felt optimistic about the future. Those polled also gave their impressions of Senator Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, and Senator John McCain, as well as the likelihood that they would vote for Hillary Clinton and John McCain if they ran for president in 2008. Additional questions addressed Hillary Clinton's views on issues, whether she possessed qualities such as leadership and trustworthiness, and whether Bill Clinton had too much political influence over her. Other topics addressed illegal immigration, Bush administration policies, the recent increase in gasoline prices, and the secret collection of domestic telephone records by the National Security Agency. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, household income, political party affiliation, political philosophy, voter registration status, religious preference, and whether respondents considered themselves born-again or evangelical Christians.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, April 2002 (ICPSR 3433)
Released/updated on: 2002-06-27
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll is a 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. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, the economy, and the situation between Israel and the Palestinians. Respondents also expressed their views on the United States campaign against terrorism, the situation regarding Osama bin Laden, and the support given to the United States by Muslim people around the world. In addition, respondents voiced their concerns about more future terrorist attacks on the United States, their feelings toward Israel and the Palestinians, and their views on the role of the United States in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and the pursuit of peace in the Middle East. The poll elicited respondents' views on the influence of Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to the Middle East on the prospects for peace, the negotiations and actions taken by Israel and the Palestinians, the responsibility of the leader of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat for terrorist attacks against Israel by Palestinians, the support of the United States for Israel, and the United States efforts in the war on terrorism. Respondents also answered a set of questions regarding the Catholic Church, its handling the issue of sexual abuse of children by priests, the level of trust respondents felt toward the Church in handling this issue in the future, their opinions of Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston, who was accused of mishandling the issue of sexual abuse of children by priests, and the outcome of the American cardinals' meeting at the Vatican. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, education, religion and religious activities, Hispanic origin, race, and household income.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, April 2003 (ICPSR 3782)
Released/updated on: 2003-12-22
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll is part of a series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions on the effectiveness of President George W. Bush, the 2004 presidential election, the war on terrorism, the future of relations between the United States and Iraq, the economy, the strengths of the Democratic and Republican parties, and government spending. A series of questions addressed President Bush's handling of domestic issues like education, the budget, Social Security, health care, homeland security, the economy, and foreign affairs including the war on terrorism, the situation in North Korea, and the fighting between Israelis and Palestinians. Other questions focused on the president's chances of winning a second term against Democratic challengers Senator Joseph Lieberman and Senator John Kerry, the effectiveness of military action in Iraq, future relations with a new Iraqi government, prioritizing domestic and foreign affairs, the effectiveness of the Democratic and Republican parties on foreign and domestic issues, and the current state of the nation relative to years past. Background variables include age, sex, education, religious orientation, household income, ethnicity, marital status, union membership, and location of the respondents' home.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, December 2006 (ICPSR 22165)
Released/updated on: 2008-08-04
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted December 7-11, 2006, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on various political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way George W. Bush was handling his job as president and issues such as the economy, whether they approved of the way members of United States Congress and their own representative were handling their jobs, and to rate the condition of the national economy. Views were sought on the upcoming switch to Democratic control of Congress, what was the most important problem for President Bush and Congress to deal with in the next year and whether they trusted President Bush or Congress more to handle these problems. Several questions asked whether Congress should hold hearings on how the Bush Administration handled issues related to the war with Iraq and the United States' campaign against terrorism, whether the war with Iraq was worth fighting, whether the number of United States military casualties in Iraq was acceptable, and whether the war in Iraq has contributed to the long-term security of the United States. A series of questions asked whether the United States should keep its military forces in Iraq until civil order is restored there, whether the United States was winning the war in Iraq, whether respondents would describe the situation in Iraq as a civil war, and whether the United States should hold direct talks with Syria and Iran about the situation in Iraq. Respondents were asked whether they supported certain plans and decisions, such as the Iraq Study Group report, changing the primary mission of United States forces to supporting and training the Iraqi army, or reducing United States military and financial support of the Iraqi government. Several questions asked for respondents' opinions of current political leaders and the 2008 presidential candidates, which candidate they would vote for if the 2008 Democratic and Republican primaries were held that day, and whether a presidential candidate's gender, race, or religion would affect their vote. Additional topics included immigration, privacy rights, and whether respondents were hopeful about the upcoming year for themselves and the world. Demographic variables include sex, age, religion, race, education level, household income, whether anyone in the household was a military veteran, voter registration and participation history, political party affiliation, political philosophy, and type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural).
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, January 2002 (ICPSR 3429)
Released/updated on: 2002-06-27
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll 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. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, the economy, education, environmental issues, the federal budget, the campaign against terrorism, and Social Security, as well as their views on Congress, the Republican party, the Democratic party, First Lady Laura Bush, and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. Those queried were asked which domestic and foreign policy issues should receive the administration's attention, which political party could be trusted to address these issues, and on what topics Bush should focus in his upcoming State of the Union speech. Respondents were asked to identify Bush's two most significant accomplishments and to assess his job performance during his first year in office. They were also asked whether Bush understood the problems of the average American, and whether big business, environmental groups, the oil/gas industry, and/or the American people had the appropriate amount of influence in the Bush administration. Opinions were elicited on the state of the nation's economy, how long the current economic recession would last, whether military spending or spending on social programs should be reduced to balance the federal budget, and whether the Bush administration was responsible for the budget deficit. Respondent views were sought on the 2001 collapse of the energy trading giant Enron Corporation. Topics covered whether the Enron situation was an isolated incident, whether new laws regulating corporate accounting practices or the enforcement of existing laws were necessary, the Bush administration's dealings with Enron, whether recipients of campaign contributions from Enron should disclose communications with Enron officials, and whether a full-scale federal investigation should be conducted. A series of questions addressed the ongoing war on terrorism. Topics covered respondent confidence in the ability of the United States government to prevent further terrorist attacks against Americans and to capture/kill Osama Bin Laden, whether his capture was necessary for the war to be considered a success, possible military action against Iraq to force Saddam Hussein from power, and whether non-citizens charged with terrorism should be put on trial in the United States court system or in a military tribunal. A series of questions focused on the benefits given to families of the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Items focused on whether payments should be reduced for families that had other sources of financial benefits, whether victims of previous terrorist attacks should be paid similar benefits, and whether payments should be made to the families and victims of all future terrorist attacks. Respondents expressed their degree of confidence in the federal government's ability to actually solve a problem. Those queried gave their opinions on the amount of waste in military and domestic program spending by the United States government, whether they would rather work in the public or private sector, and whether a smaller government with fewer services or a larger government with many services was preferred. A series of questions focused on Saudi Arabia. Topics covered whether Saudi Arabia was an ally or enemy of the United States, the importance of maintaining good relations with them, and whether the United States was dependent on the oil it buys from Saudi Arabia. In addition, respondents were asked to give their views on whether the federal government should allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, education, race, Hispanic descent, marital status, children in household, religion, labor union membership, urban/suburban/rural area of residence, whether close family/friends lost a job in the previous six months, and household income.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, June 1989 (ICPSR 9354)
Released/updated on: 2008-01-15
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1989-06-05--1989-06-19
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. Topics covered include the state of the economy, foreign affairs, and nuclear weapons policy. In addition, respondents were asked how much of a threat the Soviet Union, China, and communism posed to the security of the United States, if they favored or opposed the pro-democracy demonstrations in China, how important it was for the United States to show strong support for the pro-democracy movement in China, and if they approved of Bush's reaction to the Chinese government. Respondents also were questioned on the issues of abortion, child care, air and water pollution, and raising the federal minimum wage. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, social class, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, employment status, race, sex, income, and state/region of residence.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, June 2002 (ICPSR 3558)
Released/updated on: 2005-12-15
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll 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. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, Bush's proposal to create the Department of Homeland Security, whether the Department of Homeland Security would improve the government's ability to prevent further terrorist attacks, and how much confidence they had in the ability of the government to prevent further terrorist attacks against Americans in the United States. Respondents also rated the job done by the FBI, the CIA, and other United States intelligence agencies in analyzing and sharing information about possible terrorist attacks before and after September 11, 2001, and commented on whether the agencies had enough information before the September 11th attacks to prevent the attacks or if the information was too vague and incomplete for the attacks to have been prevented. Further questions asked whether respondents supported giving FBI agents broader authority to monitor public places as part of a general investigation of terrorism even when it was not related to a specific crime, whether this change in FBI policy intruded on individuals' rights to privacy, whether it was more important for the FBI to investigate possible terrorist threats even if it intruded on personal privacy, and whether the FBI should not intrude on privacy, even if that meant compromising the FBI's ability to investigate possible terrorist threats. The next set of questions queried respondents on issues related to the Catholic Church, including whether respondents had a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the Catholic Church, whether they approved of the way the Church was handling the issue of sexual abuse of children by priests, and what they felt was responsible for the way the Church had dealt with these issues both now and in the past. Additional questions probed the respondents' opinions as to whether abusive priests should be automatically removed from the priesthood, whether recent news coverage had been fair to the Church, and whether respondents knew of any cases of abuse in their own community and parish. A final set of questions dealt with the 30th anniversary of Watergate. Respondents were asked how much they knew about Watergate, whether President Richard Nixon's actions were serious enough to warrant his resignation, and whether President Gerald Ford was right in pardoning Nixon. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, education, religion and religious activities, Hispanic origin, race, and household income.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, March 1986 (ICPSR 8576)
Released/updated on: 2008-01-29
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey includes questions on a variety of political and social issues with an emphasis on two major topics, religion and Nicaragua. Respondents were asked whether the United States should be involved in Nicaragua, whether the situation in Nicaragua is a threat to the security of the United States, and if they approve of the action of the House of Representatives in refusing Reagan's aid request for the contras. On religion, respondents were questioned about religious upbringing and education, current participation, and religion's influence on their personal values. Respondents were also asked to rate Reagan's performance as president and to assess whether or not the Soviet Union is a threat to the United States. Additional subjects include legalization of marijuana, the civil rights movement, medical care and insurance, voting history, day care, and experience with unemployment. Demographic characteristics were also recorded.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Pre-Debate Poll, September 2004 (ICPSR 4123)
Released/updated on: 2005-04-29
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 23-26, 2004, 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. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of United States President George W. Bush, how he has handled his presidency, how he compares to Democratic presidential candidate Senator John F. Kerry on trustworthiness, leadership abilities, honesty, and other qualities, and the state of the economy at the time of the survey. In addition to Bush and Kerry, Ralph Nader (Independent) was a candidate for president and the candidates for vice-president were incumbent Vice-President Dick Cheney (Republican), Senator John Edwards (Democrat), and Peter Camejo (Independent). Respondents were further asked for whom they would vote if the election were held in September, how closely they were following the election, whether they were a strong supporter of either candidate, which candidate was better qualified to be commander-in-chief of the United States armed services, to rate the likelihood they would vote in the November 2004 presidential election, what two issues were most important in choosing the president, and what one personal quality was most important for the president to possess. Further questions addressed respondents' satisfaction with the direction the country was heading in, the long-term effects of military action in Iraq on United States security, the degree of success the United States was achieving in Iraq, and the economic and human costs of military action in Iraq. Additional questions concerned whether respondents were better off financially in September 2004 than before September 11, 2001, whether respondents were personally contacted by representatives of the presidential candidates' campaigns, and whether respondents planned to watch the first debate televised on September 30, 2004. Background information includes age, degree of urbanization, education, ethnicity, labor union membership within the household, level of religiosity, marital status, military veteran status within the household, the number of children living in the household, political ideology, political party affiliation, political party lean, religious affiliation, sex, voter registration status, and whether the respondent voted in the 2000 United States presidential election and if so, for whom they voted: Vice-President Al Gore (Democrat) or governor George W. Bush (Republican).
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Pre-Election Poll #1, October 2006 (ICPSR 22163)
Released/updated on: 2008-05-30
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted October 19-22, 2006, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the current presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way George W. Bush was handling his job as president, whether they approved of the way Congress and their own representative in Congress was handling their job, and to rate the condition of the national economy. Registered voters were asked whether they followed the congressional elections, whether they were likely to vote, and which candidate they would vote for if the election were being held that day. Registered voters who had already voted absentee were asked which candidate they voted for, how enthusiastic they were about their vote, and whether their vote was more for one political party, or more against the other political party. Opinions were solicited on what was the most important issue in congressional elections, whether things in the country were generally going in the right direction, whether their reason for voting for a candidate for Congress included showing support for George W. Bush, which political party they trusted to do a better job handling issues such as the situation in Iraq and the economy, and whether they thought a change of control from the Republicans to the Democrats would be a good thing. Information was collected on whether respondents had been contacted by any organization working in support of a candidate for Congress and which political party they were asked to vote for, whether the 2006 congressional elections were more important to the country than past elections, and whether the war with Iraq was worth fighting. Additional questions asked how much Congress should be blamed for problems relating to the war with Iraq, how much credit Congress should get for preventing terrorist attacks, whether respondents felt optimistic about the situation in Iraq, and if the United States had the same kind of involvement in the war with Iraq as it did the Vietnam war. Demographic variables include sex, age, religion, race, education level, household income, labor union membership, voter registration and participation history, political party affiliation, political philosophy, employment status, marital status, and type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural).
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Pre-Election Poll #2, November 2006 (ICPSR 22164)
Released/updated on: 2008-06-25
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted November 1-4, 2006, 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. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way George W. Bush was handling his job as president, whether they approved of the way the United States Congress and their own representative in Congress was handling their job, and to rate the condition of the national economy. Registered voters were asked whether they were following the upcoming congressional mid-term elections on November 7, 2006, whether they were likely to vote, and which candidate they would vote for if the election were being held that day. Registered voters who had already voted were asked which candidate they voted for, how enthusiastic they were about their vote, and whether their vote was more for one political party, or more against the other political party. Opinions were solicited on what was the most important issue in the vote for Congress, whether things in the country were generally going in the right direction, whether their reason for voting for Congress included showing support for George W. Bush, and which political party they trusted to do a better job handling issues such as the situation in Iraq and the economy. Information was collected on whether respondents had been contacted by any organization working in support of a candidate for Congress and if so, which political party they were asked to vote for, which political party best represented their own personal values, and whether the war with Iraq was worth fighting. Demographic variables include sex, age, religious preference, race, education level, voter registration and participation history, political party affiliation, political philosophy, marital status, whether anyone in the household was a veteran, and type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural).
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Pre-Inaugural Monthly Poll, January 2005 (ICPSR 4313)
Released/updated on: 2005-10-26
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted January 12-16, 2005, was undertaken to assess public opinion prior to George W. Bush's second-term inauguration as President of the United States of America. Views were sought on President Bush and his handling of the presidency, as well as on issues such as the economy, foreign affairs, social security, taxes, health care, and education. Respondents were asked if they thought President Bush would do a better job as a president in his second term than in his first term, and whether the country should go in Bush's or the Democrats' in Congress leadership direction. Respondents were also asked what level of priority Bush and the Congress should give issues such as the United States campaign against terrorism, health care, and restricting medical malpractice and class-action lawsuits. Likewise, opinions were solicited on whether Bush would or would not make substantial progress in the next four years on, for example, the economy, the situation in Iraq, and the federal budget deficit. Respondents were asked if they were hopeful or fearful about how the Bush Administration may deal with specific issues, such as environmental policy, same-sex marriage, appointing judges to the United States Supreme Court, and social security. Questions about the war in Iraq asked respondents whether they believed it was worth fighting and if the war had contributed to the long-term security of the United States. Other questions concerned the elections in Iraq, social security, the cost of Bush's inauguration, whether companies should face big penalties in lawsuits, potential new laws regulating medical lawsuits and class-action lawsuits, the United States' handling of illegal immigrants, and what the single biggest environment problem is that the world faces. Background information on respondents includes political party affiliation, the strength of their political party affiliation, whether they voted in the November 2004 presidential election, for whom they voted -- George W. Bush (Republican), John Kerry (Democrat), Ralph Nader (Green Party), or Other -- in the November 2004 presidential election, political orientation, education, religion, Hispanic origin, ethnicity, income, and sex.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Republican Convention Opener Poll, August 2004 (ICPSR 4119)
Released/updated on: 2005-03-15
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted August 26-29, 2004, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit opinions on the presidency and on other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to evaluate the performance of United States President George W. Bush with respect to the campaign against terrorism, the economy, education, health care, the situation in Iraq, taxes, and uniting the country. Respondents were asked to comment on how closely they were following the 2004 United States presidential election, whether they were likely to vote, what, in their opinion, was the key issue, and their preferences among Republican incumbent George W. Bush, Democratic nominee Senator John F. Kerry, and independent candidate Ralph Nader. Specific questions sought to gain the respondents' opinions of Senator Kerry's military service record, certain political ads attacking its legitimacy, and whether the Bush campaign was behind these ads. Additionally, there were questions soliciting respondents' opinions on whether the Bush administration had intentionally misled the country about Iraq, whether the war in Iraq had been worthwhile, and whether they believed the war would improve the long-term security of the United States. In addition, respondents were asked whether they believed it should be legal for homosexuals to marry, and whether the United States Constitution should be amended to make homosexual marriage against the law. Background information includes age, callback receptivity, education, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, income, labor union membership, marital status, military service, political ideology, political party affiliation, religious affiliation, and voting history, including whether and for whom they voted in 2000.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Terrorist Attack Poll #1, September 2001 (ICPSR 3289)
Released/updated on: 2001-10-01
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 11, 2001, was undertaken to assess respondents' reactions to and feelings about the terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center towers in New York City, damaged the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and resulted in a plane crash in Pennsylvania, earlier that day. Respondents were asked whether they believed that the United States government did all it reasonably could do to try to prevent the attacks, whether they were confident in the ability of the United States government to prevent further terrorist attacks against America, and whether they were concerned that someone they knew or their community might be a victim of future acts of terrorism. Assuming that the United States is able to identify the groups and/or nations responsible for the attacks, those queried were asked whether they would support taking military action in response, whether they would support such action if it meant war, and whether military action should be taken against countries that assist or shelter known terrorists. The poll gauged respondents' level of confidence in the ability of the United States government to find and punish those responsible and assessed whether respondents were willing to give up some liberties to crack down on terrorism. In addition, those surveyed were asked whether they did any of the following on that day: contacted family and friends, stayed home or left work early, watched or listened to broadcast news, prayed for the victims and their families, and/or changed their daily routines. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, employment status, Hispanic origin, and size of community in which they resided.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Terrorist Attack Poll #2, September 2001 (ICPSR 3290)
Released/updated on: 2001-10-01
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 13, 2001, was undertaken to assess respondents' reactions to and feelings about the terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center towers in New York City, damaged the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and resulted in a plane crash in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency and the terrorist attacks. Respondents were asked whether they believed that the United States government did all it reasonably could do to try to prevent the attacks, and whether they were confident in the ability of the United States government to prevent future terrorist attacks against America. Assuming that the United States is able to identify the groups and/or nations responsible for the attacks, those queried were asked whether they would support taking military action in response. Respondents were asked whether they would feel the same way if military action meant that innocent civilians in other countries might be injured or killed and if military action resulted in a long war with large numbers of troops injured or killed. Those queried were asked whether they believed that the United States would go to war as a result of Tuesday's attacks. Respondents' opinions were elicited on Osama bin Laden, a suspect in the recent attacks, who reportedly lived in Afghanistan and was indicted for directing previous terrorist attacks. They were asked whether they would support attacking Afghanistan militarily if Afghanistan did not turn bin Laden over to the United States. Respondents were also asked whether they would support new laws that would make it easier for the FBI and other authorities to investigate suspected terrorists, giving up some of their personal liberties and privacy as a result of such laws, and whether they would support new airport security measures that might cause long delays in air travel. Those surveyed were asked about their personal safety concerns regarding upcoming air travel and whether they had cancelled or were planning to cancel future travel plans. Additional topics covered whether the attacks had made respondents more suspicious of people of Arab descent, how their children were reacting to the acts of terrorism, and whether the economy was heading into a recession. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, children in household, and frequency of air travel.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Terrorist Attack Poll #3, September 2001 (ICPSR 3294)
Released/updated on: 2001-10-22
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 20, 2001, was undertaken to assess respondents' reactions to and feelings about the terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center towers in New York City, damaged the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and caused a plane crash in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. Respondents were asked whether they approved of President George W. Bush's response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as well as his proposed remedies, what the consequences were of various levels of military action that could be taken in response to the terrorist threat, and how they viewed the state of the nation's economy. Respondents were also asked whether they watched or listened to any of Bush's address to Congress on September 20, 2001, how much Bush's proposed measures such as stricter airport security, stronger law enforcement efforts, and the creation of a new White House office for domestic security would reduce the risk of another major terrorist attack in this country, and whether Bush's speech made respondents more or less confident in the ability of the United States to deal with the crisis. Assuming that the groups and nations responsible for the terrorist attacks were identified, respondents were asked whether they would support military action against these groups, and whether they would support military action even if it meant getting into a war. Opinions were elicited on whether the United States should limit its military action to the terrorist groups and nations responsible for the September 11, 2001, attacks or broaden its actions to include all terrorist groups and nations, whether taking or not taking military action would result in a greater risk of further terrorism in this country, whether large numbers of troops would be killed and wounded, and whether military action would last for a few weeks, a few months, a year or so, or several years. Concerning the nation's economy, respondents were asked to describe the current state of the economy as excellent, good, not so good, or poor, and to comment on whether the economy was heading into a recession. Background information on respondents includes political party, age, race, and gender.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Terrorist Attack Poll #4, September 2001 (ICPSR 3295)
Released/updated on: 2001-10-22
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 25-27, 2001, was undertaken to assess respondents' reactions to and feelings about the terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center towers in New York City, damaged the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and caused a plane crash in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of the way President George W. Bush was handling the presidency and the terrorist attacks. Respondents were also asked whether they would support taking military action in response, and whether they believed that the United States government would go to war as a result of the attacks. They were further asked whether they would feel the same way if military action caused the death of or injured innocent civilians in other countries and large numbers of American troops due to a long war. Respondents were queried on whether they would support mounting a broader war against terrorist groups and the nations that support them, whether they believed there would be more major terrorist attacks in this country, what the United States must do in its war on international terrorism, and, supposing that the United States accomplished all of its objectives, whether it would still have won the war on terrorism if there were to be another major terrorist attack. Respondents' opinions were elicited on Osama bin Laden, the main suspect in the attack, who was reportedly living in Afghanistan. They were asked whether they believed that the United States would capture or kill bin Laden, and would be able to significantly reduce terrorist attacks against the United States. Respondents were also asked whether action on education reform and prescription drugs for seniors should be postponed for at least a year because of the war on terrorism. Additional topics covered how much the respondents trusted the government to do the right thing, how patriotic they were, whether they appreciated more the privileges they had in this country, and whether they were more willing to make personal sacrifices for the good of the country. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, education, residency, marital status, children in household, race, and household income.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post War Poll #1, November 2001 (ICPSR 3322)
Released/updated on: 2002-02-11
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted November 5-6, 2001, was undertaken to assess the public's attitudes toward terrorism overseas and at home, the war in Afghanistan, and the anthrax crisis. Respondents were asked for their views on George W. Bush as president and his handling of the nation's economy. Opinions were also sought on the United States military involvement in Afghanistan, whether it was necessary to have United States ground troops in Afghanistan, the position of the United States toward Osama Bin Laden, and whether the success of the war on terrorism implied the captivity or death of Osama Bin Laden. The survey also queried respondents about the Bush administration's willingness to provide reliable information to the public, the federal government's response to the anthrax crisis, whether respondents were confident in the ability of the government to prevent further terrorist attacks in the United States, airport security, and whether respondents were concerned about personally becoming victims of a terrorist attack. In addition, respondents were asked to assess the differences between Bush and the Democrats in Congress in the handling of the economy, and to give their opinions about a proposed new system of national identification. Background information includes the respondent's political party affiliation, education level, race, and gender.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post War Poll #2, November 2001 (ICPSR 3364)
Released/updated on: 2002-03-01
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted November 27, 2001, was undertaken to measure respondents' opinions regarding the United States military action in Afghanistan, possible military action elsewhere, and the investigation of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Respondents provided an approval rating of George W. Bush as president and indicated their levels of support for United States military action in Afghanistan, against other countries that supported terrorism, and against Iraq to force Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein from power. Those polled also expressed their opinions on the status of United States military action in Afghanistan and whether the capture or killing of terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden was worth a large number of United States military casualties. Views were elicited on the role the United States should take in establishing a new government in Afghanistan, providing food and economic aid and sending peacekeeping forces to Afghanistan, and taking military action against terrorist groups that tried to re-establish themselves in Afghanistan. Respondents also indicated their level of confidence in the ability of the United States government to prevent further terrorist attacks against Americans in the United States and whether the government was doing all it reasonably could to prevent such attacks. Respondents were queried as to whether the United States was doing enough to protect the rights of average Americans, Arab-Americans and American Muslims, non-citizens from Arab and Muslim countries who were United States residents, and those who had been investigated for suspected involvement in terrorism, as well as whether they supported the federal government's plans to interview 5,000 Middle Eastern men. Respondents indicated whether they believed that non-United States citizens charged with terrorism should be put on trial in the United States criminal court system or in a special military tribunal. In addition, respondents gave their opinions on the legality of wiretapping conversations between people being held on terrorism charges and their lawyers, and on the United States government holding 600 people in the investigation of the September 11 attacks. Background information on respondents included political affiliation, education, ethnic background, age, and gender.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post War Poll #3, December 2001 (ICPSR 3365)
Released/updated on: 2002-03-01
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted on December 18, 2001, was designed to elicit respondents' opinions on the general performance of President George W. Bush and the United States Congress, the ongoing war on terrorism, and the effects on respondents' lives of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Respondents indicated their level of approval of George W. Bush as president, and in particular his handling of the nation's economy and the military action in Afghanistan. Respondents also indicated their level of approval of the United States Congress, whether United States should go in the direction Bush or the Democrats in Congress wanted to lead it, the most important problem that Congress should deal with in 2002, and their level of satisfaction with the amount of attention Congress had paid to various topics. Regarding the United States military action in Afghanistan and the broader United States war on terrorism, respondents were asked whether the most difficult part was over or still to come. Respondents indicated how confident they were that the United States would capture or kill terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, whether the war on terrorism could be a success without the capture or killing of Osama bin Laden, and whether they would prefer to see Osama bin Laden captured or killed. They were also asked about their level of support for United States military action against Iraq to force Saddam Hussein from power and against suspected terrorist bases in other countries, and whether the war on terrorism could be a success without the United States removing Saddam Hussein from power. Respondents gave their opinion on whether the activities of the federal government posed a threat to civil rights, whether the United States government was doing enough to protect the rights of average Americans, Arab-Americans, and American Muslims, and whether terrorist attacks had made respondents more suspicious of people believed to be of Arab descent. Respondents stated whether they were worried about more major terrorist attacks and whether the United States was doing all it reasonably could do to prevent further attacks. They were asked if they would be traveling by commercial airplane and, if traveling, whether their worries had increased or decreased, and whether they expected delays because of increased security. Respondents gave their opinion on whether the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, had changed the United States in a lasting way and if so, whether the change was for better or worse, and whether the cost of the war on terrorism would shortchange other needed programs. Finally, respondents indicated whether the terrorist attacks had changed their personal lives in lasting ways and if so, how, whether the change was for better or worse, and whether they were hopeful or fearful about what 2002 held in store for the world in general. Background information collected on respondents included political affiliation, education, ethnicity, age, and gender.
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: 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
Partially restricted
American Terrorism Study, 1980-2002 (ICPSR 4639)
Released/updated on: 2007-07-30
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1980-01-01--2002-08-01
This study was conducted in response to a lack of existing data collections relating specifically to acts of American terrorism. A primary goal of the study was to create an empirical database from which criminological theories and governmental policies could be effectively evaluated. The American Terrorism Study began in 1989 when the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Terrorist Research and Analytical Center released a list of persons indicted as a result of investigation under the FBI's Counterterrorism Program. Since that time, FBI has released additional lists to the principal investigators. After receiving a list of persons indicted in federal criminal court as a result of an official terrorism investigation, the researchers reviewed the cases at either the federal district court where the cases were tried or at the federal regional records center where the cases were archived. The researchers divided the dataset into five distinct datasets. Part 1, Counts Data, provides data on every count for each indictee in each indictment. This is the basic dataset. There were 7,306 counts from 1980 to 2002. Part 2, Indictees Data, provides data on each of the 574 indictees from 1980-2002. Part 3, Persons Data, provides data on the 510 individuals who were indicted by the federal government as a result of a terrorism investigation. Part 4, Cases Data, provides one line of data for each of the 172 criminal terrorism cases that resulted from a federal terrorism investigation. Part 5, Group Data, provides one line of case data for each of the 85 groups that were tried in federal court for terrorism-related activity. Each of the five datasets includes information on approximately 80 variables divided into four major categories: (1) demographic information, (2) information about the terrorist group to which the individual belongs, (3) prosecution and defense data, and (4) count/case outcome and sentencing data.
Curated
Assessment of Defense and Prosecutorial Strategies in Terrorism Trials in the United States, 1980-2004 (ICPSR 26241)
Released/updated on: 2014-11-11
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1980-01-01--2004-01-01
This study created a flat-file database of information regarding defendants who were referred to United States Attorneys by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) following official terrorism investigations between 1980 and 2004. Its ultimate goal was to provide state and federal prosecutors with empirical information that could assist federal and state prosecutors with more effective strategies for prosecution of terrorism cases. The results of this study enhanced the existing 78 variables in the AMERICAN TERRORISM STUDY, 1980-2002 (ICPSR 4639) database by adding the 162 variables from the Prosecution and Defense Strategies (PADS) database. The variables in the PADS database track information regarding important pleadings, motions, and other key events that occur in federal terrorism trials; the PADS variables measure the strategies used by legal counsel as well as other legal nuances.
Curated
Simple Crosstabs
The Attack on America and Civil Liberties Trade-Offs: A Three-Wave National Panel Survey, 2001-2004 (ICPSR 36371)
Released/updated on: 2017-10-13
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 2001-01-01--2004-01-01
The Attack on America and Civil Liberties Trade Offs survey is a three-wave national panel survey study that was designed to examine the relationship between fear of terrorism, trust in the government, and the willingness to exchange civil liberties for greater personal security and safety in the aftermath of the 2001 September 11 attacks. Respondents were asked about their opinions on the causes of terrorism against the United States, trust in the government, feelings about different groups of people, and various situations involving civil liberties. Demographic information collected include respondent age, gender, race, educational background, religion, and political affiliation.
Curated
Attitudes Toward Foreign Policy in Osaka and Izumo, Japan, 1957 (ICPSR 7071)
Released/updated on: 2009-06-19
Geographic coverage: Global
This study was conducted in 1957 in the cities of Osaka and Izumo, Japan. The respondents' opinions of Japan's national security were explored through questions eliciting views on the strength of and the need for security defense forces, Japan's rearmament, and the possible revision of the Japanese constitution to establish an army, navy, and air force. Japanese foreign policy was investigated, primarily with respect to relations with the United States, Korea, and China. Questions about United States-Japanese relations focused on the presence of United States military bases in Japan and on the return of Okinawa to Japan. Recognition of Communist China was another topic probed in the study, as was the Japanese government's policy toward the Republic of Korea. The survey also investigated respondents' political behavior and attitudes, including voting behavior, party support, and political efficacy. Demographic data include age, sex, education, and occupation.
Curated
Aviation Security and Terrorism: A Review of the Economic Issues (ICPSR 1267)
Released/updated on: 2003-04-25
Geographic coverage: United States
Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the passage of the Aviation and Transportation Act mandated a substantial increase in resources devoted to aviation security. This paper summarized the specific changes stemming from this legislation. In addition, the paper examines the economic issues underlying the regulation and provision of aviation security. The fact that security at one airport can affect the well-being of those at other airports and elsewhere, an example of a network externality (spillover), provides an economic justification for governmental involvement in aviation security. A fundamental question is whether the federal role should be restricted to setting and monitoring security standards or whether the role should also include the financing and implementation of security. A controversial change is that the federal government has assumed responsibility from the airlines and airports for the actual provision of aviation security. Proponents of this change argue that, relative to private provision, public provision reduces the incentives to reduce quality through cost reductions. On the other hand, a public agency might not provide security services efficiently because it can operate in a more-or-less monopolistic way. Furthermore, a public agency might provide an excessive amount of security and incur unnecessary expenses because it is likely to be judged on its security record and not on all the attributes encompassed by air transportation services for consumers. Thus, economic theory does not provide a clear answer to what is likely to be a continuing source of controversy -- the appropriate scope of governmental involvement in aviation security.
Curated
CBS News/60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Monthly Poll #2, November 2010 (ICPSR 33206)
Released/updated on: 2012-02-22
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 2010-11-01--2010-12-01
This poll, fielded November 29 - December 02, 2010, is a part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicits public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way Barack Obama was handling his job as president, the economy, and foreign policy. Respondents were also asked whether they approved of the way Congress was handing its job, their rating of the national economy, and whether they thought the public had the right to know everything the government does, even if it affected national security. Opinions were sought on the severity of the country's budget deficit, how respondents would balance the federal budget, whether respondents felt that Obama spent enough time trying to fix the nation's economy, whether he has done enough for small business owners and large corporations, and whether the tax cuts passed in 2001 should continue. Multiple questions addressed airport security and included questions that asked whether the new "full body" digital X-ray machines should be used at airports, whether the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) pat-downs were too intrusive, whether heightened security measures should be used on all passengers, how effective they thought the new security measures would be in stopping future terrorists attacks on airplanes, whether they had chosen not to fly commercially because of the new security measures, and whether they or their friends or relatives knew someone who was killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. Additional topics covered were Sarah Palin, information made public by Wikileaks, Russia and the United States agreeing to limit nuclear weapons, North and South Korea's conflict developing into a military conflict, Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding, homosexuals in the military, and the National Football League's (NFL) lockout. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, household income, religious preference, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), political party affiliation, political philosophy, voter registration status, and whether respondents thought of themselves as born-again Christians.
Curated
CBS News/60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Monthly Poll #3, November 2010 (ICPSR 33207)
Released/updated on: 2012-03-06
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded November 29 - December 01, 2010, is a part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicits public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way Barack Obama was handling his job as president, the economy, and foreign policy. Respondents were also asked whether they approved of the way Congress was handing its job, their rating of the national economy, and whether they thought the public had the right to know everything the government does, even if it affected national security. Opinions were sought on the severity of the country's budget deficit, how respondents would balance the federal budget, whether respondents felt that Obama spent enough time trying to fix the nation's economy, whether he has done enough for small business owners and large corporations, and whether the tax cuts passed in 2001 should continue. Multiple questions addressed airport security and included questions that asked whether the new "full body" digital X-ray machines should be used at airports, whether the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) pat-downs were too intrusive, whether heightened security measures should be used on all passengers, how effective they thought the new security measures would be in stopping future terrorists attacks on airplanes, whether they had chosen not to fly commercially because of the new security measures, and whether they or their friends or relatives knew someone who was killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. Additional topics covered were Sarah Palin, information made public by Wikileaks, Russia and the United States agreeing to limit nuclear weapons, the possibility of the conflict between North and South Korea developing into a military conflict, the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, homosexuals in the military, and the National Football League (NFL) lockout. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, household income, religious preference, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), political party affiliation, political philosophy, voter registration status, and whether respondents thought of themselves as born-again Christians.