ABC News/Washington Post Iran Airliner Poll, July 1988 (ICPSR 9066)
Version Date: Jul 24, 2008 View help for published
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ABC News;
The Washington Post
Series:
https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR09066.v1
Version V1
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This survey was conducted following the downing of an Iranian airliner in the Persian Gulf by a United States Navy ship. Topics covered include the United States military presence in the Persian Gulf, Reagan's handling of the situation, the chances that the United States would become involved in a major military conflict in the Gulf, and the likelihood of a major terrorist attack in the United States. Specific questions relating to the airliner incident include whether the respondent thought the United States ship was justified in shooting down the airliner, whether the captain of the ship had acted properly, whether the United States or Iran was more to blame for the incident, whether the United States should pay compensation to the families of those killed on the airliner, and whether the United States should formally apologize to Iran for the incident. Respondents also were asked if they had heard that Attorney General Edwin Meese had resigned, if the resignation was a good or bad thing, and how they would rate Meese's overall ethical standards as attorney general. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, sex, and state/region of residence.
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(1) The data contain blanks and alphabetic characters. A weight variable is included that must be used in any analysis.
Sample View help for Sample
Random digit dialing.
Universe View help for Universe
Adults aged 18 and over living in households with telephones in the 48 contiguous United States.
Data Source View help for Data Source
telephone interviews
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1990-05-01
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2018-02-15 The citation of this study may have changed due to the new version control system that has been implemented. The previous citation was:
- ABC News/Washington Post. ABC NEWS/WASHINGTON POST IRAN AIRLINER POLL, JULY 1988. Radnor, PA: Chilton Research Services [producer], 1988. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 1990., 2008-07-24. http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR09066.v1
2008-07-24 SAS, SPSS, and Stata setup files have been added to this data collection.
1. A/D U.S MAINTAIN PRESENCE IN GULF?
1. Do you agree or disagree that the U.S. should maintain a military presence in the Persian Gulf to protect our interests in the region?
10. NAVY JUSTIFIED IN DOWNING PLANE?
10. Just as your best guess, do you think the U.S. ship was justified in shooting down the Iranian airliner, or not?
11. DID SHIP CAPTAIN ACT PROPERLY?
11. Just as your best guess, do you think the captain of the U.S. ship acted properly in the incident or not?
12. IS US OR IRAN MORE TO BLAME?
12. Who do you think is more to blame for the incident overall, the United States or Iran?
13. SHOULD US PAY DAMAGES TO FAMILIES?
13. Do you think the United States should pay money to the families of those killed on the Iranian airliner in attempt to make up for their loss or don't you think the United States should do that?
14. SHOULD US FORMALLY APOLOGIZE?
14. Should the United States formally apologize to Iran for shooting down the Iran airliner or not?
15. REMEMBER SOVIET UNION DOWNING PLANE?
15. Do you happen to recall that the Soviet Union shot down a Korean airliner that strayed into Soviet territory back in 1983?
16. WERE SOVIETS JUSTIFIED?
16. Do you think the Soviets were justified in shooting down the Korean airliner in Soviet air space or not?
16A. HEARD THAT ATT GEN MEESE RESIGNED?
16a. On another subject, have you heard or read that Attorney General Edwin Meese has resigned his position after an independent counsel said that a fourteen month investigation produced no evidence that would result in a criminal indictment of Meese?
16B. RESIGNATION GOOD/BAD FOR US?
16b. Would you say it is a good thing or a bad thing for the country that Meese has resigned, or doesn't it make much difference to you one way or the other?
16C. A/D OF MEESE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL?
16c. Do you apporve or disapprove of the way Meese has handled his job as attorney general?
16D. RATE MEESE'S ETHICS
16d. How do you rate Meese's overall ethical standards as attorney general: Excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
17. PARTY AFFILIATION
17. Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as: (READ LIST)
2. A/D REAGANS HANDLING OF NAVY IN GULF?
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Reagan is handling the situation involving the U.S. Navy in the Persian gulf?
3. IS US DOING TOO MUCH IN PERSIAN GULF?
3. Would you say the United States is trying to do too much with its armed forces in the Persian Gulf area or not?
4. CHANCES OF MAJOR MILITARY CONFLICT?
4. What do you think are the chances that the U.S. will become involved in a major military conflict in the Persian Gulf area in the near future: very likely, somewhat likely, somewhat unlikely or very unlikely?
5. US DOING ALL IT CAN TO AVOID WAR?
5. Do you think the United States is doing all it should to avoid getting into a war with Iran?
6. IS US MILITARY INVOLVEMENT HELPING?
6. Would you say that the U.S. military involvement in the Persian Gulf is helping to solve the problems in the region or is it making the region's problems worse or isn't it having much effect one way or the other?
7. HOW LIKELY IS US TERRORIST ATTACK?
7. In your opinion, how likely is a major terrorist attack in the United States itself in the near future? Is that very likely, somewhat likely or not at all likely?
8. HEARD ABOUT US NAVY SHOOTING PLANE?
8. Have you heard or read about a U.S. Navy ship shooting down an Iranian airliner in the Persian Gulf?
9. DOWNED PLANE ACCIDENT OR MISTAKE?
9. Which of the following best describes your view of the actions of the U.S. ship: A. The downing of the Iranian airliner was an understandable accident or, B. The downing of the Iranian airliner was a stupid mistake.
ABC 3-LETTER STATE
Notes
These data are freely available to data users at ICPSR member institutions. The curation and dissemination of this study are provided by the institutional members of ICPSR. How do I access ICPSR data if I am not at a member institution?