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Parental child-rearing practices and values and factors influencing those practices were the main focus of this Detroit Area Study. Respondents were asked about their involvement with their children and the kind and amount of activities done together, household rules that children were expected to follow and how strictly those rules were enforced, and forms of punishment employed for disobedience such as scolding, grounding, or physical punishment. Parental values were explored by the survey with a variety of items such as the importance to the respondent of being a parent, educational achievement desired for children, the desirability of certain qualities in their children, (e.g., good manners, honesty, sound judgment, responsibility, and being a good student), and whether it was important for their children to have certain skills such as knowing how to swim. Respondents were also queried about their satisfaction with the cleanliness of their homes, the amount of space in the home, the quality of the main meal of the day, and the amount of money available for them to do the things they want to do. Other questions asked by the survey include whether the auto industry would make a comeback, the main reasons the auto industry was in trouble, if the respondent or any of their children had ever gotten into trouble using matches or fire and the consequences of those actions, and whether all important decisions in the life of the family should be made by the man. Background information on individuals includes race, age, sex, household composition, marital status, income, occupation, religious preference, education, and union membership.

The 1987 Detroit Area Study is a replication of Gerhard Lenski's 1958 study on religion titled DETROIT AREA STUDY, 1958: THE RELIGIOUS FACTOR (ICPSR 7279). In addition to providing standard personal and demographic information such as age, sex, race, religion, marital status, and occupation, the survey also gathered data on the economic and political behavior of respondents and their kinship institutions, as well as the commitment of individuals to socio-religious groups. Questions tapped areas such as inter-group images, class and ethnic distinctions, family and child-rearing patterns, and attitudes toward work, unions, spending, saving, welfare legislation, civil liberties, foreign affairs, minority group rights, and legislation on moral issues. Questions on religion covered doctrinal orthodoxy, the role of religious leaders in politics, and the effect of religion on politics as well as daily life.

For this survey, respondents from three counties in the Detroit, Michigan, area were queried about their work, health, marriage and family, finances, political views, religion, and child rearing. With respect to finances, respondent views were elicited on credit card purchases, recording expenditures, and savings and investments. Regarding political views, respondents were questioned about political preferences, presidential values, freedom of speech, nuclear war, and the interest of public officials. Questions also addressed religious beliefs and experiences, including the religiosity of respondents' parents, belief in and relationship with God, the relationship between science and religion, school prayer, divorce, and homosexuality. Additional religious questions -- based on the respondents' religious preference (i.e., Protestant, Catholic, Jew, Other Religion, or No Preference/Agnostic/Atheist Only) -- also were asked, covering topics such as interfaith marriages, religion of friends, and observance of religious holy days. Questions were asked about the views of respondents' religious leaders on issues including drinking, abortion, and test-tube fertilization. Regarding child rearing, views were elicited on issues including religious preference of child(ren) raised, religious training given to child(ren), and frequency of prayer before meals. Background information includes marital status, employment, political orientation, and income.