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Detroit Area Study, 1954: Ideal Family Size in Detroit and Administrative Behavior in a Metropolitan Community (ICPSR 7318)

Released/updated on: 2010-07-22

Geographic coverage: Detroit, United States, Michigan

This study of adults aged 21 and older in the Detroit metropolitan area provides information on their contact with and attitudes toward government administrative agencies, their views regarding civic duties, and their organizational memberships in 1954. The study was a combination of two separate studies: IDEAL FAMILY SIZE IN DETROIT by Ronald Freedman, and ADMINISTRATIVE BEHAVIOR IN A METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY by Morris Janowitz. Respondents were asked about their contact with and knowledge of various agencies, including the Michigan Employment Security Commission and the Social Security Department. They were asked to evaluate the performance of the public schools, the County Sheriff's Department, state and local police, and local, county, and state government officials. Several questions were asked to determine the respondents' attitudes toward government employment and employees, specifically the prestige of various jobs in the public sector compared with comparable jobs in the private sector, and their preference for working for the United States government or a private firm. Other questions probed respondents' living experiences before coming to Detroit, their feelings about living in Detroit, and their views about collectivist versus individualist ideology, a national health insurance plan, military draft, taxes, changes in the Social Security system, the role of political influence in enabling private citizens to get help from government agencies, and the ideal family size. Also explored were respondents' understanding of the meaning of "red tape" and how much of it they thought was necessary, and their views on the extent of government's role in solving problems such as unemployment, education, and housing. Respondents were also asked about their political activities, political party preference, and electoral and voting participation. They were asked to identify the mass media on which they relied most for political information, the organizations they belonged to, and if they had a television set. Demographic variables specify age, sex, education, place of birth, marital status, number of children, nationality, religious preferences, occupation, family income, length of residence in the Detroit area, home ownership, length of time at present residence, and class identification.

More information about the Detroit Area Studies Project is available on the Detroit Area Studies Project Web site.

Curated

San Francisco Bay Region Local Politics, 1966-1967 (ICPSR 7328)

Released/updated on: 1992-02-16

Geographic coverage: San Francisco, California

Time period: 1966-01-01--1967-01-01

This study suveyed city council members from 82 cities in the San Francisco Bay area and collected census, budget, and aggregate election data from the council members' cities. The study explored the council members' opinions on matters that concerned Bay Area cities and communities such as traffic and highways, recreation, job and housing discrimination, and social and governmental problems. Predictions of future problems as well as remedies for present ones were elicited. Also investigated were respondents' opinions of the job of council member and details of the history of each council member's political activity and career in public life. Questions were asked about specific campaigns and election outcomes. A number of variables deal with groups and organizations in the area and the characteristics of the council members' cities.

Curated

Social Bases of City Politics: Atlanta, 1865-1903 (ICPSR 7690)

Released/updated on: 1992-02-16

Geographic coverage: United States, Atlanta, Georgia

Time period: 1865-01-01--1903-01-01

This data collection contains biographical and political career information on 824 persons in Atlanta, Georgia, who campaigned for a city office at some point between 1865 and 1903. Data include name of individual, first year of office for which individual was campaigning, office for which campaigning (i.e., mayor, alderman, or councilman), result of campaign, votes received in first through seventh wards, type of election, political party affiliation, ward base of campaign, ward of residence, age elected, race, ethnic status, birthplace, date of arrival in Atlanta, cross occupational listing, occupations ten years before and ten years after the campaign, total time served in minor city office, total time served in Fulton County office, total times a member of the city Democratic executive committee before and during the campaign, Civil War experience, pre-Civil War sentiment (e.g., Secessionist or Unionist), religion, property assessment, and membership in fraternal groups, social clubs, and the fire department.