2012 Mississippi Poll

2012 Mississippi Poll Codebook

FOR LANDLINES: Question Hello

Hello. My name is ________. I am calling from Mississippi State University.

Professor Stephen Shaffer at the Social Science Research Center is conducting

a statewide study of what Mississippi residents think about important issues

facing the state. Your phone number was randomly selected, and your answers

will be kept completely confidential. Your participation is voluntary, you

may hang up at any time, and if you feel a question is too personal you need

not answer it. This interview will only take about 10 minutes.

Are you at least 18 years old?

IF ANSWER IS NO, TERMINATE INTERVIEW, AS WE NEED ADULTS.

May I begin?

START INTERVIEW 1; NO ANSWER 2; BUSY 3; ANSWERING MACHINE 4; BAD#/FAX TONE 5;

SOMEONE REFUSED 6; RESPONDENT REFUSED 7; NOT A HOME PHONE 8; DEAF/HEALTH/

DECEASED 9; OUT OF TOWN 10; COMMUNICATION PROBLEM 11; OTHERWISE CTRL-END.

NOTE: If this is a call back with a name (see above) press 12 BEFORE dialing.

THIS IS A CALL BACK

Hello, may I speak with _____ ? (See screen above for name)

(If respondent is not available, terminate with CTRL-END and enter call back

information.) When the respondent is on the phone, introduce yourself and ask

if you can continue the interview that was interrupted the other day. If YES,

press 1 to continue. If NOT NOW, terminate with CTRL-END to get the call back

menu.

FOR CELL PHONES: Hello. My name is ________. I am calling from Mississippi State University.

Professor Stephen Shaffer at the Social Science Research Center is conducting

a statewide study of what Mississippi residents think about important issues

facing the state. Are you in a safe place to talk over the phone? (INTERVIEWER: WE DO NOT

INTERVIEW PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING ANY VEHICLE)

IF ANSWER IS YES, CONTINUE: Your phone number was randomly selected, and your answers

will be kept completely confidential. Your participation is voluntary, you

may hang up at any time, and if you feel a question is too personal you need

not answer it. This interview will only take about 10 minutes. Are you at least 18 years old?

IF ANSWER IS NO, TERMINATE INTERVIEW, AS WE NEED ADULTS.

Are you a Mississippi resident?

IF ANSWER IS YES, ASK: May I begin the interview?

Press 1 to Begin Survey.

Question QUALIFE

Overall, how would you rate Mississippi as a place to live ...

1. Excellent

2. Good

3. Fair

4. Poor

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

Question LIVCOMM

How likely do you think it will be that you will be living in your community

five years from now?

1. Definitely No

2. Probably No

3. Probably Yes

4. Definitely Yes

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

Question HAPPY

Taken all together, how would you say things are these days-- Would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?

1) VERY HAPPY

2) PRETTY HAPPY

3) NOT TOO HAPPY

4) DON'T KNOW

5) REFUSED

Question TRUSTPEO

Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted, or that you can't be too careful in dealing with people

1) TRUST MOST PEOPLE

2) CAN'T BE TOO CAREFUL

3) DON'T KNOW

4) REFUSED

5) OTHER/DEPENDS

Question GETFIN

We are interested in how people are getting along financially. So far as you

and your family are concerned, would you say that you are pretty well satisfied

with your present financial situation, more or less satisfied, or not satisfied

at all?

1. Pretty well satisfied

2. More or less satisfied

3. Not satisfied at all

4. Don’t Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

Question WOMHOM

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Women should take care

of running their homes and leave running the country up to men.

1. Agree

2. Disagree

3. Don't know/Not sure

4. Refused

Question TRUSTOF

How much of the time do you think you can trust public officials in Mississippi

to do what is right?

1. Almost always

2. Most of the time

3. Some of the time

4. Rarely

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

Question COMMENT1

Now I'm going to ask you to rate the job performance of a few political figures

and state institutions. Rate each of them as excellent, good, fair, or poor.

Press 1 to Continue.

Question RATEPRES

What about President Barack Obama?

Would you rate his job performance as ...

1. Excellent

2. Good

3. Fair

4. Poor

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

Question RATEGOV

What about Governor Phil Bryant?

1. Excellent

2. Good

3. Fair

4. Poor

6. Refused

Question RATEAG

What about Attorney General Jim Hood?

1. Excellent

2. Good

3. Fair

4. Poor

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

Question RATELEG

What about the Mississippi State Legislature

1. Excellent

2. Good

3. Fair

4. Poor

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

Question KNOWCONG

What is the name of the United States Representative who represents your

Congressional district in Washington?

(A CORRECT RESPONSE IS "HARPER" "NUNNELEE" “PALAZZO” OR "THOMPSON")

1. Incorrect response / Don't Know / Refused

2. Correct Name

Question INTEREST

How interested are you in the coming elections for President and Congress?

Very interested, somewhat, a little, or not at all interested?

1. Not at all interested / Don't Know / Refused

2. A little

3. Somewhat

4. Very interested

Question WILLVOTE

How certain are you to vote in the elections this November? Would you say

that you definitely will vote, probably will, probably will not, or definitely

will not vote?

1. Definitely will NOT vote / Don't Know / Refused

2. Probably will NOT vote

3. Probably will vote

4. Definitely will vote

Question ELEC_P1

If the presidential election was held today, and the candidates were

President Barack Obama the Democrat, and former Massachusetts Governor

Mitt Romney the Republican, whom would you vote for? Obama or Romney?

1. Obama

2. Romney

3. Undecided/Don't know

4. Refused

Question ELEC_P2

If the presidential election was held today, and the candidates were

President Barack Obama the Democrat, and former Pennsylvania Senator

Rick Santorum the Republican, whom would you vote for? Obama or Santorum?

1. Obama

2. Santorum

3. Undecided/Don't know

4. Refused

Question IDEOLOGY

What about your political beliefs? Do you consider yourself ...

1. Very liberal

2. Somewhat liberal

3. Moderate / Middle of the road

4. Somewhat conservative

5. Very conservative

6. Don't Know/Not Sure

7. Refused

Question COMMENT2

Please label the following political figures as very liberal, somewhat liberal,

moderate (middle of the road), somewhat conservative, or very conservative.

Press 1 to Continue.

Question IDDEM

President Barack Obama

1. Very liberal

2. Somewhat liberal

3. Moderate / Middle of the road

4. Somewhat conservative

5. Very conservative

6. Don't Know/Not Sure

7. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question IDREP1

Republican Mitt Romney

1. Very liberal

2. Somewhat liberal

3. Moderate / Middle of the road

4. Somewhat conservative

5. Very conservative

6. Don't Know/Not Sure

7. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question IDREP2

Republican Rick Santorum

1. Very liberal

2. Somewhat liberal

3. Moderate / Middle of the road

4. Somewhat conservative

5. Very conservative

6. Don't Know/Not Sure

7. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question IDEOGOV

Governor Phil Bryant

1. Very liberal

2. Somewhat liberal

3. Moderate / Middle of the road

4. Somewhat conservative

5. Very conservative

6. Don't Know/Not Sure

7. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question IDEOST

Attorney General Jim Hood

1. Very liberal

2. Somewhat liberal

3. Moderate / Middle of the road

4. Somewhat conserative

5. Very conservative

6. Don't Know/Not Sure

7. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question COMMENT3

Now I'm going to ask you about some issues facing state and local government

in Mississippi. As you know, most of the money government spends comes from

the taxes you and others pay. For each of the following, please tell me whether

you think state and local government in Mississippi should be spending more,

less, or about the same as now.

Press 1 to Continue.

Question SENVIR

Environmental programs

1. Should spend more

2. Should spend less

3. Should spend about the same

4. Don’t Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question SPOOR

Programs for the poor

1. Should spend more

2. Should spend less

3. Should spend about the same

4. Don’t Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question SSCHOOL

Public grade schools and high schools

1. Should spend more

2. Should spend less

3. Should spend about the same

4. Don’t Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question SROADS

Streets and highways

1. Should spend more

2. Should spend less

3. Should spend about the same

4. Don’t Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question SPOLICE

Police forces

1. Should spend more

2. Should spend less

3. Should spend about the same

4. Don’t Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question SUNIVER

Public colleges and universities

1. Should spend more

2. Should spend less

3. Should spend about the same

4. Don’t Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question SHEALTH

Health care and hospitals

1. Should spend more

2. Should spend less

3. Should spend about the same

4. Don’t Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question SINDUST

Industrial growth and development

1. Should spend more

2. Should spend less

3. Should spend about the same

4. Don’t Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question STOURISM

Encouraging tourism

1. Should spend more

2. Should spend less

3. Should spend about the same

4. Don’t Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question SCHILDC

Child day care facilities

1. Should spend more

2. Should spend less

3. Should spend about the same

4. Don’t Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question COMMENT4

Now I'm going to read some statements about some important issues.

For each of these statements, tell me whether you strongly agree,

agree, disagree, or strongly disagree.

Press 1 to Continue.

Question JOBS

The government in Washington should see to it that every person has a job

and a good standard of living.

1. Strongly agree

2. Agree

3. Disagree

4. Strongly disagree

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question DOCTORS

The government ought to help people get doctors and hospital care at low cost.

1. Strongly agree

2. Agree

3. Disagree

4. Strongly disagree

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question FEWSERV

The government in Washington should provide fewer services, even in areas such

as health and education, in order to reduce government spending.

1. Strongly agree

2. Agree

3. Disagree

4. Strongly disagree

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question BLHELP

The government in Washington should make every effort to improve the social

and economic position of blacks and other minority groups.

1. Strongly agree

2. Agree

3. Disagree

4. Strongly disagree

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question AFFACT

Because of past discrimination, blacks should be given preference in hiring

and promotion.

1. Strongly agree

2. Agree

3. Disagree

4. Strongly disagree

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question ISOLATE

This country should pay more attention to problems at home and less attention

to problems in other parts of the world.

1. Strongly agree

2. Agree

3. Disagree

4. Strongly disagree

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question ABORTION

By law, a woman should be able to have an abortion as a matter of

personal choice.

1. Strongly agree

2. Agree

3. Disagree

4. Strongly disagree

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

(Repeat response categories if necessary)

Question DEATHMUR

For someone who is convicted of murder, do you GENERALLY favor the

death penalty, life in prison without parole, or a jail term that

is shorter than for the rest of someone's life?

1. Death penalty

2. Life without parole

3. Jail term shorter than life

4. Don’t Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

Question MARRIAGE

Which of these three options do you favor for gay couples: They should be

allowed to get legally married; they should be allowed legally to form civil

unions but not to marry; or they should not be allowed to obtain any legal

recognition of their relationships.

1. Legal marriage

2. Civic unions

3. No legal recognition

4. Don't Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

Question FDEF

Should National Defense spending be ...

1. increased

2. decreased, or

3. kept about the same

4. Don’t Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

Question PARTY

Generally speaking, do you consider yourself a ...

1. Democrat

2. Republican, or

3. Independent

4. Other

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

Question TYPDEM

(IF RESPONSE TO PARTY IS 1, ASK:)Do you consider yourself a strong or not so strong Democrat?

1. Strong democrat

2. Not so strong democrat

3. Don't Know/Not Sure

4. Refused

Question TYPREP

(IF RESPONSE TO PARTY IS 2, ASK:)Do you consider yourself a strong or not so strong Republican?

1. Strong republican

2. Not so strong republican

3. Don't Know/Not Sure

4. Refused

Question CLOSERDR

(IF RESPONSE TO PARTY IS 3, 4, OR 5, ASK:)Do you think of yourself closer to the Democratic party or the

Republican party?

1. Closer to democrats

2. Closer to republicans

3. Closer to neither

4. Don't Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

Question PARTYID

The previous four party identification questions have been recoded into a seven-point combined scale as follows:

1. Strong Democrats
2. Weak Democrats
3. Independent Democrats
4. Pure Independents
5. Independent Republicans
6. Weak Republicans
7. Strong Republicans
8. Apolitical/Don't Knows
9. REFUSED
10. Other

Question SEATUSE

How often do you use seat belts while driving ...

1. Always

2. Most of the time

3. Seldom

4. Never

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

Question PCACCESS

Do you have access to a personal computer?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Don't know/Not sure

4. Refused

Question PROFILE

Racial Profiling is when a law enforcement officer stops and asks a person

questions or detains them, merely because of their race.

Have you ever been a victim of racial profiling?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Don't know/Not sure

4. Refused

Question PROWIDE

Do you believe that racial profiling is a widespread practice in Mississippi?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Don't know/Not sure

4. Refused

Question PRSHOULD

Do you believe that law enforcement officers should be allowed to use racial

profiling to fight crime?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Don't know/Not sure

4. Refused

Question COMMENT5

And now for some final questions.

Press 1 to Continue.

Question YRSINMS

How many years have you lived in Mississippi?

Enter 96 for 96 or more years

97 for "All my life"

98 Don't Know / Not Sure

99 Refused

Question POPULATE

Which of the following best describes the place where you live?

1. A farm or ranch

2. Non-farm rural area

3. A town or village with less than 2,500 people

4. A town of 2,500 to 10,000 people

5. A city of 10,000 to 50,000 people

6. Large city with more than 50,000 people

7. Don't Know/Not Sure

8. Refused

Question EDUCATE

What was the last grade in school that you completed?

1. Grade 11 or less

2. 12th grade

3. Some college

4. Graduated college

5. Some graduate work

6. Don't Know/Not Sure

7. Refused

Question AGE

What year were you born? 19

Enter 00 if born before 1901

98 Don't Know / Not Sure

99 Refused

Question RACE

Is your race white, black, or what?

1. White,

2. Black (African-American)

3. Other

4. Don't Know/Not Sure

5. Refused

Question MARSTA

Are you currently ...

1. Married

2. Single

3. Divorced

4. Separated

5. Widowed

6. Don't Know/Not Sure

7. Refused

Question RELIGFRE

About how often do you attend church?

1. Every week

2. Almost every week

3. Once or twice a month

4. A few times a year

5. Never

6. Don't Know/Not Sure

7. Refused

Question RELIGION

What is your religious preference? (What church or denomination?)

1) AMERICAN INDIAN

2) ASSEMBLY OF GOD

3) BAPTIST

4) CATHOLIC

6) CHURCH OF CHRIST

7) CHURCH OF GOD

9) CHURCH OF GOD OF PROPHECY

10) EPISCOPAL/EPISCOPALIAN

11) FIRST BAPTIST

13) FULL GOSPEL

15) HOLINESS CHURCH

16) HOLIST

17) INDEPENDENT BAPTIST

19) JEHOVAH'S WITNESS

22) LUTHERAN

24) METHODIST

25) MISSIONARY BAPTIST

26) MORMON

30) NON-DENOMINATION CHRISTIAN/CHRISTIAN

31) NON-DENOMINATIONAL PROTESTANT

32) OLD SCHOOL CHRISTIAN

34) PENTECOST/PENTECOSTAL

35) PRESBYTERIAN

37) PROTESTANT (UNSPECIFIED)

39) SOUTHERN BAPTIST

42) NONE

43) OTHER

44) DON'T KNOW/NOT SURE

45)REFUSED

Question INCOME

Last year, what was your total family income, before taxes?

Please stop me when I am on the right level.

1. Under $10,000

2. Between $10,000 and $20,000

3. Between $20,000 and $30,000

4. Between $30,000 and $40,000

5. Between $40,000 and $50,000

6. Between $50,000 and $60,000

7. Between $60,000 and $70,000

8. Over $70,000

9. Don’t Know/Not Sure

10. Refused

Question COUNTY

(INTERVIEWER: If cell phone, ask) What county do you live in?

LANDLINES WILL HAVE COUNTY CODED FROM FIRST THREE DIGITS OF PHONE NO.

Question THANKS

This completes our interview. Do you have any questions about the survey?

1. Yes

2. No

Press Any Key To Continue.

Question IRB

If you have any questions about this research project, please feel free to

contact Dr. Steve Shaffer in the Political Science Department at (662) 325-7861

If you want information about your rights as a research subject, please

contact the MSU Regulatory Compliance Office at (662) 325-5220

Press Any Key to Continue.

Question newbye

Thank you for your participation in this survey.

Good Bye.

Press Any Key to Continue.

Question GENDER

What is the respondent's gender?

1. Male

2. Female

3. Couldn't tell for sure

To obtain a representative sample, the dataset should always be weighted by the variable WEIGHT.