Using the Mississippi Poll to Assess Race, Sex, and Generational Sources of Quality of Life
Stephen D. Shaffer, Professor
Department of Political Science and Public Administration
Research Fellow, MSU Social Science Research Center
Presented to the
2009 Arts & Sciences Research Showcase
October 21st - 22nd, 8:15 am - 5:00 pm, Colvard Union
Dawghouse,
Mississippi State University
SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC POLLING ORGANIZATIONS:
(Based on extensive state polling information cited in New Voices in the Old South: How Women and Minorities Influence Southern Politics book, based on contributions from the New South Consortium of state academic poll directors, published by the Florida Institute of Government at Florida State University)
North Carolina- The Carolina Poll at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, conducted since 1976, and data cited beginning in 1977, but nationally known poll director is no longer associated with survey unit and poll results are hard to access.
Florida- The Florida Annual Policy Survey at Florida State University, conducted since 1979, but data only cited beginning in 1999 but cited as early as 1980 in other pub, however noted pollster is no longer active with survey unit.
Alabama- Capstone Poll at University of Alabama, conducted since 1980, and data cited beginning in 1980 but director is now retired and poll project has privatized.
Mississippi- The Mississippi Poll at Mississippi State University, conducted since 1981, and data cited beginning in 1981.
Georgia- The Georgia Poll at the University of Georgia, conducted since 1982, and data cited beginning in 1982.
South Carolina- The South Carolina State Survey at the University of South Carolina, conducted since 1989, and data cited beginning in 1989.
Tennessee- The Tennessee Poll at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, conducted since 1993, and data cited beginning in 1993.
Arkansas- The Arkansas Poll at the University of Arkansas, conducted since 1998, and data cited beginning in 1999.
Virginia- The Commonwealth Poll at Virginia Commonwealth University, conducted since 1982, but data only cited beginning in 2001.
Louisiana- The Louisiana Survey at Louisiana State University, conducted since 2003, and data cited beginning in 2003.
Texas- no current statewide poll, polls previously conducted at Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and the University of Houston now extinct.
The Institute for Women’s Policy Research, The Best and Worst States
Overall for Women in 2004
Mississippi
rated 51st in quality of life for women: “In contrast, the worst state for
women is
Mississippi.” (November 2004 fact sheet, page 2)
http://www.iwpr.org/States2004/PDFs/National_FactSheet.pdf
The report rated
Mississippi women as 47th in the nation in Employment and Earnings,
51st in social and economic autonomy, 51st in
reproductive rights, and 49th in health and well-being, and was
rated 44th in political participation.
Full report is at: http://www.iwpr.org/States2004/PDFs/National.pdf
Social and economic
autonomy was the ability of women to exercise control over their economic and
social lives, and was measured by poverty rates, health insurance coverage,
college education completion, and extent of owning businesses. (Full report,
page 29)
Regarding health
and well-being, Mississippi women were especially poorly rated in heart disease
and breast cancer mortality, plus diabetes and Chlamydia
incidence. (Full report, page 50)
Regarding political participation, Mississippi has never had a
woman governor or U.S. senator, and Evelyn Gandy and Amy Tuck are the only
women to serve in other statewide offices.
SEX DIFFERENCES IN RESIDENTIAL STABILITY OVER TIME
|
|
Low Stability |
Medium Stability |
High Stability |
N Size |
Net Stability (High – Low) |
|
Males |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
19% |
38% |
43%*** |
(815) |
24 |
|
2004-2008 |
24% |
29% |
47% |
(742) |
23 |
|
Change |
+5 |
-9 |
+4 |
|
|
|
Females |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
16% |
32% |
52%*** |
(931) |
36 |
|
2004-2008 |
21% |
32% |
47% |
(847) |
26 |
|
Change |
+5 |
0 |
-5 |
|
|
*** The gamma value reflecting sex differences in likelihood of remaining in community in five years is statistically significant at the .001 level.
** The gamma value reflecting sex differences in likelihood of remaining in community in five years is statistically significant at the .01 level.
* The gamma value reflecting sex differences in likelihood of remaining in community in five years is statistically significant at the .05 level.
Note: Cell entries reflect Mississippi polls pooled in 1992, 1994, and 1996, and Mississippi polls pooled in 2004, 2006, 2008. Cell entries are percentages, and they total 100% across each row. Rows labeled as Change are the changes in percentages over the twelve-year time frame. The last column depicts the summary community residential stability level of each sex in each time interval- the high stability minus the low stability columns. The community stability question was worded as follows: “How likely do you think it will be that you will be living in your community five years from now? Definitely no, probably no, probably yes, or definitely yes?” High stability is definitely yes, medium stability is probably yes, and low stability is definitely or probably no.
Source: the Mississippi Poll project (http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/poll.html
SEX DIFFERENCES IN LIFE QUALITY RATING OVER TIME
|
|
Fair/Poor |
Good |
Excellent |
N Size |
Net Life Quality (Excellent – Poor/Fair) |
|
Males |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
31% |
47% |
22% |
(825) |
-9 |
|
2004-2008 |
28% |
41% |
31% |
(750) |
3 |
|
Change |
-3 |
-6 |
+9 |
|
|
|
Females |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
28% |
46% |
26% |
(945) |
-2 |
|
2004-2008 |
29% |
43% |
28% |
(860) |
-1 |
|
Change |
+1 |
-3 |
+2 |
|
|
*** The gamma value reflecting sex differences in perceived quality of life in Mississippi is statistically significant at the .001 level.
** The gamma value reflecting sex differences in likelihood of remaining in community in five years is statistically significant at the .01 level.
* The gamma value reflecting sex differences in likelihood of remaining in community in five years is statistically significant at the .05 level.
Note: Cell entries reflect Mississippi polls pooled in 1992, 1994, and 1996, and Mississippi polls pooled in 2004, 2006, 2008. Cell entries are percentages, and they total 100% across each row. Rows labeled as Change are the changes in percentages over the twelve-year time frame. The last column depicts the summary quality of life rating of each sex in each time interval- the excellent category minus the fair and poor columns. The quality of life question was worded as follows: “Overall, how would you rate Mississippi as a place to live- excellent, good, fair, or poor?” The fair and poor categories are combined.
Source: the Mississippi Poll project (http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/poll.html
RACE DIFFERENCES IN RESIDENTIAL STABILITY OVER TIME
|
|
Low Stability |
Medium Stability |
High Stability |
N Size |
Net Stability (High – Low) |
|
Whites |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
14% |
33% |
53%*** |
(1191) |
39 |
|
2004-2008 |
15% |
30% |
55%*** |
(1022) |
40 |
|
Change |
+1 |
-3 |
+2 |
|
|
|
Blacks |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
25% |
37% |
38%*** |
(541) |
13 |
|
2004-2008 |
36% |
30% |
34%*** |
(518) |
-2 |
|
Change |
+11 |
-7 |
-4 |
|
|
*** The gamma value reflecting racial differences in likelihood of remaining in community in five years is statistically significant at the .001 level.
Note: Cell entries reflect Mississippi polls pooled in 1992, 1994, and 1996, and Mississippi polls pooled in 2004, 2006, 2008. Cell entries are percentages, and they total 100% across each row. Rows labeled as Change are the changes in percentages over the twelve-year time frame. The last column depicts the summary community residential stability level of each race in each time interval- the high stability minus the low stability columns. The community stability question was worded as follows: “How likely do you think it will be that you will be living in your community five years from now? Definitely no, probably no, probably yes, or definitely yes?” High stability is definitely yes, medium stability is probably yes, and low stability is definitely or probably no.
Source: the Mississippi Poll project (http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/poll.html
RACE DIFFERENCES IN LIFE QUALITY RATING OVER TIME
|
|
Fair/Poor |
Good |
Excellent |
N Size |
Net Life Quality (Excellent – Poor/Fair) |
|
Whites |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
23% |
47% |
30%*** |
(1201) |
7 |
|
2004-2008 |
20% |
44% |
36%*** |
(1035) |
16 |
|
Change |
-3 |
-3 |
+6 |
|
|
|
Blacks |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
43% |
44% |
13%*** |
(554) |
-30 |
|
2004-2008 |
43% |
39% |
18%*** |
(526) |
-25 |
|
Change |
0 |
-5 |
+5 |
|
|
*** The gamma value reflecting racial differences in perceived quality of life in Mississippi is statistically significant at the .001 level.
Note: Cell entries reflect Mississippi polls pooled in 1992, 1994, and 1996, and Mississippi polls pooled in 2004, 2006, 2008. Cell entries are percentages, and they total 100% across each row. Rows labeled as Change are the changes in percentages over the twelve-year time frame. The last column depicts the summary quality of life rating of each race in each time interval- the excellent category minus the fair and poor columns. The quality of life question was worded as follows: “Overall, how would you rate Mississippi as a place to live- excellent, good, fair, or poor?” The fair and poor categories are combined.
Source: the Mississippi Poll project (http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/poll.html
RACE DIFFERENCES IN SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
Table drawn from MSU Political Science and Public Administration doctoral student Isla Carr’s paper on Race, Regional, and Socioeconomic Differences in Spending Preferences for Public Education for Doctoral Political Behavior class, Fall 2009, MSU.
Data pool the 2004, 2006, and 2008 Mississippi Polls.
|
ses1 SES recoded * race Race of
Respondent Crosstabulation |
|||||
|
|
|
|
race Race of Respondent |
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
1 WHITE |
2 BLACK |
|
|
Socioeconomic Status (education and income) trichotomized |
1.00 lowest third |
Count |
231 |
226 |
457 |
|
% within race Race of Respondent |
27.4% |
53.9% |
36.2% |
||
|
2.00 medium |
Count |
305 |
144 |
449 |
|
|
% within race Race of Respondent |
36.1% |
34.4% |
35.6% |
||
|
3.00 highest third |
Count |
308 |
49 |
357 |
|
|
% within race Race of Respondent |
36.5% |
11.7% |
28.3% |
||
|
Total |
Count |
844 |
419 |
1263 |
|
|
% within race Race of Respondent |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
||
RACE DIFFERENCES IN TRUST IN STATE OFFICIALS
|
|
Low Trust |
Medium Trust |
High Trust |
N Size |
Net Trust (High – Low) |
|
Whites |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
22% |
51% |
27%** |
(1185) |
5 |
|
2004-2008 |
17% |
45% |
38%*** |
(1020) |
21 |
|
Change |
-5 |
-6 |
+11 |
|
|
|
Blacks |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
29% |
48% |
23%** |
(548) |
-6 |
|
2004-2008 |
27% |
56% |
17%*** |
(535) |
-10 |
|
Change |
-2 |
+8 |
-6 |
|
|
*** The gamma value reflecting race differences in trust in state officials is statistically significant at the .001 level.
** The gamma value reflecting race differences in trust in state officials is statistically significant at the .01 level.
* The gamma value reflecting race differences in trust in state officials is statistically significant at the .05 level.
Note: Cell entries reflect Mississippi polls pooled in 1992, 1994, and 1996, and Mississippi polls pooled in 2004, 2006, 2008. Cell entries are percentages, and they total 100% across each row. Rows labeled as Change are the changes in percentages over the twelve-year time frame. The last column depicts the trust level of each race in each time interval- the high trust minus the low trust columns. The trust in state officials question was worded as follows: “How much of the time do you think you can trust public officials in Mississippi to do what is right-- almost always, most of the time, only some of the time, or rarely?” High trust combines the always and most of the time categories, medium trust is the only some of the time category, and low trust is the rarely response category.
Source: the Mississippi Poll project (http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/poll.html
RACE DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES ON RACIAL ISSUES
|
|
Oppose gov’t helping blacks |
Mixed opinions |
Favor gov’t helping blacks |
N Size |
Net Racial Issues Scale (Favor – Oppose) |
|
Whites |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
49% |
42% |
9%*** |
(1124) |
-40 |
|
2004-2008 |
53% |
38% |
9%*** |
(958) |
-44 |
|
Change |
+4 |
-4 |
0 |
|
|
|
Blacks |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
5% |
35% |
60%*** |
(513) |
55 |
|
2004-2008 |
6% |
36% |
58%*** |
(499) |
52 |
|
Change |
+1 |
+1 |
-2 |
|
|
*** The gamma value reflecting race differences in racial issue attitudes is statistically significant at the .001 level.
** The gamma value reflecting race differences in racial issue attitudes is statistically significant at the .01 level.
* The gamma value reflecting race differences in racial issue attitudes is statistically significant at the .05 level.
Note: Cell entries reflect Mississippi polls pooled in 1992, 1994, and 1996, and Mississippi polls pooled in 2004, 2006, 2008. Cell entries are percentages, and they total 100% across each row. Rows labeled as Change are the changes in percentages over the twelve-year time frame. The last column depicts the summary racial issue attitudes level of each race in each time interval- the favor government programs helping blacks minus the oppose government programs columns. The racial issues scale combines two questions asking: “Do you strong agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with the following two statements? The government in Washington should make every effort to improve the social and economic position of blacks and other minority groups. Because of past discrimination blacks should be given preference in hiring and promotion.” Responses to each question were dichotomized, and then added together to form a scale with three categories.
Source: the Mississippi Poll project (http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/poll.html
AGE DIFFERENCES IN RESIDENTIAL STABILITY OVER TIME
|
|
Low Stability |
Medium Stability |
High Stability |
N Size |
Net Stability (High – Low) |
|
18-35 Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
30% |
40% |
30%*** |
(652) |
0 |
|
2004-2008 |
39% |
35% |
26%*** |
(552) |
-13 |
|
Change |
+9 |
-5 |
-4 |
|
|
|
36-55 Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
12% |
34% |
54%*** |
(598) |
42 |
|
2004-2008 |
16% |
31% |
53%*** |
(551) |
37 |
|
Change |
+4 |
-3 |
-1 |
|
|
|
56-100 Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
8% |
27% |
65%*** |
(480) |
57 |
|
2004-2008 |
9% |
25% |
66%*** |
(472) |
57 |
|
Change |
+1 |
-2 |
+1 |
|
|
*** The gamma value reflecting age differences in likelihood of remaining in community in five years is statistically significant at the .001 level.
Note: Cell entries reflect Mississippi polls pooled in 1992, 1994, and 1996, and Mississippi polls pooled in 2004, 2006, 2008. Cell entries are percentages, and they total 100% across each row. Rows labeled as Change are the changes in percentages over the twelve-year time frame. The last column depicts the summary community residential stability level of each age group in each time interval- the high stability minus the low stability columns. The community stability question was worded as follows: “How likely do you think it will be that you will be living in your community five years from now? Definitely no, probably no, probably yes, or definitely yes?” High stability is definitely yes, medium stability is probably yes, and low stability is definitely or probably no.
Source: the Mississippi Poll project (http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/poll.html
AGE DIFFERENCES IN LIFE QUALITY RATING OVER TIME
|
|
Fair/Poor |
Good |
Excellent |
N Size |
Net Life Quality (Excellent – Poor/Fair) |
|
18-35 Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
35* |
52% |
13%*** |
(655) |
-22 |
|
2004-2008 |
38% |
43% |
19%*** |
(551) |
-19 |
|
Change |
+3 |
-9 |
+6 |
|
|
|
36-55 Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
30% |
45% |
25%*** |
(604) |
-5 |
|
2004-2008 |
26% |
44% |
30%*** |
(559) |
4 |
|
Change |
-4 |
-1 |
+5 |
|
|
|
56-100 Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992-1996 |
22% |
40% |
38%*** |
(493) |
16 |
|
2004-2008 |
19% |
39% |
42%*** |
(489) |
23 |
|
Change |
-3 |
-1 |
+4 |
|
|
*** The gamma value reflecting age differences in perceived quality of life in Mississippi is statistically significant at the .001 level.
Note: Cell entries reflect Mississippi polls pooled in 1992, 1994, and 1996, and Mississippi polls pooled in 2004, 2006, 2008. Cell entries are percentages, and they total 100% across each row. Rows labeled as Change are the changes in percentages over the twelve-year time frame. The last column depicts the summary quality of life rating of each age group in each time interval- the excellent category minus the fair and poor columns. The quality of life question was worded as follows: “Overall, how would you rate Mississippi as a place to live- excellent, good, fair, or poor?” The fair and poor categories are combined.
Source: the Mississippi Poll project (http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/poll.html
Causal Model of Race and Age Differences in Residential Stability and Quality of Life
Race
(Blacks)
Financial -.09
-.10 Satisfaction
(Hi)
.29 -.13 .20
-.20 -.31
-.15
Education Income Trust in Quality Residential
(Hi) .45 (Hi)
.10 State .23 of Life .29 Stability
Officials (Hi) (Hi)
(Hi) R2 = 20% R2 = 25%
.09
-.08 -.07
.48 -.14
-.09
-.25
-.17
Race Issue
Attitudes
(Liberal)
.09
Age
(Young)
(Source: 2004, 2006, and 2008 pooled Mississippi Polls)
(Note: Path coefficients are standardized regression coefficients)