2010 Mississippi Poll Codebook

NOTE; THIS DATASET SHOULD BE WEIGHTED BY THE VARIABLE “WEIGHT” IN ORDER TO BE

A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF THE MISSISSIPPI ADULT POPULATION.

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. 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.

Question load

Question hello2

Hello may I speak with ?

(Continue when the respondent is on the phone or CTRL-END for call back menu.)

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. May I begin?

1. YES

2. NO, CALL BACK LATER

3. REFUSED

4. RESPONDENT IS OUT OF TOWN TILL STUDY IS OVER

NOTE: If the respondent can not do the interview now, CTRL-END to get the call

back menu.

Question hphone

Is this a home phone?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Refused

Question sample

In order to get a representative sample of all Mississippians, I need to

speak with the person in your household who is at least 18 years old and who

Are you that person?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Refused

Question speakto

May I speak with that person?

1. YES, WAIT I'LL GET HIM/HER (Wait till person answers BEFORE pressing 1)

2. NO, He/she not currently available. Ask for a good day & time to call back.

3. REFUSED

4. RESPONDENT IS OUT OF TOWN TILL STUDY IS OVER

NOTE: If person is not available right now press 2 (or CTRL-END) to get the

call back menu. Then get a date and time to call back. Also, GET the

FIRST NAME OF the PERSON to ask for.

Question hello3

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. May I begin?

1. YES

2. NO, CALL BACK LATER

3. REFUSED

NOTE: If the respondent can NOT do the interview RIGHT NOW, CTRL-END to get

the call back menu. Then get a date and time to call back, also GET

the RESPONDENT'S FIRST NAME.

Question INTRO

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 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 Haley Barbour?

Would you rate his job performance as ...

1. Excellent

2. Good

3. Fair

4. Poor

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

Question RATELGOV

What about Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant?

Would you rate his job performance as ...

1. Excellent

2. Good

3. Fair

4. Poor

5. Don't Know/Not Sure

6. Refused

Question RATELEG

What about the Mississippi State Legislature

Would you rate its job performance as ...

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 "CHILDERS" "HARPER" "TAYLOR" OR "THOMPSON")

1. Incorrect response / Don't Know / Refused

2. Correct Name

Question INTEREST

How interested are you in the coming elections for 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 Vice Presidential candidate

Sarah Palin the Republican, whom would you vote for? Obama or Palin?

1. Obama

2. Palin

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 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 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 IDDEM1

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 IDREP

Republican Sarah Palin

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 Haley Barbour

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

Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant

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 GUNCONTR

The government should enact stricter legislation to control handguns.

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 DRUGTAX

Some people have proposed legalizing marijuana and then taxing its sale as a

way of raising revenue for state governments. Would you favor or oppose

doing this in Mississippi?

1. Favor

2. Oppose

3. Don't Know/Not Sure

4. Refused

Question DRUGPAIN

Would you favor or oppose allowing doctors in Mississippi to prescribe

marijuana to patients in order to reduce their pain and suffering?

1. Favor

2. Oppose

3. Don't Know/Not Sure

4. 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

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

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

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

NOTE: These two-part party identification questions have been

combined into a new variable, PARTYID, which is coded as follows:

1) STRONG DEMOCRAT

2) WEAK DEMOCRAT

3) INDEPENDENT DEMOCRAT

4) PURE INDEPENDENT

5) INDEPENDENT REPUBLICAN

6) WEAK REPUBLICAN

7) STRONG REPUBLICAN

8) APOLITICAL

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 (do not use this variable in an analysis;

use the recoded, AGE1 variable)

What year were you born? 19

Enter 00 if born before 1901

98 Don't Know / Not Sure

99 Refused

NOTE: this variable has been recoded into age in years,

a variable that is called Age1.

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 ADULTS

Including yourself, how many people 18 years and older currently

live in this household?

Enter 17 if 17 or more people

18 Don't Know / Not Sure

19 Refused

(Remember, this includes the respondent)

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 PHONENO

Does your household have one telephone number or more than

one telephone number?

1. More than one

2. One

3. Don't Know/Not Sure

4. Refused

CAUTION:

We do NOT want cell phones or number of telephone extensions.

Question DIFFPHON

How many DIFFERENT telephone numbers does your household have?

Enter 7 if 7 or more different numbers

8 Don't Know / Not Sure

9 Refused

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

VARIABLES ADDED TO THIS DATASET:

CODE is county of residence, as indicated in the dataset.

AGE1 is Age in years.

PARTYID is the 7 point, party identification scale, that

combines the two-part question about party and intensity

of views. The codes are:

1) STRONG DEMOCRAT

2) WEAK DEMOCRAT

3) INDEPENDENT DEMOCRAT

4) PURE INDEPENDENT

5) INDEPENDENT REPUBLICAN

6) WEAK REPUBLICAN

7) STRONG REPUBLICAN

8) APOLITICAL

9) REFUSED

10) OTHER