The 2012 Baton Rouge Survey - Questionnaire in Development

The 2012 Baton Rouge Survey
Questionnaire (in Development)
(as of 3/1/11)
With possible alternatives
Tolerance, Civil Liberties
Variable marhomo : HOMOSEXUALS SHOULD HAVE RIGHT TO MARRY
PreQuestion Text
1280. Do you agree or disagree?
Literal Question
J. Homosexual couples should have the right to marry one another.
Values Categories N NW
1 STRONGLY AGREE 486 476  10.7%
2 AGREE 725 740  16.6%
3 NEITHER AGREE NOR DISAGREE 629 629  14.1%
4 DISAGREE 905 894  20.0%
5 STRONGLY DISAGREE 1728 1728  38.7%
0 NAP 46387 46394
8 CANT CHOOSE 121 121
9 NA 39 39
Summary Statistics
Valid cases 4473
Missing cases 46547
Variable pubdef : SHOULD MEDIA PUBLISH DEFENSE PLANS
Literal Question
1157. A. Suppose a newspaper got hold of confidential government papers about defense plans and wanted to publish them.
Should the newspaper be allowed to publish the papers?...................1 
or
Should the government have the power to prevent publication?...........2
Values Categories N NW
1 ALLOW PUBLICATION 97 93  16.3%
2 STOP PUBLICATION 479 474  83.7%
0 NAP 50343 50353
8 CANT CHOOSE 84 84
9 NA 17 17
Summary Statistics
Valid cases 576
Missing cases 50444
This variable is numeric
USA Today/Gallup Poll. June 23-25, 2006. Adults nationwide.
.
"Do you favor or oppose passing a constitutional amendment which would make it illegal to burn the American flag?"
.
Favor Oppose Unsure
% % %
6/8-11/06 56 40 4
CNN Poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation. June 8-11, 2006. N=1,031 adults nationwide.MoE ± 3.
http://www.pollingreport.com/civil2.htm
WORDING: As you may know, there has been considerable discussion in the news regarding the rights of homosexual men and women. In general, do you think homosexuals should or should not have equal rights in terms of job opportunities?
Do you think that homosexual couples should be legally permitted to adopt children?
Yes, should No, should not No opinion
2007 Sep 7-8 46% 50 4
2003 May 5-7 ^ 49% 48 3
http://www.gallup.com/poll/1651/Homosexual-Relations.aspx#2
Crime
Is there any area near where you live - that is, within a mile - where you would be afraid to walk alone at night?
BR 2004 BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98
Yes 57 57 50 52 52 41
No 42 42 49 46 44 57
Don't know, No answer 1 1 1 2 4 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
Variable natcrimy : LAW ENFORCEMENT -- VERISON Y
PreQuestion Text
68. We are faced with many problems in this country, none of which can be solved easily or inexpensively. I'm going to name some of these problems, and for each one I'd like you to tell me whether you think we're spending too much money on it, too little money, or about the right amount.
First (READ ITEM A) . . . are we spending too much, too little, or about the right amount on (ITEM)?
Literal Question
E. Law enforcement
Values Categories N NW
1 TOO LITTLE 9239 9291  56.4%
2 ABOUT RIGHT 5907 5888  35.8%
3 TOO MUCH 1282 1281  7.8%
0 NAP 33852 33862
8 DK 523 483
9 NA 217 215
Summary Statistics
Valid cases 16428
Missing cases 34592
This variable is numeric
Next, I'm going to read some things people do because of their concern over crime. Please tell me which, if any, of these things you, yourself, do or have done.
Keep a dog Bought a gun Carry a gun Carry a knife Burglar alarm installed
No 68% 62% 82% 81% 37%
Yes 29% 34% 14% 15% 59%
System Missing 3% 4% 4% 4% 4%
http://www.lsu.edu/fweil/Surveys/BR2011FreqsWeighted.pdf
What one type of crime occurs most in your area? (DO NOT READ OUT) 
1 =  Theft of motor vehicle 
2 =  Theft of property 
3 =  Crop theft 
4 =  Livestock theft 
5 =  Pick pocketing / bag snatching 
6 =  House breaking 
7 =  Murder 
8 =  Sexual assault / Rape 
9 =  Robbery 
10 = Assault 
11 = Land grabbing / Land disputes 
12 = Kidnapping 
13 = Hijacking 
96 = Other (specify 
http://www.africanreview.org/docs/background/beninques25102007.pdf
 The most recurrent crimes in the  
 country – national results  
 What type of crime occurs most in your area?  
 Crime    %  
 Cattle rustling    39,4  
 Property theft    17,8  
 Crop theft    9,5  
 Car theft    5,2  
 Armed robbery    5,1  
 House burglaries    4,8  
 Assault    3,9  
 Murder    2,3  
 Pick-pocketing    2,2  
 Land seizure    1,6  
 Sexual assault    0,6  
 Embezzlement    0,3  
 Kidnapping    0,1  
 Others    5,3  
 Don’t know    2,0  
 Total    100,0  
http://www.africanreview.org/docs/benin/BeninCrimeSurvey.pdf
Race, Ethnicity
Variable racchurh : ATTEND CHURCH WITH OTHER RACE
Literal Question
ASK IN TERMS OF OPPOSITE RACE.
137. Do (Blacks/Negroes/African-Americans)/Whites attend the church that you, yourself, attend most often, or not?
Descriptive Text
See Appendix N for changes in question wording across surveys. If planning to perform trend analysis with this variable, please consult GSS Methodological Report No. 56.
Values Categories N NW
1 YES 5232 5250  41.9%
2 NO 7262 7288  58.1%
0 NAP 36143 36153
3 NO CHURCH 2268 2215
8 DK 18 19
9 NA 97 94
Summary Statistics
Valid cases 12494
Missing cases 38526
This variable is numeric
Variable allowmar : ALLOW RACIAL INTERMARRIAGE
Literal Question
F. Do you think the law should allow marriages between blacks and whites?
Values Categories N NW
1 ALLOW MARRIAGE 311 316  68.8%
2 NOT ALLOW MARRIAGE 145 144  31.2%
0 NAP 50512 50512
8 DK 22 20
9 NA 30 29
Summary Statistics
Valid cases 456
Missing cases 50564
This variable is numeric
How much of a role, if any, do you think the government should have in trying to improve the social and economic position of blacks and other minority groups in this country -- a major role, a minor role, or no role at all?
Major role Minor role No role No opinion
% % % %
Total
2011 Aug 4-7 27 46 26 1
2005 Jun 6-25 37 44 17 2
2004 Jun 9-30 40 45 14 1
Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/1687/Race-Relations.aspx
Generally speaking, how often do you think our health care system treats people unfairly based on what their race or ethnic background is?  Very often, somewhat often, not too often or never? 
Very Somewhat Not too (Don’t
often often often Never know) (Refused)
Total 13 34 34 9 9 *
White 12 34 34 9 11 *
AA 21 35 30 8 5 *
Latino 19 32 35 8 5 0
Source: http://www.kff.org/minorityhealth/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=13294
Politics
Variable poleff1 : PUBLIC HAS LITTLE CONTROL OVER POLITICNS
PreQuestion Text
1178. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
Literal Question
A. The public has little control over what politicians do in office
Values Categories N NW
1 AGREE 390 382  60.8%
2 DISAGREE 246 246  39.2%
0 NAP 50343 50353
8 CANT CHOOSE 34 33
9 NA 7 6
Summary Statistics
Valid cases 636
Missing cases 50384
This variable is numeric
Variable loctrust : HOW MUCH TRUST DOES R HAVE IN LOCAL GOV
Literal Question
336. How much of the time do you think you can trust the local government here in Baton Rouge to do what is right -- just about always, most of the time, only some of the time, or almost never?
Values Categories N NW
1 ALMOST ALWAYS 196 208  11.9%
2 MOST OF TIME 750 733  42.2%
3 SOME OF TIME 653 668  38.4%
4 ALMOST NEVER 130 128  7.4%
0 NAP 49201 49201
8 DK 78 72
9 NA 12 10
Summary Statistics
Valid cases 1729
Missing cases 49291
This variable is numeric
Similar Alternatives from last year - to consider
Now I am going to read you a series of statements that will help us understand how you feel about a number of things.  For each statement, please tell me if you completely agree with it, mostly agree with it, mostly disagree with it or completely disagree with it.  The first one is...
- People like me don't have any say about what the government does
- Generally speaking, elected officials in Washington lose touch with the people pretty quickly
- Most elected officials care what people like me think
- Voting gives people like me some say about how government runs things
Completely Agree Mostly Agree Mostly Disagree Completely Disagree Don't Know NA
No Say About What the Government Does 14 29 37 19 1 0
Elected Officials Care What People Like Me Think 8 39 36 17 1 0
Voting Gives People a Say About Government 32 46 13 7 1 0
Elected Officials in Washington Lose Touch 37 38 17 6 2 0
Trust the Federal Government 1958-2008
""How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in 
Washington to do what is right-- just about always, most of the time 
or only some of the time?" 
  '58 '64 '68 '72 '74 '76 '80 '84 '88 '92 '94 '96 '00 '04 '08
None of the Time (vol.) 0 0 0 1 1 1 4 1 2 2 3 1 1 1 2
Some of the Time  23 22 36 44 61 62 69 53 56 68 74 66 55 52 68
Most of the Time  57 62 54 48 34 30 23 40 36 26 19 30 40 43 25
Just About Always  16 14 7 5 2 3 2 4 4 3 2 3 4 4 5
Don't Know, Depends  4 1 2 2 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 0
N   1774 1445 1337 2279 2499 2859 1606 1921 1768 2247 1769 1496 1541 1061 1059
City-Parish government has limited resources and has to set priorities. All of the following issues are important, but if the city cant do everything, which issues do you think should have the highest priority?
Highest High Med Lower DK NA Sys Miss
Economic Devel 19% 49% 22% 5% 1% 1% 2%
Education 59% 33% 4% 1% 0% 1% 2%
Reducing Traffic 15% 37% 34% 10% 0% 1% 3%
Fighting Crime 49% 40% 6% 1% 0% 1% 2%
Cleaning up Litter & Graffiti 13% 27% 36% 19% 1% 1% 3%
Improving infrastructure 25% 45% 22% 4% 0% 1% 3%
http://www.lsu.edu/fweil/Surveys/BR2011FreqsWeighted.pdf
To what extent do you agree with the following statement: I trust Mayor Holden to look out for the interests of people like me.
1. Agree 45%
2. Somewhat agree 30%
3. Somewhat disagree 4%
4. Disagree 12%
5. Don’t know 7%
(NA) 1%
http://www.lsu.edu/fweil/Surveys/BR2010Freqs.htm
http://www.lsu.edu/fweil/Surveys/Soc2211Spring2010Survey.pdf
Infrastructure has to be constantly maintained, but it can be expensive. Which of the following infrastructure projects do you think should have the highest priority?
Highest High Med Lower DK NA Sys Miss
Bike Paths 6% 20% 35% 34% 1% 1% 3%
Airports 12% 33% 33% 16% 2% 2% 3%
Public transportation 14% 30% 36% 16% 1% 1% 3%
Passengr railroad: BR & Nola 19% 24% 25% 27% 2% 1% 3%
Interstate loop around BR 22% 28% 22% 21% 2% 2% 3%
Sewage and water drainage 26% 38% 28% 3% 1% 1% 3%
Devel Alt energy sources 28% 35% 23% 9% 1% 1% 3%
Roads and bridges 28% 51% 16% 1% 0% 1% 3%
http://www.lsu.edu/fweil/Surveys/BR2011FreqsWeighted.pdf
Similar Alternative - to consider
City Services and Infrastructure have to be constantly maintained, but they can be expensive. Which of the following projects do you think should have the highest priority, even if they required higher taxes to pay for them?
Sewage and water drainage
[How about] Roads and bridges
Public transportation
An Interstate loop that goes around Baton Rouge
The development of alternative energy sources
Surveillance video cameras in high crime areas
Expanding the jail system
Drug rehabilitation programs
Downtown development
Bike Paths
Highest Priority
High
Med
Lower
DK
Politics - Suggested Module
Trust the Federal Government 1958-2008
""How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in 
Washington to do what is right-- just about always, most of the time 
or only some of the time?" 
  '58 '64 '68 '72 '74 '76 '80 '84 '88 '92 '94 '96 '00 '04 '08
None of the Time (vol.) 0 0 0 1 1 1 4 1 2 2 3 1 1 1 2
Some of the Time  23 22 36 44 61 62 69 53 56 68 74 66 55 52 68
Most of the Time  57 62 54 48 34 30 23 40 36 26 19 30 40 43 25
Just About Always  16 14 7 5 2 3 2 4 4 3 2 3 4 4 5
Don't Know, Depends  4 1 2 2 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 0
N   1774 1445 1337 2279 2499 2859 1606 1921 1768 2247 1769 1496 1541 1061 1059
How about state government.  How much of the time do you think you can trust the Louisiana state government to do what is right -- just about always, most of the time, only some of the time, or almost never?
Values Categories N NW
1 ALMOST ALWAYS
2 MOST OF TIME
3 SOME OF TIME
4 ALMOST NEVER
0 NAP
8 DK
9 NA
Variable loctrust : HOW MUCH TRUST DOES R HAVE IN LOCAL GOV
Literal Question
336. How much of the time do you think you can trust the local government here in Baton Rouge to do what is right -- just about always, most of the time, only some of the time, or almost never?
Values Categories N NW
1 ALMOST ALWAYS 196 208  11.9%
2 MOST OF TIME 750 733  42.2%
3 SOME OF TIME 653 668  38.4%
4 ALMOST NEVER 130 128  7.4%
0 NAP 49201 49201
8 DK 78 72
9 NA 12 10
Summary Statistics
Valid cases 1729
Missing cases 49291
This variable is numeric
Now I am going to read you a series of statements that will help us understand how you feel about a number of things.  For each statement, please tell me if you completely agree with it, mostly agree with it, mostly disagree with it or completely disagree with it.  The first one is...
- People like me don't have any say about what the government does
- Generally speaking, elected officials in Washington lose touch with the people pretty quickly
- Most elected officials care what people like me think
- Voting gives people like me some say about how government runs things
Completely Agree Mostly Agree Mostly Disagree Completely Disagree Don't Know NA
No Say About What the Government Does 14 29 37 19 1 0
Elected Officials Care What People Like Me Think 8 39 36 17 1 0
Voting Gives People a Say About Government 32 46 13 7 1 0
Elected Officials in Washington Lose Touch 37 38 17 6 2 0
To what extent do you agree with the following statement: I trust Mayor Holden to look out for the interests of people like me.
1. Agree 45%
2. Somewhat agree 30%
3. Somewhat disagree 4%
4. Disagree 12%
5. Don’t know 7%
(NA) 1%
http://www.lsu.edu/fweil/Surveys/BR2010Freqs.htm
http://www.lsu.edu/fweil/Surveys/Soc2211Spring2010Survey.pdf
City-Parish government has limited resources and has to set priorities. All of the following issues are important, but if the city cant do everything, which issues do you think should have the highest priority?
Highest High Med Lower DK NA Sys Miss
Economic Devel 19% 49% 22% 5% 1% 1% 2%
Education 59% 33% 4% 1% 0% 1% 2%
Reducing Traffic 15% 37% 34% 10% 0% 1% 3%
Fighting Crime 49% 40% 6% 1% 0% 1% 2%
Cleaning up Litter & Graffiti 13% 27% 36% 19% 1% 1% 3%
Improving infrastructure 25% 45% 22% 4% 0% 1% 3%
http://www.lsu.edu/fweil/Surveys/BR2011FreqsWeighted.pdf
City Services and Infrastructure have to be constantly maintained, but they can be expensive. Which of the following projects do you think should have the highest priority, even if they required higher taxes to pay for them?
Sewage and water drainage
[How about] Roads and bridges
Public transportation
An Interstate loop that goes around Baton Rouge
The development of alternative energy sources
Surveillance video cameras in high crime areas
Expanding the jail system
Drug rehabilitation programs
Downtown development
Bike Paths
Highest Priority
High
Med
Lower
DK