Baton Rouge 2002 Survey: Percentages & Comparisons
First, may I ask, In what year were you born? [recoded as Age] (US total) (South)
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
18-30 27 29 28 19 21
31-45 31 31 30 36 35
46-60 25 23 22 23 22
61 and Over 17 17 20 22 22
Missing 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100
  
[IF UNSURE ASK]: Are you male or female?
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Male 47 47 48 44 43
Female 54 53 52 56 57
Total 100 100 100 100 100
  
Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you can't be too careful in dealing with people?
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Most people can be trusted 33 40 31 38 33
Can't be too careful 55 52 62 56 60
Other, depends (Volunteered) 11 8 6 6 6
Don't know, No answer 1 0 1 0 0
Total 100 100 100 100 100
  
In a time of crisis, such as a natural disaster or economic trouble, who would you trust most to help you? [READ EACH ANSWER]
BR 2002 BR 2000
The Government 6 7
Your Church 17 14
Family and friends 60 58
Find means within yourself 14 18
Other (vol) 1 1
Don't know, No answer 2 2
Total 100 100
Now I am going to read you a list of institutions in American society.  Please tell me how much confidence you, yourself, have in each one - a great deal, quite a lot, some, or very little?
  
The Church or organized religion
BR 2002 BR 2001 2001*
A great deal 52 45 32
Quite a lot 19 29 28
Some 22 17 24
Very little 5 7 13
None (Volunteered) 1 1 2
Don't know, No answer 1 1 1
Total 100 100 100
  
The Presidency
BR 2002 2001*
A great deal 25 23
Quite a lot 26 25
Some 33 33
Very little 13 15
None (Volunteered) 3 2
Don't know, No answer 1 2
Total 100 100
  
The US Senate
BR 2002
A great deal 6
Quite a lot 21
Some 45
Very little 23
None (Volunteered) 2
Don't know, No answer 3
Total 100
  
The US House of Representatives
BR 2002 BR 2001 2000*
A great deal 6 7 7
Quite a lot 22 17 17
Some 45 38 47
Very little 21 29 24
None (Volunteered) 3 8 3
Don't know, No answer 4 2 2
Total 100 100 100
(Congress) (Congress)
  
The US Supreme Court
BR 2002 2001*
A great deal 10 22
Quite a lot 29 28
Some 42 31
Very little 16 13
None (Volunteered) 1 3
Don't know, No answer 2 3
Total 100 100
  
Newspapers
BR 2002 BR 2001 2001*
A great deal 9 13 13
Quite a lot 21 30 23
Some 44 41 44
Very little 20 9 16
None (Volunteered) 4 5 3
Don't know, No answer 2 2 1
Total 100 100 100
  
Television news
BR 2002 2001*
A great deal 11 14
Quite a lot 25 20
Some 41 43
Very little 18 19
None (Volunteered) 3 3
Don't know, No answer 2 1
Total 100 100
  
The Military
BR 2002 2001*
A great deal 31 32
Quite a lot 37 34
Some 23 24
Very little 7 6
None (Volunteered) 1 2
Don't know, No answer 2 2
Total 100 100
  
The Police
BR 2002 BR 2001 2001*
A great deal 18 18 26
Quite a lot 32 32 31
Some 36 34 31
Very little 11 13 11
None (Volunteered) 2 4 1
Don't know, No answer 1 -
Total 100 100 100
City government
BR 2002
A great deal 9
Quite a lot 20
Some 47
Very little 19
None (Volunteered) 4
Don't know, No answer 2
Total 100
*Gallup, June 2000 and June 2001
I'm going to read you various areas of government spending. Please indicate whether you would like to see more or less government spending in each area. Remember that if you say "much more", it might require a tax increase to pay for it.
  
The environment
BR 2002 US-GSS 96
Spend much more 12 11
Spend more 42 36
Spend the same as now 34 35
Spend less 8 10
Spend much less 0 3
Don't know, No answer 4 5
Total 100 100
  
Health
BR 2002 US-GSS 96
Spend much more 29 17
Spend more 52 48
Spend the same as now 15 25
Spend less 3 5
Spend much less 0 2
Don't know, No answer 2 5
Total 100 100
  
The police and law enforcement
BR 2002 US-GSS 96
Spend much more 16 12
Spend more 41 44
Spend the same as now 33 34
Spend less 6 6
Spend much less 2 1
Don't know, No answer 2 4
Total 100 100
  
Education
BR 2002 US-GSS 96
Spend much more 48 28
Spend more 40 47
Spend the same as now 8 17
Spend less 2 4
Spend much less 0 2
Don't know, No answer 2 3
Total 100 100
  
The military and defense
BR 2002 US-GSS 96
Spend much more 12 5
Spend more 38 16
Spend the same as now 34 44
Spend less 11 24
Spend much less 2 8
Don't know, No answer 2 4
Total 100 100
  
Retirement benefits
BR 2002 US-GSS 96
Spend much more 21 12
Spend more 41 36
Spend the same as now 27 37
Spend less 8 7
Spend much less 0 2
Don't know, No answer 2 5
Total 100 100
  
Unemployment benefits
BR 2002 US-GSS 96
Spend much more 9 7
Spend more 30 20
Spend the same as now 40 47
Spend less 15 15
Spend much less 4 5
Don't know, No answer 4 6
Total 100 100
  
Culture and the arts
BR 2002 US-GSS 96
Spend much more 6 4
Spend more 21 11
Spend the same as now 39 36
Spend less 21 26
Spend much less 3 17
Don't know, No answer 9 7
Total 100 100
  
What do you think is the ideal number of children for a family to have?
BR 2002 US-GSS 98
None 1 1
One 2 3
Two 46 54
Three 26 20
Four 9 9
Five 1 1
Six 2 1
As many as you want 10 8
Don't know, No answer 3 4
Total 100 100
  
Do you agree or disagree... Families should receive financial benefits for child care when both parents work.
BR 2002 US-GSS 94
Strongly agree 9 14
Agree 33 28
Neither agree nor disagree 12 18
Disagree 37 27
Strongly disagree 6 5
Don't know, No answer 3 8
Total 100 100
  
When a marriage is troubled and unhappy, do you think it is generally better for the children if the couple stays together or gets divorced?
BR 2002 US-GSS 88-91
Much better to divorce 10 17
Better to divorce 35 38
Worse to divorce 27 14
Much worse to divorce 12 7
Don't know, No answer 16 24
Total 100 100
Please tell me whether or not you think it should be possible for a pregnant woman to obtain a legal abortion if...
  
If the woman's own health is seriously endangered by the pregnancy
BR 2002 US-GSS 98
Yes 76 84
No 15 12
Don't know, No answer 9 4
Total 100 100
  
If the family has a very low income and cannot afford any more children
BR 2002 US-GSS 98
Yes 23 42
No 68 53
Don't know, No answer 9 5
Total 100 100
  
If  the woman wants it for any reason
BR 2002 BR 2000* US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Yes 21 42 28 39
No 71 45 65 56
Don't know, No answer 8 14 6 5
Total 100 100 100 100
*Lead-in questions not asked
  
Would you say that job opportunities are, in general, better or worse for women than for men with similar education and experience?  Would you say they are much better, better, the same, worse, or much worse? 
BR 2002 US-GSS 83-87
Much better 4 3
Better 19 8
No difference 28 31
Worse 41 47
Much worse 3 5
Can't choose; No answer 4 5
Total 100 100
  
Is there any area right around here - that is, within a mile - where you would be afraid to walk alone at night?
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Yes 50 52 52 41 43
No 49 46 44 57 54
Don't know, No answer 1 2 4 1 3
Total 100 100 100 100 100
  
Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder?
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Favor 61 62 58 68 70
Oppose 26 26 27 25 22
Don't know, No answer 13 12 15 8 8
Total 100 100 100 100 100
  
Which punishment do you prefer for people convicted of murder: the death penalty or life in prison with no chance of parole?
BR 2002 ABC '01*
Death Penalty 43 46
Life In Prison 42 45
Don't know, No answer 15 9
Total 100 100
*ABC News/Washington Post Poll. April 20-24, 2001. N=1,003 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. Field work by ICR
  
Do you feel that executing people who commit murder deters others from committing murder, or do you think such executions don't have much effect?"
BR 2002 Harris '01*
Deters Others 35 42
Not Much Effect 59 52
Don't know, No answer 6 7
Total 100 100
*Harris Poll. July 20-25, 2001. N=1,022 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3
  
In general, do you think the courts in this area deal too harshly or not harshly enough with criminals?
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Too harshly 7 6 9 6 7
Not harshly enough 58 61 56 74 75
About right (Vol) 24 23 23 13 13
Don't know, No answer 12 10 11 6 6
Total 100 100 100 100 100
  
How important you think a person's race is for getting ahead in life?
BR 2002 US-GSS 87
Essential 8 6
Very important 27 26
Fairly important 27 18
Not very important 23 23
Not important at all 11 24
Don't know, No answer 4 4
Total 100 100
  
If you honestly assessed yourself, would you say that you have at least some racist feelings?
BR 2002 ABC '99*
Yes 52 34
No 46 66
Don't know, No answer 2 ?
Total 100 100
*ABC News/Lifetime Television Poll. October 13-19, 1999. N=1,107 adults nationwide, including an oversample of 192 blacks. MoE ± 3 (total sample). Fieldwork by ICR.
  
Some people say that when the experience of a racial or ethnic minority group is taught in high school or college, it should be taught by a teacher from that group. Do you strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree, or strongly disagree?
BR 2002 US-GSS 94
Strongly agree 5 6
Agree 29 18
Neither agree nor disagree 22 28
Disagree 31 36
Strongly disagree 8 6
Don't know, No answer 5 6
Total 100 100
  
Do you think being homosexual is something people choose to be, or do you think it is something they cannot change?
BR 2002 US-GSS 94
Something people choose to be 45 41
Something they cannot change 38 44
Don't know, No answer 17 14
Total 100 100
  
In general, do you think gays and lesbians should or should not be allowed to be legally married?
BR 2002 AP '00*
Should 29 34
Should not 62 51
Don't know, No answer 9 14
Total 100 100
Associated Press Poll conducted by ICR. May 17-21, 2000. N=1,012 adults nationwide. MoE +/- 3
  
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement: There is nothing inherently wrong with prostitution, so long as the health risks can be minimized. If consenting adults agree to exchange money for sex, that is their business.
BR 2002 US-GSS 96
Agree strongly 8 15
Agree somewhat 20 24
Disagree somewhat 17 15
Disagree strongly 53 43
Don't know, No answer 4 2
Total 100 100
Do you think the United States should pay reparations for slavery, that is, pay money to African-Americans who are descendants of slaves?
BR 2002 Fox '01*
Yes 19 11
No 75 81
Don't know, No answer 7 8
Total 100 100
*Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. March 28-29, 2001. N=905 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.
  
Should the main purpose of prison be punishment or rehabilitation?
BR 2002
Punishment 37
Rehabilitation 52
Don't know, No answer 11
Total 100
  
Next I'd like to ask you a couple questions about television and newspapers.  How many days in the past week did you read a daily newspaper?
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR'00* SCBS'00* South'00*
0 14 17 18 26 29
1 12 9 14 12 12
2 13 12 15 10 10
3 10 12 10 9 10
4 10 7 4 5 4
5 5 9 4 4 4
6 2 3 2 2 1
7 32 27 32 32 30
Don't know 2 3
Total 100 100 100 100 100
*Social Capital Benchmark Survey, 2000.
  
How many hours per day do you spend watching TV (television) on an average weekday, that is Monday through Friday? [IF RESPONSE IS 12 OR GREATER, ENTER 12]
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR'00* SCBS'00* South'00*
0 2 4 4 8 7
1 20 15 18 21 20
2 27 28 25 26 26
3 18 17 17 16 15
4 12 12 10 11 12
5 7 8 8 7 8
6 2 3 3 3 3
7 3 1 2 1 1
8 1 2 4 2 1
9 0 1 1 0 0
10 1 2 3 2 2
12 3 5 5 4 4
Don't know 2 3 1 1 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100
*Social Capital Benchmark Survey, 2000.
  
On how many days in the last month did you consume an alcoholic beverage, that is beer, wine or liquor?  [answers combined]
BR 2002
0 43
1-2 22
3-10 25
11-20 7
21-31 3
Total 100
  
Think back over the last two weeks.  How many times have you had five or more drinks at a sitting where a "drink" is a bottle of beer, a glass of wine, a wine cooler, a shot glass of liquor, or a mixed drink?  [answers combined]
BR 2002
0 76
1 10
2-5 11
6-14 3
Total 100
Now I just have a few questions about your household and your background.
  
Do you consider yourself to be: [READ RESPONSE OPTIONS] White, Black, Asian, American Indian, Other.  Are you Hispanic or Latino?  [Combined answers]
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR'00* SCBS'00* South'00*
White (non-Hispanic) 61 61 59 75 70
Black (non-Hispanic) 34 34 37 12 20
Asian 1 1 1 2 1
Hispanic 2 3 3 11 9
Missing or Other 2 2
Total 100 100 100 100 100
*Social Capital Benchmark Survey, 2000.
  
Are your currently married, living with a partner, separated, divorced, widowed, or have you never been married?
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Married 49 50 46 48 45
Living with partner 5 7 5
Separated 2 2 3 3 2
Divorced 9 10 13 16 19
Widowed 10 5 9 10 12
Single, never married 25 25 23 23 21
NA 1 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100
  
Do you have children?  How many?
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
None 27 32 30 28 29
One 19 16 14 17 17
Two 26 29 29 26 24
Three 15 11 13 15 15
Four or more 13 11 13 14 15
Other Answer 1 1
NA 1 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100
  
What is the highest grade of schooling that you have completed?
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
8th Grade or less 1 3 1
Some high school 6 4 8 15 18
High School Diploma 20 17 25 53 54
Vocational/Technical school 6 3 8 7 6
Some College 30 31 26
College degree 26 22 20 17 16
Some graduate school 4 6 2
Graduate degree 8 13 11 7 6
NA 1 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100
*1998 Categories: Less Than HS; High School degree; [Junior College]; College Degree; Graduate Degree
What is your religious preference?  Is it Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, some other religion, or no religion?
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Protestant 45 50 49 54 71
Catholic 36 34 29 25 17
Jewish 1 1 - 2 0
Other 10 7 9 3 2
None 5 6 7 14 9
Don't Know 1 1 2
No Answer 1 5
Total 100 100 100 100 100
  
Religious Fundamentalism [Previous question followed up by question about specific denomination.  Denominations categorized according to General Social Survey definitions]
BR 2002 BR 2000
Liberal 14 15
Moderate 45 35
Fundamentalist 33 33
[no religion; can't categorize] 8 17
Total 100 100
  
Are you a member of a local church, synagogue, or other religious or spiritual community?
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR'00* SCBS'00* South'00*
Yes 75 78 76 65 68
No 20 17 23 35 32
Refused 1
[no religion] 5 5
Total 100 100 100 100 100
*Social Capital Benchmark Survey, 2000.  Base: of those with a religion.
  
Not including weddings and funerals, how often do you attend religious services?
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR'00* SCBS'00* South'00*
Every week (or more often) 47 40 49 41 45
Almost every week 13 19 12 9 11
Once or twice a month 14 20 21 20 18
A few times per year 11 11 12 17 16
Less often than that 9 4 6 13 9
Refused 1 1 0 0 0
[no religion] 5 5 0 0 0
Total 100 100 100 100 100
*Social Capital Benchmark Survey, 2000.  Base: of those with a religion.
  
Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, Democrat, Independent, or what?  [IF REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT] Would you call yourself a strong (Republican/Democrat) or not a very strong (Republican/Democrat)?  [IF INDEPENDENT, NO PREFERENCE, OR OTHER] Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican or Democratic Party?  [answers combined]
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Strong Democrat 17 19 18 13 14
Democrat 16 26 20 21 19
Lean Democratic 11 5 9 12 10
Independent 8 6 8 17 17
Lean Republican 8 5 5 9 8
Republican 15 17 17 17 20
Strong Republican 16 18 14 8 10
Don't Know, No Answer 1 2 4
Other 3 1 0 2 1
None 5 1 5
Total 100 100 100 100 100
  
Who did you vote for in the 2000 Presidential election?
BR 2002 BR 2001
George W Bush 46 45
Al Gore 31 36
Someone else [Volunteered] 2 2
Didn't vote 16 11
Don't remember, No Answer, Refused 5 6
Total 100 100
  
We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives.  Would you call yourself [READ ANSWER CATEGORIES]:
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Extremely Liberal 2 2 2 2 2
Liberal 14 12 13 13 11
Slightly Liberal 10 12 8 12 11
Moderate, middle of the road 24 27 27 35 33
Slightly Conservative 11 12 15 15 16
Conservative 23 23 18 15 16
Extremely Conservative 3 5 5 3 5
Don't Know 12 7 8 5 7
No Answer 2 2 4
Total 100 100 100 100 100
  
Just one more question: I’m going to read you a series of income categories.  Please stop me when I get to the category that includes the total income that you and all other members of your household earned before taxes during 2001, from all sources.
BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000
Under $5,000 2 2 2
Under $10,000 3 4 5
Under $15,000 4 3 7
Under $25,000 9 9 12
Under $35,000 11 14 10
Under $50,000 16 13 9
Under $75,000 17 14 13
More than $75,000 15 16 11
Don't Know 5 7 4
No Response 17 19 27
Total 100 100 100
This concludes the interview.  Thank you for participating in this survey and giving so generously of your time.
  
Note.  Data collected by students in Sociology 2211 ("Sociological Methods"), Louisiana State University, March-April 2002.  Data are based on a random-digit-dialed telephone sample, representative of the general population age 18 and over in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA.  Survey includes 411 completed interviews.  The results are weighted to reflect the combined age-gender-race/hispanic distributions, as estimated by the U.S. Census for 1999 (most recent available data).
Note.  BR 2001 and BR 2000 are previous surveys in the present series.  GSS is the General Social Survey, conducted by the National Opinion Research Center, University of Chicago.  US-GSS indicates the national sample; So-GSS indicates a Southern regional subset of the GSS.  Other comparative data are as shown in tables.