Baton Rouge 2003 Survey: Percentages & Comparisons
First, may I ask, In what year were you born? [recoded as Age] (US total) (South)
BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
18-30 30 27 29 28 19 21
31-45 27 31 31 30 36 35
46-60 22 25 23 22 23 22
61 and Over 16 17 17 20 22 22
Missing 5 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
  
Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you can't be too careful in dealing with people?
BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Most people can be trusted 32 33 40 31 38 33
Can't be too careful 60 55 52 62 56 60
Other, depends (Volunteered) 6 11 8 6 6 6
Don't know, No answer 2 1 0 1 0 0
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
Do you think of yourself as a trusting person? Are you...
BR 2003 US-GSS 98
Very trusting 57 53
Somewhat trusting 33 39
Somewhat distrusting 7 6
Very distrusting 3 2
Don't know, No answer 1 0
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 2003 BR 2002 BR 2000
The Government 4 6 7
Your Church 15 17 14
Family and friends 61 60 58
Find means within yourself 16 14 18
Other (vol) 2 1 1
Don't know, No answer 1 2 2
Total 100 100 100
Next, we'd like to know how much you trust different groups of people.  First, think about (GROUP).  Generally speaking, would you say that you can trust them a lot, some, only a little, or not at all? 
People in your neighborhood
BR 2003 BR 2001 BR'00* South'00* SCBS'00*
Trust them a lot 26 37 36 47 48
Trust them some 41 40 37 32 33
Trust them only a little 19 17 16 11 11
Trust them not at all 11 3 7 8 6
(vol) Does not apply 1
Don't Know 2 2 4 3 2
100 100 100 100 100
People you work with
BR 2003 BR 2001 BR'00* South'00* SCBS'00*
Trust them a lot 29 32 38 40 42
Trust them some 35 37 32 24 25
Trust them only a little 15 13 10 10 9
Trust them not at all 7 5 4 4 4
(vol) Does not apply 10 11 16 21 21
Don't Know 4 1 0 1 0
Refused 0 1 0
100 100 100 100 100
People at your church or place of worship
BR 2003 BR 2001 BR'00* South'00* SCBS'00*
Trust them a lot 50 59 67 62 59
Trust them some 32 28 22 18 17
Trust them only a little 7 5 4 5 5
Trust them not at all 1 1 1 1 2
(vol) Does not apply 7 5 7 14 17
Don't Know 2 2 0 1
Refused 1 1 0 0
100 100 100 100 100
People who work in the stores where you shop
BR 2003 BR 2001 BR'00* South'00* SCBS'00*
Trust them a lot 9 12 21 26 28
Trust them some 43 50 48 45 45
Trust them only a little 26 22 20 18 16
Trust them not at all 17 8 8 9 7
(vol) Does not apply 0 1 3 2 2
Don't Know 5 8 1 2 2
100 100 100 100 100
The local news media
BR 2003 BR 2001 BR'00* South'00* SCBS'00*
Trust them a lot 8 12 14 15 14
Trust them some 39 51 45 40 42
Trust them only a little 28 26 27 22 24
Trust them not at all 23 8 11 16 15
(vol) Does not apply 0 1 1 4 3
Don't Know 3 2 1 2 2
100 100 100 100 100
The police in your local community
BR 2003 BR 2001 BR'00* South'00* SCBS'00*
Trust them a lot 26 31 38 47 49
Trust them some 47 45 40 32 31
Trust them only a little 16 17 15 11 11
Trust them not at all 9 6 6 9 7
Don't Know 3 1 2 2 2
100 100 100 100 100
White people
BR 2003 BR 2001 BR'00* South'00* SCBS'00*
Trust them a lot 16 23 24 26 28
Trust them some 59 61 56 48 49
Trust them only a little 11 9 11 11 10
Trust them not at all 5 2 3 2 2
(vol) Does not apply 2 2 3 3 4
Don't Know 5 2 2 1 2
Refused 2 3 2 8 7
100 100 100 100 100
African Americans or Blacks
BR 2003 BR 2001 BR'00* South'00* SCBS'00*
Trust them a lot 13 16 18 21 22
Trust them some 59 63 60 50 50
Trust them only a little 14 13 14 13 10
Trust them not at all 6 2 2 3 3
(vol) Does not apply 2 1 3 4 5
Don't Know 5 2 1 2 2
Refused 2 3 2 8 7
100 100 100 100 100
Asian people
BR 2003 BR 2001 BR'00* South'00* SCBS'00*
Trust them a lot 15 13 16 19 21
Trust them some 51 61 53 46 47
Trust them only a little 13 11 14 12 11
Trust them not at all 8 4 3 4 3
(vol) Does not apply 2 3 7 8 8
Don't Know 10 5 4 3 3
Refused 2 3 2 9 7
100 100 100 100 100
Hispanics or Latinos
BR 2003 BR 2001 BR'00* South'00* SCBS'00*
Trust them a lot 13 13 15 17 20
Trust them some 52 61 54 47 48
Trust them only a little 14 12 15 14 12
Trust them not at all 6 3 3 4 3
(vol) Does not apply 3 2 7 7 7
Don't Know 10 6 4 3 3
Refused 2 4 2 9 7
100 100 100 100 100
City government
BR 2003 BR 2001
Trust them a lot 9 10
Trust them some 46 51
Trust them only a little 27 26
Trust them not at all 16 11
(vol) Does not apply 0 1
Don't Know 2 3
100 100
Grade and high school teachers
BR 2003 BR 2001
Trust them a lot 37 32
Trust them some 47 46
Trust them only a little 10 13
Trust them not at all 4 4
Don't Know 3 6
100 100
Congressmen
BR 2003 BR 2001
Trust them a lot 6 9
Trust them some 40 46
Trust them only a little 27 29
Trust them not at all 22 11
(vol) Does not apply 0 1
Don't Know 5 3
Refused 0 1
100 100
Medical doctors
BR 2003 BR 2001
Trust them a lot 36 50
Trust them some 52 37
Trust them only a little 7 9
Trust them not at all 3 2
Don't Know 2 1
100 100
Journalists
BR 2003 BR 2001
Trust them a lot 6 10
Trust them some 47 57
Trust them only a little 30 24
Trust them not at all 14 6
Don't Know 3 3
Refused 0 1
100 100
Clergy
BR 2003 BR 2001
Trust them a lot 34 53
Trust them some 47 38
Trust them only a little 11 5
Trust them not at all 4 1
(vol) Does not apply 1 0
Don't Know 4 3
100 100
*Social Capital Benchmark Survey, 2000
Which do you think should be a greater priority for the Bush Administration - maintaining economic growth or restoring moral and family values?
BR 2003 BR 2001 2001*
Maintaining economic growth 31 27 46
Restoring moral and family values 37 34 37
Both (volunteered) 26 36 16
Don't know, No answer 5 3 1
100 100 100
*Hart And Teeter Research Companies, January 13, 2001
There's been a lot of discussion about the way morals and attitudes about sex are changing in this country.  If a man and woman have sex relations before marriage, do you think it is always wrong, almost always wrong, wrong only sometimes, or not wrong at all?
BR 2003 US-GSS 98
Always wrong 35 25
Almost always wrong 11 9
Wrong only sometimes 26 20
Not wrong at all 23 42
Don't know, No answer 5 3
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 2003 BR 2002 US-GSS 88-91
Much better to divorce 12 10 17
Better to divorce 33 35 38
Worse to divorce 24 27 14
Much worse to divorce 16 12 7
Don't know, No answer 15 16 24
Total 100 100 100
Suppose a close relative or family member were marrying an Asian person?  Would you favor it happening, oppose it, or neither favor nor oppose it happening?
An Asian person
BR 2003 BR 2001 BR'00* South'00* SCBS'00*
Favor 26 29 37 35 38
Neither favor nor oppose 65 54 50 43 44
Oppose 4 13 10 12 9
Don't know, Refused 5 4 3 10 9
100 100
An African-American or Black person
BR 2003 BR 2001 BR'00* South'00* SCBS'00*
Favor 27 38 38 32 35
Neither favor nor oppose 57 39 41 36 39
Oppose 12 19 18 23 17
Don't know, Refused 4 4 3 10 9
100 100
A White person
BR 2003 BR 2001 BR'00* South'00* SCBS'00*
Favor 37 54 46 49 49
Neither favor nor oppose 56 38 46 36 38
Oppose 3 5 6 5 4
Don't know, Refused 5 2 2 10 9
100 100
A Latino or Hispanic person
BR 2003 BR 2001 BR'00* South'00* SCBS'00*
Favor 26 32 36 37 41
Neither favor nor oppose 64 51 49 40 41
Oppose 5 14 10 13 9
Don't know, Refused 6 4 5 11 8
100 100
*Social Capital Benchmark Survey, 2000
Would you yourself have any objection to sending your children to a school where half of the children are Whites and half are Blacks/African- Americans?
BR 2003 US-GSS 96
Yes 7 15
No 89 82
Don't know, No answer 4 3
100 100
Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Catholic Church is handling the issue of sexual abuse of children by priests? (If Approve/Disapprove, ask:) Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?
BR 2003 US 2002*
Approve strongly 4 7
Approve somewhat 11 12
Disapprove strongly 47 58
Disapprove somewhat 22 18
Don't know, No answer 16 4
100 100
*ABC News/Washington Post.  December 15, 2002.  Interviews were conducted by T.N.S. Intersearch.
Please tell me how important you think it is for getting ahead in life - Being born a man or a woman ? how important is that for getting ahead in life?
BR 2003 US-GSS 83-87
Essential 7 3
Very important 26 11
Fairly important 25 23
Not very important 18 33
Not important at all 21 26
Don't know, No answer 4 4
100 100
It has been reported that some police officers stop motorists of certain racial or ethnic groups because the officers believe that these groups are more likely than others to commit certain types of crimes.  Do you believe that this practice, known as 'racial profiling,' is widespread, or not?
BR 2003 US 1999*
Is widespread 63 59
Is not widespread 24 34
Don't know, No answer 13 7
100 100
Do you approve or disapprove of the use of 'racial profiling' by police?
BR 2003 US 1999*
Approve 18 14
Disapprove 72 81
Don't know, No answer 10 5
100 100
*Gallup Poll. Sept. 24-Nov. 16, 1999. N=2,006 adults nationwide
Now I'm going to read you several statements.  Do you agree strongly, agree somewhat, neither agree nor disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly with each of the following statements?  People we elect to Congress try to keep the promises they have made during the election
BR 2003 US-GSS 96
Strongly agree 6 3
Agree 30 21
Neither agree nor disagree 14 20
Disagree 35 38
Strongly disagree 11 13
Don't know, No answer 4 4
100 100
...Irish, Italians, Jewish and many other minorities overcame prejudice and worked their way up.  Blacks should do the same without special favors.
BR 2003 US-GSS 98
Strongly agree 28 42
Agree 41 29
Neither agree nor disagree 8 12
Disagree 13 8
Strongly disagree 5 6
Don't know, No answer 6 2
100 100
...Under the First Amendment guaranteeing free speech, people should be allowed to express their own opinions even if they are harmful or offensive to members of other religious or racial groups.
BR 2003 US-GSS 94
Agree strongly 31 21
Agree somewhat 31 42
Neither agree nor disagree 5 11
Disagree somewhat 16 20
Disagree strongly 15 4
Don't know, No answer 3 2
100 100
Do you think the police should or should not be allowed to collect DNA information from suspected criminals, similar to how they take fingerprints?
BR 2003 US 1998*
Should 86 66
Should not 11 29
Don't know, No answer 4 5
100 100
*CNN/Time Poll conducted by Yankelovich Partners. Dec. 17-18, 1998. N=1,031 adults nationwide.
Is there any area right around here - that is, within a mile - where you would be afraid to walk alone at night?
BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Yes 57 50 52 52 41 43
No 42 49 46 44 57 54
Don't know, No answer 1 1 2 4 1 3
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
  
Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder?
BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Favor 56 61 62 58 68 70
Oppose 31 26 26 27 25 22
Don't know, No answer 13 13 12 15 8 8
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
  
You may have heard recent news stories from Illinois about the death penalty.  Several prisoners on death row were found to have been wrongly convicted and were released.  The Illinois governor said that other convictions might also be unreliable, and he commuted all death sentences to life imprisonment.  Had you heard this news?
BR 2003
Yes 57
No 41
Don't know, No answer 2
100
Do you think some death row inmates in Louisiana might also have been wrongly convicted?
BR 2003
Yes 88
No 4
Don't know, No answer 8
100
Do you think the governor should commute all death sentences to life imprisonment in Louisiana?
BR 2003
Yes 33
No 58
Don't know, No answer 9
100
Have you heard news stories about the serial killer in Baton Rouge and nearby communities?
BR 2003
Yes 96
No 4
Don't know, No answer 0
100
[If yes]  Have these news stories made you feel more concerned about your own safety?
BR 2003
Yes 61
No 35
Don't know, No answer 4
100
Now I have some questions related to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon that took place September 11th 2001.  We'd like your opinion of some things that have been done??or might be done??to improve security and protect against terrorism in the United States.  What about using race, religion, or ethnicity as a factor in determining who is a suspected terrorist?  Please tell me if you strongly favor it, are willing to accept it if necessary, or think it goes too far.
BR 2003 US 2002*
Strongly favor 19 12
Willing to accept 40 26
Goes too far 33 59
Don't know, No answer 8 3
100 100
*Princeton Survey Research Associates (for Newsweek).  1,005 Respondents nationwide, August 29, 2002.
If the United States takes military action against Iraq, do you think the threat of terrorism against the United States will increase, decrease, or stay about the same?
BR 2003 US 2003*
Increase 53 59
Decrease 13 12
Same 28 27
Don't know, No answer 6 2
100 100
*CBS News/New York Times Poll. Feb. 10-12, 2003. N=747 adults nationwide.
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 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR'00* SCBS'00* South'00*
0 20 14 17 18 26 29
1 10 12 9 14 12 12
2 9 13 12 15 10 10
3 10 10 12 10 9 10
4 7 10 7 4 5 4
5 6 5 9 4 4 4
6 2 2 3 2 2 1
7 35 32 27 32 32 30
Don't know 2 2 3
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
*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 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR'00* SCBS'00* South'00*
0 2 2 4 4 8 7
1 12 20 15 18 21 20
2 20 27 28 25 26 26
3 13 18 17 17 16 15
4 12 12 12 10 11 12
5 7 7 8 8 7 8
6 5 2 3 3 3 3
7 7 3 1 2 1 1
8 4 1 2 4 2 1
9 1 0 1 1 0 0
10 5 1 2 3 2 2
12 12 3 5 5 4 4
Don't know 2 2 3 1 1 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
*Social Capital Benchmark Survey, 2000.
  
Now I just have a few questions about your household and your background.
[IF UNSURE ASK]: Are you male or female?
BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Male 46 47 47 48 44 43
Female 54 54 53 52 56 57
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
  
  
Do you consider yourself to be: [READ RESPONSE OPTIONS] White, Black, Asian, American Indian, Other.  Are you Hispanic or Latino?  [Combined answers]
BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR'00* SCBS'00* South'00*
White (non-Hispanic) 56 61 61 59 75 70
Black (non-Hispanic) 35 34 34 37 12 20
Asian 1 1 1 1 2 1
Hispanic 3 2 3 3 11 9
Missing or Other 5 2 2
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
*Social Capital Benchmark Survey, 2000.
  
Are your currently married, living with a partner, separated, divorced, widowed, or have you never been married?
BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Married 46 49 50 46 48 45
Living with partner 8 5 7 5
Separated 3 2 2 3 3 2
Divorced 8 9 10 13 16 19
Widowed 6 10 5 9 10 12
Single, never married 28 25 25 23 23 21
NA 2 1 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
  
Do you have children?  How many?
BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
None 33 27 32 30 28 29
One 16 19 16 14 17 17
Two 21 26 29 29 26 24
Three 17 15 11 13 15 15
Four or more 11 13 11 13 14 15
Other Answer 1 1 1
NA 2 1 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
  
What is the highest grade of schooling that you have completed?
BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
8th Grade or less 1 1 3 1
Some high school 4 6 4 8 15 18
High School Diploma 23 20 17 25 53 54
Vocational/Technical school 6 6 3 8 7 6
Some College 24 30 31 26
College degree 26 26 22 20 17 16
Some graduate school 3 4 6 2
Graduate degree 12 8 13 11 7 6
NA 2 1 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
*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 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Protestant 54 45 50 49 54 71
Catholic 28 36 34 29 25 17
Jewish 0 1 1 - 2 0
Other 8 10 7 9 3 2
None 7 5 6 7 14 9
Don't Know 1 1 1 2
No Answer 2 1 5
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
  
Religious Fundamentalism [Previous question followed up by question about specific denomination.  Denominations categorized according to General Social Survey definitions]
BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2000
Liberal 14 14 15
Moderate 38 45 35
Fundamentalist 36 33 33
[no religion; can't categorize] 13 8 17
Total 100 100 100
  
Are you a member of a local church, synagogue, or other religious or spiritual community?
BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR'00* SCBS'00* South'00*
Yes 69 75 78 76 65 68
No 24 20 17 23 35 32
Refused 1 1
[no religion] 6 5 5
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
*Social Capital Benchmark Survey, 2000.  Base: of those with a religion.
  
Not including weddings and funerals, how often do you attend religious services?
BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR'00* SCBS'00* South'00*
Every week (or more often) 42 47 40 49 41 45
Almost every week 12 13 19 12 9 11
Once or twice a month 16 14 20 21 20 18
A few times per year 13 11 11 12 17 16
Less often than that 6 9 4 6 13 9
Refused 5 1 1 0 0 0
[no religion] 7 5 5 0 0 0
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
*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 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Strong Democrat 22 17 19 18 13 14
Democrat 16 16 26 20 21 19
Lean Democratic 5 11 5 9 12 10
Independent 10 8 6 8 17 17
Lean Republican 7 8 5 5 9 8
Republican 13 15 17 17 17 20
Strong Republican 19 16 18 14 8 10
Don't Know, No Answer 1 2 4
Other 2 3 1 0 2 1
None 7 5 1 5
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
  
Who did you vote for in the 2000 Presidential election?
BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001
George W Bush 42 46 45
Al Gore 30 31 36
Someone else [Volunteered] 2 2 2
Didn't vote 20 16 11
Don't remember, No Answer, Refused 6 5 6
Total 100 100 100
  
We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives.  Would you call yourself [READ ANSWER CATEGORIES]:
BR 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000 US-GSS 98 So-GSS 98
Extremely Liberal 3 2 2 2 2 2
Liberal 14 14 12 13 13 11
Slightly Liberal 7 10 12 8 12 11
Moderate, middle of the road 22 24 27 27 35 33
Slightly Conservative 11 11 12 15 15 16
Conservative 22 23 23 18 15 16
Extremely Conservative 5 3 5 5 3 5
Don't Know 13 12 7 8 5 7
No Answer 4 2 2 4
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
  
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 2003 BR 2002 BR 2001 BR 2000
Under $5,000 4 2 2 2
Under $10,000 3 3 4 5
Under $15,000 4 4 3 7
Under $25,000 8 9 9 12
Under $35,000 10 11 14 10
Under $50,000 14 16 13 9
Under $75,000 13 17 14 13
More than $75,000 19 15 16 11
Don't Know 8 5 7 4
No Response 18 17 19 27
Total 100 100 100 100
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 2003.  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 399 completed interviews.  The results are weighted to reflect the combined age-gender-race/hispanic distributions, according to the U.S. Census for 2000 (most recent available data).
Note.  BR 2000 through BR 2002 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.