Baton Rouge Survey: March-April, 2008

Baton Rouge Survey: March-April, 2008
(Entries are percentages)
Hello, my name is [FIRST NAME ONLY], and I’m a student at Louisiana State University, here in Baton Rouge.  I’m participating in a survey as part of a class project in sociology...I’m not selling anything.  For this survey, I’d like to speak with the person in your household who had the last birthday and who is 18 or older.  May I speak to this person?
I’d like to ask you some questions about issues that people have been talking about in Baton Rouge, like jobs, family, safety, and other things.  We are conducting this survey for our class  work and for academic research.  Of course, any answers you give are completely confidential, and you are free to refuse to answer any question or to end the interview at any time.
If the husband in a family wants children, but the wife decides that she does not want any children, is it all right for the wife to refuse to have children?
	Yes	69
	No	26
	DK/NA	5
	Total	100
And if the wife in a family wants children, but the husband decides that he does not want any children, is it all right for the husband to refuse to have children?
	Yes	65
	No	30
	DK/NA	6
	Total	100
How much confidence do you have in the ability of the U.S. government to respond to natural disasters: a great deal, a fair amount, not very much, or none at all?
	A Great Deal	9
	A Fair Amount	52
	Not Very Much	31
	None at All	8
	Total	100
Do you think the federal government should continue to provide housing for all people left homeless by Hurricane Katrina, or is this no longer the responsibility of the federal government?
	Should Continue to Provide	36
	No Longer Federal Responsibility	59
	Unsure	5
	Total	100
Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
It's a good idea for a couple who intend to get married to live together first.
	Strongly Agree	14
	Agree	29
	Neither Agree nor Disagree	9
	Disagree	31
	Strongly Disagree	17
	Don’t Know
	NA
	Total	100
The U.S. would be a better country if religion had less influence.
	Strongly Agree	7
	Agree	17
	Neither Agree nor Disagree	5
	Disagree	50
	Strongly Disagree	21
	Don’t Know	1
	NA	0
	Total	100
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.
	Strongly Agree	8
	Agree	27
	Neither Agree nor Disagree	14
	Disagree	45
	Strongly Disagree	5
	Don’t Know	1
	NA
	Total	100
Generally speaking, would you say that you personally care a good deal who wins the presidential election this fall, or don't you care very much who wins?
	Don't Care	16
	Care a Good Deal	82
	Don't Know	2
	Total	100
If your party nominated … [go down list] for President, would you vote for him if he were qualified for the job?
		African-American	Woman	Latino or Hispanic	Asian-American	Gay or Lesbian	Catholic	Jew	Muslim
	Yes	94	90	88	90	63	92	86	57
	No	4	8	8	6	32	4	10	36
	Don't Know/No Answer	2	3	4	5	6	4	5	7
	Total	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100
Does a candidate’s religious beliefs affect your decision to support the candidate?
	Yes, Definitely	25
	Probably	19
	Probably Not	28
	Definitely Not	28
	DK, NA	1
	Total	100
At the present time, do you think religion as a whole is increasing its influence on American life or losing its influence?
	Increasing Influence	21
	Losing Influence	70
	Same (VOL)	5
	No Opinion [Skip next question]	3
	Total	100
[If answered:] All in all, do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing?
	Good thing	14
	Bad thing	70
	Both/Neither/Depends (VOL)	12
	Don’t know/Refused	1
	Total	100
At the present time, do you think religion as a whole is increasing its influence on government leaders and institutions such as the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court, or losing its influence?
	Increasing influence	22
	Losing influence	63
	Same (VOL)	8
	No Opinion [Skip next question]	7
	Total	100
[If answered:] All in all, do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing?
	Good thing	18
	Bad thing	65
	Both/Neither/Depends (VOL)	9
	Don’t know/Refused	1
	Total	100
How would you rate the state of race relations in the United States these days? Would you say they are excellent, good, only fair, or poor?
	Excellent	2
	Good	26
	Only fair	54
	Poor	16
	Unsure	2
	Total	100
How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination against blacks is where you live: a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, not too serious, or not at all serious?
	Very Serious	9
	Somewhat Serious	32
	Not Too Serious	43
	Not at All Serious	14
	Unsure	1
	Total	100
Some religious and business groups have set up programs to encourage Black people to buy houses in white suburbs. Do you Favor or oppose these voluntary programs to integrate white suburbs?
	Favor	59
	Oppose	27
	DK/NA	15
	Total	100
Which of the following best represents your views about abortion? The choice on abortion should be left up to the woman and her doctor. Abortion should be legal only in cases in which pregnancy results from rape or incest or when the life of the woman is at risk. OR, Abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.
	Woman and Doctor	38
	Rape, Incest, Life of Woman	37
	Always Illegal	23
	Unsure	1
	Total	100
As you may know, under the current military policy, no one in the military is asked whether or not they are homosexual.  But if they reveal that they are homosexual and they engage in homosexual activity, they will be discharged from the military.  Do you personally think -- gays should be allowed to serve openly in the military, gays should be allowed to serve under the current policy, or gays should not be allowed to serve in the military under any circumstances?
	Serve openly	48
	Serve under current policy	33
	Not serve under any circumstances	16
	No opinion	4
	Total	100
In general, would you say that people should obey the law without exception, or are there exceptional occasions on which people should follow their consciences even if it means breaking the law?
	Always Obey Law	42
	Follow Conscience	47
	Can't Choose	10
	NA	2
	Total	100
Is there any area right around here - that is, within a mile - where you would be afraid to walk alone at night?
	Yes	49
	No	50
	Don’t Know	1
	NA
	Total	100
Do you Favor or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder?
	Favor	63
	Oppose	30
	Don't Know/No Answer	7
	Total	100
Do you Favor or oppose the death penalty for -- ? How about for -- [INSERT NEXT ITEM]?
		Women	The Mentally Ill	The Mentally Retarded	Juveniles
	Favor	59	19	13	21
	Oppose	31	66	74	67
	No opinion	10	14	14	12
	Total	100	100	100	100
Have rumors about crime and social unrest in Baton Rouge since Hurricane Katrina made you feel more concerned about your own safety?
	Yes	60
	No	39
	Don't Know	1
	No answer	1
	Total	100
How did the events of and immediately following Hurricane Katrina, especially the trends in violent crime, affect your views on the private ownership of firearms for the purpose of self defense?  [Read categories]
	Already kept a gun for self-defense purposes; or if not:	41
	Purchased a gun after the storm	3
	Considered purchasing a gun	7
	No change	42
	Less likely to keep a gun for self defense	6
	Don't Know	1
	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?
	0	22
	1	8
	2	13
	3	12
	4	4
	5	7
	6	1
	7	33
	Don't Know/No Answer	0
	Total	100
How many hours per day do you spend watching TV (television) on an average weekday, that is Monday through Friday?
	0	4
	1	13
	2	24
	3	20
	4	17
	5	7
	6	3
	7	1
	8	5
	9	0
	10	2
	11	0
	12	3
	Don't Know/No Answer	1
	Total	100
Now I just have a few questions about your household and your background.
First, may I ask, In what year were you born?  [Recoded to age]
	18-30	24
	31-45	26
	46-60	31
	61 and Over	18
	Missing	2
	Total	100
[IF UNSURE ASK]: Are you male or female?
	Male	45
	Female	55
Do you consider yourself to be … Are you Hispanic or Latino?  [Answers combined]
	White (non-Hisp)	53
	Black (non-Hisp)	40
	Asian	1
	Hispanic	1
	Missing or Other	5
	Total	100
Are your currently married, living with a partner, separated, divorced, widowed, or have you never been married?
	Married	52
	Living With Partner	4
	Separated	3
	Divorced	12
	Widowed	9
	Single, Never Married	20
	Don't Know/No Answer	1
	Total	100
Do you have children?  How many?
	None	23
	One	18
	Two	27
	Three	18
	Four or More	13
	Don't Know/No Answer	1
	Total	100
What is the highest grade of schooling that you have completed?
	8Th Grade or Less	1
	Some Hs	4
	Hs Diploma	21
	Vocational/Technical	5
	Some College	26
	College Degree	26
	Some Graduate School	2
	Graduate Degree	15
	Don't Know/No Answer	0
	Total	100
What is your religious preference?  Is it Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, some other religion, or no religion?
	Protestant	54
	Catholic	28
	Other	8
	None	10
	Don't Know/No Answer	1
	Total	100
Are you a member of a local church, synagogue, or other religious or spiritual community?
	Yes	71
	No	18
	Don't Know/No Answer	11
	Total	100
Not including weddings and funerals, how often do you attend religious services?
	Every Week or More Often	42
	Almost Every Week	13
	Once or Twice A Month	19
	A Few Times A Year	11
	Less Often Than That	14
	Don't Know/No Answer	1
	Total	100
Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, Democrat, Independent, or what?  Would you call yourself a strong (Republican/Democrat) or not a very strong (Republican/Democrat)?  Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican or Democratic Party?  [Answers combined]
	Strong Democrat	23
	Democrat	20
	Lean Democratic	11
	Independent	5
	Lean Republican	9
	Republican	11
	Strong Republican	16
	Other	1
	None	5
	Total	100
Who did you vote for in the 2004 Presidential election?
	Bush	41
	Kerry	31
	Someone Else	3
	Don't Know/No Answer	26
	Total	100
Thinking ahead to the next presidential election, if the 2008 general election were held today and the candidates were [see below] and [see below], for whom would you vote?
Vote for McCain vs Clinton in 2008
	McCain	37
	Clinton	48
	Other	6
	Unsure	10
	Total	100
Vote for McCain vs. Obama in 2008
	McCain	39
	Obama	47
	Other	1
	Unsure	13
	Total	100
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Kip Holden is handling his job as Mayor of Baton Rouge?
	Approve	74
	Disapprove	15
	Unsure	11
	Total	100
Do you think Kip Holden should be re-elected Mayor of Baton Rouge?
	Yes	72
	No	11
	Don't know	17
	Total	100
We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives.  Would you call yourself -
	Extremely Liberal	2
	Liberal	12
	Slightly Liberal	6
	Moderate, Middle of the Road	28
	Slightly Conservative	18
	Conservative	20
	Extremely Conservative	6
	Don't Know/No Answer	8
	Total	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 2006, from all sources.
	Under $15,000	7
	Under $25,000	7
	Under $35,000	13
	Under $50,000	17
	Under $75,000	12
	Under $100,000	11
	More Than $100,000	20
	Don't Know/No Answer	13
	Total	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 2008.  Data are based on a random-digit-dialed telephone sample, representative of the general population age 18 and over in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Area, to reflect the combined age-gender-race/hispanic distributions, according to the U.S. Census estimates for 2006.