VAR CF0301 7-PT SCALE PARTY IDENTIFICATION COLUMNS 230 - 230 NUMERIC MD EQ 0 Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, or what? (IF REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT) Would you call yourself a strong (REP/DEM) or a not very strong (REP/DEM)? (IF INDEPENDENT, OTHER [1966 and later: OR NO PREFERENCE]:) Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican or Democratic party? PARTY ID - 7 CATEGORIES ------------------------------------------------------------------- USE WEIGHT VARIABLE VCF0009/VCF0009A/VCF0009B. APOLITICAL: Code 9: In 1952-1966, an R who voluntarily specified complete disinterest in politics ('I never vote,' 'I don't get involved in politics,' etc.) in response to party identification was coded as apolitical. S/he was not then asked if s/he felt closer to either major party. In 1968-1980, 1984 an R who responded 'no preference' to party identification and who responded with 'neither', DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer to either major party was coded as apolitical if s/he otherwise also expressed a general disinterest in politics. In 1982, 1986 and later, an R who expressed 'no preference' for party identification and who responded with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer to either major party was coded as apolitical IF s/he also indicated little or no interest in politics in response to the following 4 questions (CUM FILE VARS VCF0310, VCF0311/VCF0312, VCF0313, VCF0702): 1) How much would you say you cared about (1982,1986: the way the congressional election came out; 1988: which party wins the election); 2) Would you say you follow what's going on in government and public affairs most of the time, some of the time, only now and then, or hardly at all; 3) Did you vote in the elections this November; 4) Would you say you were very much interested, somewhat interested or not much interested in following the political campaigns this year. INDEPENDENT: Code 4: In 1952-1966, an R was defined as independent if s/he responded 'independent' to party identification and then responded with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer to either major party. In 1968-1980 and 1984 an R was defined as independent (code 4 in VCF0301) if s/he responded 'independent' to party identification and then responded with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer to either major party. An R was also defined as independent (code 4 in VCF0301) if: #1. s/he responded 'no preference' to party identification AND #2. responded with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer to either major party AND #3. if s/he otherwise expressed some interest in politics. INDEPENDENT/APOLITICAL: Codes 4/9: In 1982, 1986 and later, an R who responded 'independent' to party identification and who then responded with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer to either major party was coded as independent (code 4 in VCF0301). An R who expressed 'no preference' for party identification and who responded with 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer to either major party was coded as independent (code 4 in VCF0301) IF s/he also indicated some interest in politics in response to the 4 questions listed above. OTHER: Code 0: In all years, if an R responded to the party identification question with the mention of a minor party and then responded 'neither,' DK or NA when asked if s/he felt closer to either major party, then s/he has been coded "other." LEANERS: Codes 3,5: 'Leaners' have included the following (all years): a. Rs who responded 'independent' to party identification and who responded with the mention of a major party when asked if s/he felt closer to either major party. b. Rs who responded to the party identification question with the mention of a minor party but who said they felt closer to one major party. c. Rs who responded to the party identification with 'no preference' but who said they felt closer to one major party. 1. Strong Democrat 2. Weak Democrat 3. Independent - Democrat 4. Independent - Independent 5. Independent - Republican 6. Weak Republican 7. Strong Republican 9. Apolitical (1966 only: and DK) 0. DK; NA; other; refused to answer; no pre (1952,1960) 1952: 237 1954: 12 1956: 88 1958: 62 1960: 91 1962: 35 1964: 146 1966: 82 1968: 120 1970: 184(type 0) 1972: 140 1974: 2204 1976: 3174 1978: 433 1980: 266 1982: 291 1984: 318 1986: 300 1988: 274 1990: 320 1992: 3634 1994: 655 1996: 960420 1998: 980339 ==============================