VAR CF0824 IF R HAD TO CHOOSE LIBERAL/CONSERVATIVE COLUMNS 528 - 528 NUMERIC MD EQ 0 OR GE 8 We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives. Here is (1972,1974: I'm going to show you) a 7-point scale on which the political views that people might hold are arranged from extremely liberal to extremely conservative. Where would you place yourself on this scale, or haven't you thought much about this? (7-POINT SCALE SHOWN TO R). (IF R RESPONDS "DON'T KNOW" OR "HAVEN'T THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT THIS"In 1984 AND LATER; IF R RESPONDS "MODERATE" IN 1988,1992,1996-later:) If you had to choose, would you consider yourself a liberal or a conservative? ------------------------------------------------------------------- USE WEIGHT VARIABLE VCF0009/VCF0009A/VCF0009B. SEE ALSO VCF0803 AND VCF0849. This is the followup 'choice' question asked 1984 and later of respondents who replied to the full 7-point scale question (VCF0803) with "Don't know" or "haven't thought much"; except for years 1984, 1986 and 1990 this question was also asked of resondents who answered "moderate." Using the initial 7-point scale (VCF0803) and this followup, a final 3-category summary was also constructed in these years: the final 3-category summary is VCF0849. If R's response to the 7-point scale question (VCF0803) was NA then this follow-up question was not asked and VCF0824 has been coded 9. 1. Liberal 3. Moderate ('middle of the road') 5. Conservative 7. R refuses to choose 8. DK 9. NA in either question 0. INAP, R has made choice on 7-point scale VCF0803 1984,1986,1990); R has made choice on VCF0803 7-point scale other than 'moderate' (1988,1992 and later); question not used (1952-1982) 1984: 370 1986: 386 1988: 229 1990: 407 1992: 3511,3512 1994: 839,840 1996: 960366 1998: 980401 ==============================