Entry:
Page, Benjamin I. and Shapiro, Robert Y., The Rational Public: Fifty Years of Trends in Americans Policy Preferences. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992.
Abstract:
The American public holds clear and differentiated ideas on policy questions which tend to be stable. Rather than being ignorant or passive, U.S. citizens demonstrate knowledge of their and the public interest and the ability to rationally assimilate information. Many problems of democracy within public opinion stem from elites, including spreading misinformation, withholding information, and providing inadequate political education.
GSS Years:1972-1990
Other Data Sets:
ANES 1956, 1958, 1960, 1984; SRC 1964-1976, 1988; Gallup 1940-1941, 1944-47, 1949-1952, 1954-1955, 1957, 1961, 1964, 1969 1971, 1973, 1979; Survey Research Lab Virginia Commonwealth 1989; Harris 1973, 1985; Office of Public Opinion Research; NORC 1942, 1956, 1965, 1968, 1971; LAT; Roper 1984; YSW; Martilla & Kiley 1985; Trendex; CBS/NYT 1978; Cambridge Reports; ABC/WP 1983, 1985-1987; NBC 1981; NORC
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GSS Codebook Variables referenced by document: |
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Variable Name |
Variable Label |
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| GOVERNOR |
DID R CORRECTLY NAME GOVERNOR |
| USREP |
DID R CORRECTLY NAME US REPRESENTATIVE |
| SCHLHEAD |
DID R CORRECTLY NAME LOCAL SCHOOL HEAD |
| NATCRIME |
HALTING RISING CRIME RATE |
| NATEDUC |
IMPROVING NATIONS EDUCATION SYSTEM |
| NATROAD |
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES |
| NATMASS |
MASS TRANSPORTATION |
| NATSPAC |
SPACE EXPLORATION PROGRAM |
| NATAID |
FOREIGN AID |
| ABHLTH |
WOMANS HEALTH SERIOUSLY ENDANGERED |
| ABANY |
ABORTION IF WOMAN WANTS FOR ANY REASON |
| ABDEFECT |
STRONG CHANCE OF SERIOUS DEFECT |
| ABPOOR |
LOW INCOME--CANT AFFORD MORE CHILDREN |
| ABNOMORE |
MARRIED--WANTS NO MORE CHILDREN |
| ABSINGLE |
NOT MARRIED |
| ABRAPE |
PREGNANT AS RESULT OF RAPE |
| BUSING |
ATTITUDE TOWARD RACIAL BUSING |
| RACMAR |
FAVOR LAW AGAINST RACIAL INTERMARRIAGE |
| RACSEG |
WHITES HAVE RIGHT TO SEG. NEIGHBORHOOD |
| RACOPEN |
VOTE ON OPEN HOUSING LAW |
| NATRACE |
IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF BLACKS |
| NATDRUG |
DEALING WITH DRUG ADDICTION |
| COLSOC |
ALLOW SOCIALIST TO TEACH |
| COLHOMO |
ALLOW HOMOSEXUAL TO TEACH |
| COLATH |
ALLOW ANTI-RELIGIONIST TO TEACH |
| COLMIL |
ALLOW MILITARIST TO TEACH |
| COLRAC |
ALLOW RACIST TO TEACH |
| COLCOM |
SHOULD COMMUNIST TEACHER BE FIRED |
| COURTS |
COURTS DEALING WITH CRIMINALS |
| CAPPUN |
FAVOR OR OPPOSE DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDER |
| WIRTAP |
WIRETAPPING |
| GUNLAW |
FAVOR OR OPPOSE GUN PERMITS |
| USINTL |
TAKE ACTIVE PART IN WORLD AFFAIRS |
| NATENVIR |
IMPROVING & PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT |
| RACPUSH |
BLACKS SHOULDNT PUSH |
| LIBHOMO |
ALLOW HOMOSEXUALS BOOK IN LIBRARY |
| SPKHOMO |
ALLOW HOMOSEXUAL TO SPEAK |
| LIBCOM |
ALLOW COMMUNISTS BOOK IN LIBRARY |
| SPKCOM |
ALLOW COMMUNIST TO SPEAK |
| LIBATH |
ALLOW ANTI-RELIGIOUS BOOK IN LIBRARY |
| SPKATH |
ALLOW ANTI-RELIGIONIST TO SPEAK |
| SPKSOC |
ALLOW SOCIALIST TO SPEAK |
| LIBSOC |
ALLOW SOCIALISTS BOOK IN LIBRARY |
| SPKRAC |
ALLOW RACIST TO SPEAK |
| LIBRAC |
ALLOW RACISTS BOOK IN LIBRARY |
| SPKMIL |
ALLOW MILITARIST TO SPEAK |
| LIBMIL |
ALLOW MILITARISTS BOOK IN LIBRARY |
| ATTEND |
HOW OFTEN R ATTENDS RELIGIOUS SERVICES |
| FEHOME |
WOMEN TAKE CARE OF HOME NOT COUNTRY |
| PILL |
BIRTH CONTROL INFORMATION |
| LETDIE1 |
ALLOW INCURABLE PATIENTS TO DIE |
| LETDIE2 |
LET PATIENTS DIE IF DOCTORS AGREE |
| GRASS |
SHOULD MARIJUANA BE MADE LEGAL |
| NATFARE |
WELFARE |
| EQWLTH |
SHOULD GOVT REDUCE INCOME DIFFERENCES |
| HELPPOOR |
SHOULD GOVT IMPROVE STANDARD OF LIVING? |
| NATCITY |
SOLVING PROBLEMS OF BIG CITIES |
| RACSEG |
WHITES HAVE RIGHT TO SEG. NEIGHBORHOOD |
| CAPPUN2 |
DOES R FAVOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT |
| HOMOSEX |
HOMOSEXUAL SEX RELATIONS |
| FEWORK |
SHOULD WOMEN WORK |
| TEENPILL |
BIRTH CONTROL INFORMATION TO TEENS |
| SEXEDUC |
SEX EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| PRAYER |
BIBLE PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| PORNLAW |
FEELINGS ABOUT PORNOGRAPHY LAWS |
| NATCITY |
SOLVING PROBLEMS OF BIG CITIES |
| TAX |
RS FEDERAL INCOME TAX |
| USUN |
REMAIN IN U.N. OR PULL OUT |
| DEGREE |
RS HIGHEST DEGREE |