SAMPLE SIZE
A nationwide cross section of 1971 men and women 18 years of age or
over was interviewed in face-to-face interviews in respondent’s
homes.
SAMPLING METHOD
The sample interviewed in this study is a representative sample of the
population of the Continental United States, age 18 and up—exclusive
of institutionalized segments of the population (Army camps, nursing
homes, prisons, etc.).
The sampling methodology employed is a multistage, stratified probability
sample of interviewing locations. Validations were conducted by telephone
on all interviewers’ work at our centralized telephone facility.
INTERVIEWING DATES
Interviewing dates on this study were April 3-17, 1999.
DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWNS
16 standard breakdowns are shown. For those which are not self-explanatory,
please note the following:
Occupation relates to the respondent, not to the head of the
household. Titled executives and members of professions are included
in the executive/professional category. Owners of farms, small businesses,
and higher ranking military personnel are included in Executive and
Professional. White Collar ranges from retail sales clerks to minor
administrative office personnel to travelling salesmen and the like.
Blue Collar includes all other employed people both skilled and unskilled.
Homemakers are women who are not employed and who designate themselves
as housewives.
Employed females are women employed regularly, whether full
time or part time.
A Political/Social Activist comes from a list of activities
respondents reported having engaged in in the last year—such as
having run for political office, written a letter to the editor, made
a speech or written an article, worked in a political campaign, been
an officer of a civic/fraternal organization, signed a petition, etc.
Respondents who have done three or more of the things on the list (not
counting signing a petition) are classified as "Pol/Soc Active"—and
may be roughly equated with "thought leaders."
Geographic Area conforms to, but combines, U.S. census regions.
The Northeast is New England and the Middle Atlantic states. The Midwest
is the East North Central and West North Central states. South is South
Atlantic, East South Central, and West South Central. West is the Mountain
and Pacific states.
Market size is a definition created by the A.C. Nielsen Company
basically for marketing purposes. "A" markets are the major
markets, "D" markets are the minor markets. "A"
markets consist of all counties comprising the 21 largest metropolitan
areas. "B" markets consist of all other counties that have
a population of 85,000 or more. "C" markets are all other
counties having an individual population of 20,000 or more or forming
part of a metropolitan area having a population of 20,000 or more. "D"
markets are all remaining counties in the country.
TECHNICAL NOTES
Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole percent. As a result, percentages
in a given column may add to slightly over or under 100%. In questions
where multiple answers are possible, percentages may add to considerably
more than 100%.
Answers within a subgroup which fall below 0.5% are indicated by dashes
(-). No responses at all are also indicated by dashes.
WEIGHTING
Weighting has been applied to ensure that age, sex and region are represented
in their proper proportions.
Return to Roper Poll
Data Page
