* 1. In the box below, please write the 5-digit ID number provided by your professor (begins with a letter and is followed by 4 numbers) so that you can identify yourself for the purpose of having completed the survey. When the survey is over, we will NOT be able to use these numbers to match your answers with your name. Your answers will remain completely anonymous. 2. We are interested in your views and feelings about politics. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements. Being concerned with national, state, and local issues is an important responsibility for me. It is important to get involved in improving my community. Being concerned with national, state, and local issues is an important responsibility for all citizens. Being actively involved in state and local issues is my responsibility. Public officials don't care much what people like me think. I can learn a lot from people with backgrounds and experience that are different from mine. Strongly Disagree Slightly Disagree Undecided Slightly Agree Strongly Agree 3. On a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is "not at all interested" and 10 is "extremely interested," how interested in political issues would you say you are? 4. Out of the two choices below, please choose the answer you believe most closely represents your opinion as it completes the sentence, even if neither is a perfect match: The main reason government has become bigger over the years is... Because it has gotten involved in things that people should do for themselves. problems. We need a strong government to handle today's complex Page 1
5. Out of the two choices below, please choose the answer you believe most closely represents your opinion, even if neither is a perfect match: The less government the better. There are more things the government should be doing. 6. Out of the two choices below, please choose the answer you believe most closely represents your opinion, even if neither is a perfect match: The free market can handle these problems without the government being involved. We need a strong government to handle today's complex economic problems. 7. We are interested in your views and feelings about politics. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements. People like me don't have any say about what the government does. I think it's important to challenge inequalities in society. I think it's important to think critically about laws and government. I think that people in government care about what people like me and my family need. I think I know enough to be an informed voter. Strongly Disagree Slightly Disagree Undecided Slightly Agree Strongly Agree 8. How much do you feel that having elections makes the government in Washington pay attention to what the people think? 6 9. Over the years, how much attention do you feel the government in Washington pays to what people think when it decides what to do? 6 Page 2
10. We are interested in your views and feelings about the U.S.. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements. I support US policies because they are the policies of my country. It is un-american to criticize this country. I think it's good when people discuss their country's problems. It's good for the country that people speak up when they oppose US policies. Strongly Disagree Slightly Disagree Undecided Slightly Agree Strongly Agree 11. How often do you discuss politics with people who have views that are different from yours? 6 Page 3
12. We'd like to get your feelings toward some of our political leaders and groups who are in the news these days. We'd like you rate these people and groups by using something we call the feeling thermometer. Zero indicates you rate them extremely unfavorably, and 10 means you rate them extremely favorably. Indicate a five if you don't feel particularly warm or cold toward them. If you don't recognize a name, you don't need to rate it. Just move on to the next one. Name's 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 not familiar Barack Obama Republicans Environmentalists Asians, Asian-Americans Arnold Schwarzenegger Men Liberals Non-Citizens Conservatives Whites, Caucasians U.S. Citizens Latinos, Hispanics George Bush Immigrants Nancy Pelosi Blacks, African-Americans Women Democrats Gays, Lesbians Page 4
13. We are interested in whether or not you might know at this moment some facts about American Government. (If you do not know, please do not look up the answer. It is okay not to know the answer) What job or office is held by John Roberts? Secretary of State Vice President Chief Justice of the Supreme Court House Majority Leader I don't know 14. We are interested in whether or not you might know at this moment some facts about American Government. (If you do not know, please do not look up the answer. It is okay not to know the answer) How much of a majority is required for the Congress to override a presidential veto? 51% 2/3 3/4 3/5 I don't know 15. We are interested in whether or not you might know at this moment some facts about American Government. (If you do not know, please do not look up the answer. It is okay not to know the answer) Right now, which political party has the most members in the House of Representatives in Washington? Democrats Republicans Other I don't know Page 5
16. We are interested in whether or not you might know at this moment some facts about American Government. (If you do not know, please do not look up the answer. It is okay not to know the answer) Which political party is considered more conservative at the national level? Democrats Republicans They're equally conservative I don't know 17. Suppose you found out about a problem in your school or community that you wanted to do something about. Please mark how much you agree or disagree with the statements below: I would be able to create a plan to address the issue. I would be able to organize and run a meeting. I would be able to find and examine research related to the issue. I would be able to use the Internet to connect with others to address the issue. I would be able to express my views in front of a group of people. Strongly Disagree Slightly Disagree Undecided Slightly Agree Strongly Agree 18. How would you identify yourself? Extremely Liberal Slightly Moderate/Middle Slightly Conservative Extremely I liberal liberal of the road conservative conservative don't know/i haven't though about i Page 6
19. Who was first in your family to be born in the United States? Me My Parents My grand-parents My great-grand parents or those before them No one in my family was born in the U.S. 20. Which is true of your family? We speak only English at home. We sometimes speak a language other than English at home. We rarely or never speak English at home. 21. Which of the following sources do you rely on for news, current events, and political information in general? Please indicate how often you access (use) the following sources. Never Every Day Several Times a Day Occasionally Internet TV: Broadcast News TV: Comedians like John Stewart or O'Brien Newspapers/News Articles Radio Magazines or Journals Discussions with Friends Discussions with Family Members Page 7
22. Considering your political party identification, how do you identify yourself? Strong Democrat Democrat Independent Leaning Democrat Independent or Decline to State Strong Republican Republican Independent leaning Republican Third Party Identifier (Green, Libertarian, Other) 23. Which category best describes where you grew up? On a farm In the country, not on a farm In a city In a suburb of a city A combination of these 24. Are you Male or Female? Male Female 25. What is your year in school? Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior or more Page 8
* 26. Which college or university do you attend? UMBC SUNY ACC SUNY Plattsburg @ ACC University of Redlands York College Carroll University University of Houston-Downtown 27. What is your major, or are you undeclared? 28. Do you live on-campus or do you commute to school? Live on-campus Commute to school * 29. What is your year of birth? 30. What is your religion? Protestant/Christian Roman Catholic Jewish Muslim Other None 31. What is your ethnicity? White/Caucasian/Anglo African-American Asian-American Hispanic/Latino/Mexican-American Other None Page 9
32. Where did you grow up? Western US MidWest US North East South Other 33. Indicate with a YES or a NO for the following statements 34. I would describe myself as: Yes No I own a computer. I have access to the Internet from home. I have social network accounts like MySpace, Facebook, etc. I send texts on a cell phone. Highly computer literate Comfortable with a computer Struggling on a computer I really don't know how to use a computer 35. At home my access to the Internet is: High speed and reliable Dial-up and unreliable I do not have Internet access at Home Page 10
36. How often do you use the following electronic media for communication? At least once A few times a A few times a Once a week a day day week A few times a Once a month Almost Never month I do not communicate via electronic technology Email Text Messaging Instant Messaging Buying or Selling MySpace Facebook YouTube Other Page 11