USSF 2010 Survey Codebook

Amended Instructions (8/11/10)

Concerning items 32 and 33 (where the respondent was born and currently lives), it would be wise to study the overall pattern of responses then code the item. Basically, you may have to use some judgment to figure out what the respondent meant, but it is better to code useful data, as opposed to simply transcribing what the respondent may have actually written. For example, you can consider US, USA and United States as equivalent. If respondent write in a state where 33b asks for country, go ahead and code the country as US or USA (if that is appropriate). Again it is more important to get useful data than a transcription.

Amended Instructions (8/4/10)

Just a few additional instructions.

1) If you encounter a survey that is mostly blank (like the respondent completed on the first page or two) code what you can and then once you reach the point where the respondent stopped answering questions leave the rest of that row in the data matrix blank.

2) Anywhere the respondent wrote in answers (particularly, if it looks like they were trying to create their own “other” category) record them in the “Comments” column at the very end of the data matrix.

3) Finally, while it is important to follow the codebook, you can exercise some judgment. For example if the respondent wrote something in one of the “other” blanks, but did not actually check the box for “other” it is probably ok to record a “1” in the appropriate column. At the same time, if you cannot make sense of the responses you see (multiple checkmarks, sloppy writing) you should record an “88” or “99” where appropriate.

Instructions:

If the string (text) variable is unclear or illegible, put as many letters and words down as you can decipher and put ... for the letters or words that you cannot make out. Write 8, 88, or 888 if its entirely illegible.

For responses for the checked boxes, if there is no choice in the codebook for having more than one box checked and the respondent did so, treat it as a no answer. Be sure to read all the choices before deciding to do this. If there is more than one response for coded variables, code the first response unless otherwise indicated.

If there are marginal notes written on the survey, put these down in the next to the last variable. The last variable allows you to make comments about the survey or your coding. Please do not forget to indicate the variable that you are referring to.

To code the string variables, you should refer to the assigned code list for that variable. However, if you notice a discrepancy between the transcribed answer and the survey response, use the survey response and make a note the discrepancy on the assigned code list and the last variable.

Please note that for some of the variables, the first value begins with a 0 and others with 1. String variables do not have missing values assigned, but please use 9 to refer to questions that the respondent did not answer as you do for the numeric variables (but read the comments on when these apply). If the answer doesn’t apply and they have no response, leave it blank.

If it says SKIP in the variable label, skip the question. We will enter this data in another round.

Remember to save often (every few minutes).

Part 0: Survey Description

Var100 / Survey number
Enter survey number
Var200 / Language of questionnaire
0 / English
1 / Spanish
Var300 / Date of survey
Var400 / Who administered the survey
Var500 / Who entered the survey?
Write your initials (regardless of who the survey was assigned to)

Part I: Political Participation

Var1a / How Did you find out about the 2010 USSF.
0 / No boxes checked
1 / One or more boxes checked
Var1aa: Radio or television / 0= not checked / 1= checked
Var1ab: Newspapers / 0=not checked / 1=checked
Var1ac: alternative online media / 0=not checked / 1=checked
Var1ad: advertisements, flyers etc. / 0= not checked / 1=checked
Var1ae: family member or partner / 0= not checked / 1= checked
Var1af: friends/acquaintances / 0= not checked / 1= checked
Var1ag: people at school or work / 0=not checked / 1=checked
Var1ah: fellow members of org / 0= not checked / 1=checked
Var1ai: online social networks / 0= not checked / 1=checked
Var1aj: other (write in) / 0= not checked / 1= checked
Var1aja / Other what?
Write in what was written in the “Comments” field at the end of the data matrix; be sure to indicate that it refers to the first item.
Var1b / Which of the above information channels was the most important? (please circle box of the most important information source)
0 / No boxes circled
1 / One or more boxes circled
Var1ba: Radio or television / 0= not circled / 1= circled
Var1bb: Newspapers / 0=not circled / 1= circled
Var1bc: alternative online media / 0=not circled / 1= circled
Var1bd: advertisements, flyers etc. / 0= not circled / 1= circled
Var1be: family member or partner / 0= not circled / 1= circled
Var1bf: friends/acquaintances / 0= not circled / 1= circled
Var1bg: people at school or work / 0=not circled / 1= circled
Var1bh: fellow members of org / 0= not circled / 1= circled
Var1bi: online social networks / 0= not circled / 1= circled
Var1bj: other (write in) / 0= not circled / 1= circled
Var2 / Number of prior Social Forums.
0
1-98 / They checked the box indicating it’s their first forum.
Add up the total number of all prior forums they have attended
99 / No answer; Use 99 if no number is listed and the ‘No prior forums box’ is not checked.

**If var2 is 0 then enter 0s for var2 a-gg

Var2a Local?
0- No
1- Yes-if they wrote in a number or checked it
88- Unclear answer.
Var2aa / Number of times at Local?
0-98 / Number written down
99 / No answer or illegible

Comment: Only use 99 if no boxes are checked for question var2.

Var2b Regional?
0- No
1- Yes-if they wrote in a number or checked it
88- Unclear answer.
Var2bb / Number of times at Regional?
0-98 / Number written down
99 / No answer or illegible

Comment: Only use 99 if no boxes are checked for question var2.

Var2c Thematic?
0- No
1- Yes-if they wrote in a number or checked it
88- Unclear answer.
Var2cc / Number of times at Thematic?
0-98 / Number written down
99 / No answer or illegible

Comment: Only use 99 if no boxes are checked for question var2.

Var2d 2007 USSF
0- No
1- Yes-if they wrote in a number or checked it
88- Unclear answer.
Var2e Other National Forum
2- No
3- Yes-if they wrote in a number or checked it
88- Unclear answer.
Var2ee / Number of times at Other National Forum
0-98 / Number written down
99 / No answer or illegible

Comment: Only use 99 if no boxes are checked for question var2.

Var2f Polycentric?
0- No
1- Yes-if they wrote in a number or checked it
88- Unclear answer.
Var2ff / Number of times at Polycentric?
0-98 / Number written down
99 / No answer or illegible

Comment: Only use 99 if no boxes are checked for question var2.

Var2g World(Global)?
0- No
1- Yes-if they wrote in a number or checked it
88- Unclear answer.
Var2gg / Number of times at World(Global)?
0-98 / Number written down
99 / No answer or illegible

Comment: Only use 99 if no boxes are checked for question var2.

Var3 / Reasons for attending WSF (check all that apply):
0 / No boxes checked and no response written in.
1 / At least one box is checked and/or response written in for Other______
Var3a / Reasons for attending WSF Organize?
0 / No
1 / Yes
99 / No answer