GSS 1972-2008 Cumulative Data File via RoperExpress or CD-ROM
The 1972-2008 GSS cumulative data file for the National Opinion Research Center's General Social Surveys (GSS) is now available from the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research via RoperExpress immediate download or on CD-ROM.
These data have been processed by The Roper Center and differ in several ways from the original version supplied by NORC. During the archival process, systematic changes have been made to the data files for completeness. These changes include additions and corrections to response labeling, and inclusion of “Don’t know” responses as valid. Additionally, since a number of variables differ and new variables have been added to the cumulative data file,
the codebook frequencies should not be trusted as definitive response distributions.
In 2008 the GSS is in transition from a replicating cross-sectional design to a design that uses rotating panels. There were two components: a new 2008 cross-section with 2,023 cases and the first reinterviews with 1,536 respondents from the 2006 GSS. In 2010 the new design will be fully implemented. There will be a new cross-section of about 2,000 cases, the first reinterviews of the 2008 GSS respondents, and the second and final reinterviews of the 2006 GSS respondents. In 2012 and later years this design will be repeated. Each GSS will thus 1) start a new 4-year/3-wave panel, 2) be in the middle of a 4-year/3-wave panel, and 3) finish a still earlier 4-year/3-wave panel. We will release the 2008 panel at a later date.
GSS Description
The National Data Program for the Social Sciences (General Social Survey) is both a data diffusion project and a program of social indicator research. Its data collection instrument, the General Social Survey (GSS), was fielded for the 27th time in 2008. Previously an annual survey, the GSS became biennial in 1994. The questionnaire contains a standard core of demographic and attitudinal variables, plus certain topics of special interest selected for rotation (called "topical modules"). Items that appeared on national surveys between 1973 and 1975 are replicated. The exact wording of these questions is retained to facilitate time trend studies as well as replications of earlier findings.
The newly released data file contains individual response coding for 53,043 respondents and 5,364 variables.
The 2008 GSS follows the biennial, double sample design that was first adopted in 1994.
The Principal Investigators are James A. Davis, formerly Director of NORC and now a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of Chicago, Tom W. Smith, Senior Fellow and Director of the General Social Survey (GSS), NORC and Director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Society, and Peter V. Marsden, Research Associate, NORC and Department of Sociology, Harvard University.
The new survey has been added to the cumulative file, which now contains data spanning 36 years.
Note: Representatives of member institutions will automatically receive the GSS 2008 CD-ROM which includes the data file and an electronic codebook.
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Contents of the GSS CD-ROM
Folder Structure |
Description |
Data |
|
|
• |
/1972-2006/gss1972-2008.zip |
| |
– |
gss1972-2008.dat |
Cumulative data file (53,043 records, 7,180 record length) |
| |
– |
gss1972-2008.txt |
Column guide for gss1972-2008.dat |
• |
/gss1972-2008.por |
SPSS portable file (cumulative file) |
• |
/2008/ |
|
| |
– |
gss2008.dat |
Data file for the 2008 year survey only (2,023 records, 1,141 record length) |
| |
– |
gss2008.por |
SPSS portable file--2008 year survey only |
| |
– |
gss2008.txt |
Column guide for gss2008.dat
|
Codebook |
|
|
• |
/codebook.pdf |
Codebook in searchable PDF format |
• |
/codebook_errata.pdf |
Updated information about the codebook
|
readme.txt |
Description of the CD-Rom with helpful hints |
2008weights.doc |
Description of the 2008 weighting scheme |
Updates_and_Errata.doc |
Provides links to updates and information |
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GSS 1972-2008 Technical Specifications
GSS Methodology
The General Social Surveys have been conducted during the first six months of each year. There are a total of 53,043 completed interviews:
Year |
n |
Year |
n |
Year |
n |
1972 |
1,613 |
1983 |
1,599 |
1993 |
1,606 |
1973 |
1,504 |
1984 |
1,473 |
1994 |
2,992 |
1974 |
1,484 |
1985 |
1,534 |
1996 |
2,904 |
1975 |
1,490 |
1986 |
1,470 |
1998 |
2,832 |
1976 |
1,499 |
1987 |
1,466 |
2000 |
2,807 |
1977 |
1,530 |
*1987 |
353 |
2002 |
2,765 |
1978 |
1,532 |
1988 |
1,481 |
2004 |
2,812 |
1980 |
1,468 |
1989 |
1,537 |
2006 |
4,510 |
1982 |
1,506 |
1990 |
1,372 |
2008 |
2,023 |
*1982 |
254 |
1991 |
1,517 |
*Black oversample |
The median length of the interview has been about one and a half hours.
GSS Sample Design
Each survey from 1972 to 2008 was an independently drawn sample of English-speaking persons 18 years of age or over, living in non-institutional arrangements within the United States. Starting in 2006 Spanish-speakers were added to the target population. Block quota sampling was used in 1972, 1973, and 1974 surveys and for half of the 1975 and 1976 surveys. Full probability sampling was employed in half of the 1975 and 1976 surveys and the 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982-1991, 1993-1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008 surveys. Also, the 2004, 2006, and 2008 surveys had sub-sampled non-respondents (see Appendix A for a detailed description of the sample design).
GSS Data Processing
The data from the interviews were processed according to standard NORC procedures.
This cumulative data set merges all 27 surveys into a single file with each year or survey acting as a sub file. This greatly simplifies the use of the General Social Surveys for both trend analysis and pooling. In addition, this cumulative data set contains newly created variables (e.g. a poverty line code). Finally, the cumulative file contains certain items never before available.
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GSS 1972-2008 Special Topical Modules
- self-employment
- preparedness for terrorism
- global economics
- sexual orientation
- Jewish identity
- firearms
- clergy/congregant contacts
- knowledge about and attitudes towards science
- religious trends, repeating a number of items from earlier GSSs
- social inequality
- sexual behavior (continuing the series started in 1988)
The International Social Survey Program (ISSP) modules are on religion and
sports/leisure. The religion module builds on the ISSP studies on the same topic in
1991 and 1998. As is usual, about two-thirds of the items are replications and one third
new content. Topics include items on social issues such as sexual morality,
abortion, institutional confidence, and interpersonal trust; questions on religion and
science, politics, and tolerance; and extensive batteries of religious upbringing,
behaviors, and beliefs. The sports/leisure module is a new topic for the ISSP. It
contains measures on leisure time activities, self-actualization, preferred leisure
activity, time pressures, favorite sport/physical activity to take part in, favorite nonsports game, evaluation of the value of sports, TV viewing of sports, and group
memberships.
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GSS 1972-2008 Cumulative Codebook
by James A. Davis, Tom W. Smith and Peter V. Marsden
GSS Codebook Description
Comprehensive information on all aspects of the General Social Surveys 1972-2008 project. Codebook contains exact question text, response codes and frequency counts for 5,364 variables used by the National Opinion Research Center during the past 36 years. While the codebook is intended to be used in conjunction with the General Social Survey 1972-2008 cumulative data file, the codebook alone holds a wealth of opinion data on a wide variety of social issues.
Table of Contents
Introduction
New Developments
Abbreviations and Data Identification Numbers
Index to Data Set
Codes for the 1972-2008 Surveys -- Includes variable names, exact question text, response categories and codes, and unweighted marginal frequencies for questions in selected years.
General Social Survey Topical Modules
International Social Survey Program (ISSP) Modules
Other GSS Variables (including socio-demographic variables)
Appendices
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GSS RoperExpress Download
The GSS 2008 dataset and codebook are available for immediate download via RoperExpress.
Download GSS Dataset and Codebook on RoperExpress now!
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Order the 1972-2008 GSS on CD-ROM
The GSS 1972-2008 on CD-ROM (includes data & electronic codebook in PDF) is available for $400.00 each.
Please contact the Roper Center at
(860)486-5107 or by email at gssdata@ropercenter.uconn.edu to place your order.
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If you have specific questions about the GSS or the cumulative codebook please contact us at gssdata@ropercenter.uconn.edu.
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