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University of Connecticut

Topics At A Glance: The Mood of America

Direction of the Country

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How well are things going in the country today--very well, fairly well, pretty badly or very badly?
CNN/ORC International Poll, [Nov, 2012]




Do you think things in this country are generally going in the right direction or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?
Public Religion Research Institute Post-election American Values Survey 2012, [Nov, 2012]




Do you feel things in the country are going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten off on the wrong track? (If Right direction/Wrong track, ask:) And do you feel strongly or somewhat about that?
Sample: National likely voters
Politico/George Washington University Battleground Brushfire 2012 Survey, [Nov, 2012]



Mood Regarding Economic Conditions

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(Next, we'd like to know how you feel about the state of the nation in each of the following areas. For each one, please say whether you are--very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied. If you don't have enough information about a particular subject to rate it, just say so.) How about...the state of the nation's economy?
Gallup Poll, [Jan, 2012]




When you see or hear news reports about the economy, does it make you feel...angry?
Pew Weekly News Interest Index Poll, [Aug, 2011]




When you see or hear news reports about the economy, does it make you feel...depressed?
Pew Weekly News Interest Index Poll, [Aug, 2011]



Mood and Personal Finances

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(Next, please tell me whether you are satisfied or dissatisfied, on the whole, with the following aspects of your life.)...Your personal financial situation...(If Satisfied/Dissatisfied, ask:) Would you say you are very satisfied/dissatisfied or somewhat satisfied/dissatisfied?
Pew Social Trends Poll, [Jul, 2012]




(Here is another series of statements on some different topics.)...I'm pretty well satisfied with the way things are going for me financially. Do you completely agree, mostly agree, mostly disagree, or completely disagree?
Note: Asked of Form 2 half sample
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press Values Survey, [Apr, 2012]




How satisfied are you with your own financial situation today--very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied with your financial situation?
NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, [Jan, 2012]



Mood and Other Personal Issues

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(For the next series of questions, we'd like you to think about your oldest child who will be attending kindergarten through grade 12 this year(2012).)...How satisfied are you with the quality of education your oldest child is receiving? Would you say you are completely satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or completely dissatisfied?
Note: Asked of parents with children in grades kindergarten through grade 12
Gallup Poll, [Aug, 2012]




Next, please tell me whether you are satisfied or dissatisfied, on the whole, with the following aspects of your life....Your family life...(If Satisfied/Dissatisfied, ask:) Would you say you are very satisfied/dissatisfied or somewhat satisfied/dissatisfied?
Pew Social Trends Poll, [Jul, 2012]




(Next I would like to ask you some questions specifically about your current health insurance plan and your experiences with the health care system.) Which one of the following statements would you say is closest to the way you feel about the health benefits you currently receive through your/your spouse's employer or union?...You are satisfied with the health benefits you receive now. You would rather have more health benefits and lower wages. You would rather have fewer health benefits and higher wages.
Note: Those covered by health insurance through their/their spouse's employer or union
Health Confidence Survey, [Jun, 2012]



Worries about Terrorism and War

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(Currently there is some debate about what stance the US (United States) should take in relation to the possibility that Israel might attack Iran's nuclear program. You will see three arguments on this issue. Please select how convincing you find each of them....Very convincing, somewhat convincing, somewhat unconvincing, very unconvincing)...The US should encourage Israel to attack Iran's nuclear program. Clearly Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, and if Israel will take the heat for stopping or at least slowing down the program, all the better for the US. The risk of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons is of greater concern than the fallout from an Israeli strike.
PIPA/Gfk Knowledge Networks Poll, [Sep, 2012]




Which worries you more--what could happen to the country if something isn't done about the size of the national debt or the possibility of a future terrorist attack?
Sample: National registered voters
Fox News Poll, [Sep, 2012]




Which one or two of the following makes you worry most about America's future?...Poor quality of public schools, manufacturing jobs going overseas, decline of the middle class, decline of moral and religious values, increasing federal deficit, increasing role of government, decline of America's position as sole superpower, lack of safety--terrorist threats
%
27     Poor quality of public schools
25     Manufacturing jobs going overseas
25     Decline of the middle class
20     Decline of moral and religious values
20     Increasing federal deficit
15     Increasing role of government
6     Decline of America's position as sole superpower
4     Lack of safety-terrorist threats
6     All (Vol.)
1     Other (Vol.)
1     None (Vol.)
Sample: National registered voters
NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, [Jul, 2012]



Other Worries, Concerns, Fears

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Which of the following best describes how you feel about the outcome of this (2012 presidential) election?...Satisfied, excited, disappointed, worried, angry
%
31     Satisfied
22     Excited
20     Disappointed
23     Worried
2     Angry
1     Other (Vol.)
1     Don't know/Refused
Public Religion Research Institute Post-election American Values Survey 2012, [Nov, 2012]




How concerned are you that you will encounter problems that might prevent you from voting or prevent your vote from being counted accurately--very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned, or not at all concerned?
CBS News/New York Times Poll, [Oct, 2012]




If Medicare payments are reduced to healthcare providers, how worried are you that doctors will stop accepting Medicare patients?...Worried, not worried
Sample: National likely voters
American Conservative Union Survey, [Sep, 2012]



Satisfaction with the State Of The Nation

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I'd like you to rate your satisfaction with the state of the nation in some different areas. For each of the following areas, please say whether you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied, or not at all satisfied? How about...the state of the nation's economy?
Gallup/USA Today Poll, [Oct, 2007]




(I'd like you to rate your satisfaction with the state of the nation in some different areas. For each of the following areas, please say whether you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied, or not at all satisfied?) How about...progress in reducing poverty and homelessness?
Gallup/USA Today Poll, [Oct, 2007]




(I'd like you to rate your satisfaction with the state of the nation in some different areas. For each of the following areas, please say whether you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied, or not at all satisfied?) How about...the availability and affordability of health care?
Gallup/USA Today Poll, [Oct, 2007]



Alienation

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Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you can't be too careful in dealing with people?
Pew Internet & American Life Project Parent & Teen Survey on Teens and Privacy Management, [Jul, 2012]




Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you can't be too careful in dealing with people?
Note: Asked of Form B half sample
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press Values Survey, [Apr, 2012]




Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you can't be too careful in dealing with people?
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press Methodology Survey, [Jan, 2012]



From the Archives


How worried are you that...U.S. (United States) forces might sustain a lot of casualties (in the war in Iraq)?...A great deal, a fair amount, not much
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press War Tracking Poll, [Mar, 2003]




(I'd like to find out how worried or concerned you are about each of the problems I am going to mention. If you don't really feel very much concerned about some of them, don't hesitate to say so. Are you concerned about these problems a great deal, considerable not very much, or not at all?)... Keeping the country out of war.
Hopes And Fears, [Oct, 1964]




Please tell me whether each of the following describes or does not describe your reaction to the (O.J. Simpson trial) jury's verdict: Outraged?
Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll, [Oct, 1995]



Presidential Approval Ratings

Presidential Approval Ratings

Compare current trends to other presidents as far back as Roosevelt and Truman.


Most Important Problem Facing the Country

Economy in general
Blue bar 30%
Unemployment/Jobs
Blue bar 20%
Dissatisfaction with government/Congress/politicians/Poor leadership/Corruption/Abuse of power
Blue bar 15%
Federal budget deficit/Federal debt
Blue bar 11%
Poor healthcare/hospitals/High cost of healthcare
Blue bar 5%
Lack of money
Blue bar 4%

Note: Top specific responses only shown.
Gallup Poll, [Nov, 2012]
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Today's Number
32%
answered Better off when asked "Do you think that the things Barack Obama has done as President of the United States has made most Hispanic Americans better off, worse off, or made them neither better off nor worse off overall?"
Associated Press/Gfk Knowledge Networks Poll, [Aug, 2012]


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Other Topics at a Glance:
Congressional Approval
Economy
Health Care
Immigration
Role of Government
Taxes
more topics...



Quick Dataset Search

RoperExpress logo General Social Survey 2004 [Aug, 2004]

RoperExpress logo General Social Survey 2006 [Mar, 2006]

RoperExpress logo Time/SRBI Poll [Dec, 2004]

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