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World Values Surveys and European Values Surveys, 1981-1984, 1990-1993, and 1995-1997

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Abstract

SUMMARY: The series is designed to enable a crossnational comparison of values and norms on a wide variety of topics and to monitor changes in values and attitudes across the globe. This data collection consists of responses from WORLD VALUES SURVEY, 1981-1983 (ICPSR 9309) and WORLD VALUES SURVEY, 1981-1984 AND 1990-1993 (ICPSR 6160), along with data gathered during 1995-1997. Over 60 surveys representing more than 50 countries participated in the 1995-1997 study. The 1995 questionnaire retained those items that gave the most significant results from the 1981 and 1990 surveys. New topics pertaining to technology, social relationships, and parent-child relationships were added. Broad topics covered were work, personal finances, the economy, politics, allocation of resources, contemporary social issues, technology and its impact on society, and traditional values. Respondents were asked whether the following acts were ever justifiable: suicide, cheating on taxes, lying, euthanasia, divorce, and abortion. Respondents were also asked about the groups and associations they belonged to, which ones they worked for voluntarily, the groups they would not want as neighbors, their general state of health, and whether they felt they had free choice and control over their lives. A wide range of items was included on the meaning and purpose of life, such as respondents' views on the value of scientific advances, the demarcation of good and evil, and religious behavior and beliefs. Respondents were also queried about their attitudes toward religion, morality, politics, sexual freedom, marriage, single parenting, child-rearing, and the importance of work, family, politics, and religion in their lives. Questions relating to work included what financial and social benefits were most important to them in a job, the pride they took in their work, if they were happy with their current position, and their views on owner/state/employee management of business. Questions pertaining to the stability of the world economy, solutions for poverty, and whether respondents were happy with their financial situation were also asked. Respondents' opinions of various forms of political action, the most important aims for their countries, confidence in various civil and governmental institutions, and whether they would fight in a war for their country were also solicited. Demographic information includes family income, number of people residing in the home, size of locality, home ownership, region of residence, occupation of the head of household, and the respondent's age, sex, occupation, education, religion, religiosity, political party and union membership, and left-right political self-placement. UNIVERSE: Adults 18 and over in the mass publics of 60 societies representing more than 50 different countries around the world. SAMPLING: Both national random and quota sampling were used. The populations of India, China, and Nigeria, as well as rural areas and the illiterate population, were undersampled. NOTE: (1) In the data for 1981-1984 and 1990-1993, the wild codes were changed to undocumented codes. (2) The title of the series was changed by the principal investigators with the addition of the 1995-1997 data. (3) The codebook is provided as an Portable Document Format (PDF) file. The PDF file format was developed by Adobe Systems Incorporated and can be accessed using PDF reader software, such as the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Information on how to obtain a copy of the Acrobat Reader is provided through the ICPSR Website on the Internet. EXTENT OF COLLECTION: 1 data file + machine-readable documentation (PDF) + SAS data definition statements + SPSS data definition statements EXTENT OF PROCESSING: MDATA.PR/ DDEF.ICPSR/ REFORM.DATA/ REFORM.DOC/ UNDOCCHK.ICPSR DATA FORMAT: Logical Record Length with SAS and SPSS data definition statements File Structure: rectangular Cases: 168,482 Variables: 251 Record Length: 352 Records Per Case: 1

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