The American National Election Survey polls individuals about their political beliefs and behavior. This dataset is used to demonstrate application of R to political analysis. See book Appendix for variable names and descriptions.
nesA data frame with 5916 rows and 399 variables.
Anti-abortion Scale
Abortion Opinion: Self-Placement, 4 Categories
Abortion Opinion: Self-Placement, 4 Categories
Support for Government assistance to blacks scale, 7 point scale
Child trait more important: considerate or well-behaved
Child trait more important: curiosity or good manners
Child trait more important: independence or respect
Child trait more important: obedience or self-reliance
Authoritarianism (4 point scale based on child trait questions)
Is Respondent Black?
Favor reducing the Federal budget deficit, 7 point scale
Case ID
Does Respondent have a dog (Interview set-up test)
Does Respondent have a dog (Interview set-up test)
Number of opinions Respondent has compared to average person
Approval of Congress
Strength of approve/disapprove Congress handling its job
ftgr_cons minus ftgr_liberals
Close to any political party?
Campaign mobilization: institutional contact
Campaign mobilization: institutional contact - email
Campaign mobilization: institutional contact - in person
Respondent contacted by party/candidate?
Support for government action income inequality (5 point scale)
Government action on income inequality (3 point scale)
Campaign mobilization: institutional contact - by mail
Campaign mobilization: sign up online information or alerts
Campaign mobilization: personal contact - email
Campaign mobilization: personal contact - in person
Campaign mobilization: personal contact - by mail
Campaign mobilization: personal contact - by phone
Campaign mobilization: personal contact - text message
Campaign mobilization: personal contact
Campaign mobilization: personal contact - social network
Campaign mobilization: institutional contact - by phone
Political information - Secretary of the U.N.
Political information - Secretary of the Treasury
Political information - party 2nd in House seats won
Pol info scale
Political information - unemployment rate
Political information - date used for date of unemployment rate
Political information - number used for unemployment rate
Econ conservatism (numeric scale)
Death Penalty Opinion
Support for defense spending, 7 point scale
Party identification: Does Respondent self-identify as Democrat? (coded 0/1)
Demographic: Age Groups
Demographic: Age group
Demographic: Six Age Groups
Demographic: Respondent age on interview date (age group)
Demographic: Education
Demographic: Respondent level of highest education
Demographic: Is Respondent Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino
Demographic: Marital status
Demographic: Native status of parents
Demographic: Race self-identification: mention Black
Demographic: Race self-identification with don't know or refused to say
Demographic: Race self-identification: mention White
Demographic: Respondent race and ethnicity group
Demographic: White/Black
Demographic: Respondent race and ethnicity group
Demographic: Anyone in household belong to labor union
Demographic: Respondent ever served on active duty in Armed Forces
Demographic: Total Number of children in household
Demographic: Does Respondent family own/rent home
Demographic: How many years has Respondent lived in this community?
Homeland security: Approve/disapprove of efforts to reduce terrorism
Homeland security: Likely terrorist attack kill 100/more in next year?
Homeland security: Is fed. gov't a threat to rights and freedoms? (numeric scale)
Homeland security: Is fed. gov't a threat to rights and freedoms?
Homeland security: Favor/Oppose torture for suspected terrorists
Civic engagement: Has Respondent in past 4 years: attended city/school board meeting
Civic engagement: Has Respondent in past 4 years: called radio/TV about political issue
Civic engagement: Contact U.S. Representative or Senator
Civic engagement: written a letter to newspaper/magazine about political issue
Civic engagement: Has Respondent joined a protest march
Civic engagement: sent Facebook/Twitter message about political issue
Civic engagement: Has Respondent in past 4 years: sign internet petition
Civic engagement: Has Respondent in past 4 years: gave money to social/political organization
Civic engagement: Has Respondent signed paper petition
Civic engagement: Has Respondent in past 4 years: given money to religious organization
Discrimination: Amount against Blacks
Discrimination: Against Blacks? (yes/no)
Discrimination: Amount against Gays and Lesbians?
Discrimination: Against gays? (yes/no)
Discrimination: Amount against Hispanics
Discrimination: Against Hispanics? (yes/no)
Discrimination: How much discrimination against blacks, gays, Hispanics, women? (Sum of yes answers)
Discrimination: How much discrimination faced personally?
Discrimination: Amount against Whites
Discrimination: Amount against Women
Discrimination: Against women? (yes/no)
Ever discuss politics with family or friends
Days in past week discussed politics
Economy: How much is former President to blame for poor economy?
Economy: How much is President to blame for poor economy?
Economy: U.S. economy better or worse 1 year from now
Economy: How much better/worse next 12 months
Economy: Currently good or bad
Economy: Better/worse in last year
Economy: Better or worse than 1 year ago
Economy: How much better/worse in last year
Economy: How much unemployment better/worse in last year
Economy: More/less unemployment in next year
Economy: Unemployment better/worse in last year
Economy: Unemployment better/worse than 1 year ago
Economy: Better/worse if Democratic Presidential candidate wins
Economy: Better/worse if Republican Presidential candidate wins
How do you pay for your home?
Political efficacy: Public officials don't care what people think
Political efficacy: Public officials don't care what people think
Political efficacy: Politics/government too complicated to understand
Political efficacy: Politics/government too complicated to understand
Political efficacy: External political efficacy (numeric scale)
Political efficacy: External political efficacy (3 categories)
Political efficacy: Internal political efficacy (numeric scale)
Political efficacy: Internal political efficacy (3 categories)
Political efficacy: Have no say about what government does
Political efficacy: Have no say about what government does
Political efficacy: Good understanding of political issues
Political efficacy: Good understanding of political issues
Political efficacy: How often see both disagreeing parties as right
Equality: It's a big problem that we don't give equal chance to succeed
Equality: Society should make sure everyone has equal opportunity
Equality: If people were treated more fairly would be fewer problems
Equality: Not a big problem if some have more chance in life
Equality: Egalitarianism (numeric scale)
Equality: Egalitarianism: 3 categories
Equality: We have gone too far pushing equal rights
Equality: We'd be better off if worried less about equality
Environment: Environment more important response (on envjob_3) as 0/100
Environment: Favor/oppose increased U.S. offshore drilling
Environment: Is global warming happening or not
Environment: Rising temperatures good or bad
Environment: Anthropogenic climate change
Environment: Should US have more/fewer nuclear power plants
Environment: Environment more important response (on envjob_3) as 0/100
Environment: Environment or jobs more important?
Environment: 7 point scale environment-jobs tradeoff
Opinion about government ensuring fair jobs for blacks
Federal budget increase/decrease: child care
Federal budget increase/decrease: child care (rev. scale)
Federal budget increase/decrease: crime control
Federal budget increase/decrease: crime control (rev. scale)
Federal budget increase/decrease: protecting environment
Federal budget increase/decrease: protecting environment (rev. scale)
Federal budget increase/decrease: aid to the poor
Federal budget increase/decrease: aid to the poor (rev. scale)
Federal Spending Scale (numeric scale, sum of increase responses)
Federal budget increase/decrease: public schools
Federal budget increase/decrease: public schools (rev. scale)
Federal budget increase/decrease: science and technology
Federal budget increase/decrease: science and technology (rev. scale)
Federal budget increase/decrease: Social Security
Federal budget increase/decrease: Social Security (rev. scale)
Federal budget increase/decrease: welfare programs
Federal budget increase/decrease: welfare programs (rev. scale)
Feeling about feminists (recode of ftgr_feminists into 3 categories)
Financial situation: Respondent living with how many family members
Financial situation: Better or worse off 1 year from now
Financial situation: Better or worse off than 1 year ago
Feeling Thermometer: Democratic Party
Feeling Thermometer: Democratic Presidential candidate
Feeling Thermometer: Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate
Feeling Thermometer: G.W. Bush
Feeling Thermometer: Hillary Clinton
Feeling Thermometer: Republican Party
Feeling Thermometer: Republican Presidential candidate
Feeling Thermometer: Republican Vice-Pres candidate
Feeling thermometer: Asian-Americans
Feeling thermometer: Blacks
Feeling thermometer: Hispanics
Feeling thermometer: Illegal Immigrants
Feeling thermometer: Whites
Was Respondent a 2012 Time Series Oversample Case?
Feeling thermometer: Atheists
Feeling thermometer: Big Business
Feeling thermometer: Catholics
Feeling thermometer: Congress
Feeling thermometer: Conservatives
Feeling thermometer: Federal Government
Feeling thermometer: Feminists (3 categories)
Feeling thermometer: Feminists
Feeling thermometer: Gay Men and Lesbians
Feeling thermometer: Liberals
Feeling thermometer: Middle Class People
Feeling thermometer: The Military
Feeling thermometer: Mormons
Feeling thermometer: Muslims
Feeling thermometer: Poor People
Feeling thermometer: Rich People
Feeling thermometer: Tea Party
Feeling thermometer: Labor Unions
Feeling thermometer: The U.S. Supreme Court
Feeling thermometer: People on Welfare
Feeling thermometer: Working Class People
Feeling thermometer: Christian Fundamentalists
Feeling thermometer: Christians
Feeling thermometer: Spouse of Democratic Presidential candidate
Feeling thermometer: Democratic Vice Presidential candidate
Feeling thermometer: House Democratic Candidate
Feeling thermometer: House Independent/3rd-party Candidate
Feeling thermometer: House Republican Candidate
Feeling thermometer: Democratic Presidential candidate
Feeling thermometer: John Roberts
Feeling thermometer: Republican Presidential candidate
Feeling thermometer: Spouse of Republican Presidential candidate
Feeling thermometer: Republican Vice Presidential candidate
Feeling thermometer: Senate Democratic Candidate
Feeling thermometer: Jr. Senator in State Without Race
Feeling thermometer: Non-running Senator in State W/Race
Feeling thermometer: Sr. Senator in State Without Race
Feeling thermometer: Senate Independent/3rd-party Candidate
Feeling thermometer: Senate Republican Candidate
Gay rights: gayrt_adopt==1. Yes
Gay rights: gayrt_discstd_x==1. Approve strongly
Gay rights: Approve same-sex marriage?
Gay rights: gayrt_milstd_x==1. Feel strongly that homosexuals should be allowed to serve
Gay rights: Gay Rights Support (3 categories)
Gay rights: Should gay and lesbian couples be allowed to adopt?
Gay rights: favor laws against gays/lesbians job discrimination (rev.)
Gay rights: favor laws against gays/lesbians job discrimination
Gay rights: Respondent position on gay marriage
Gay rights: allow gays/lesbians serve in US armed forces (reversed)
Gay rights: allow gays/lesbians serve in US armed forces
Respondent's Gender
Pro-government scale (numeric scale)
Should gov't guarantee a job and standard of living? (7 point scale)
Gun control: Should federal gov't make it more difficult to buy a gun?
Gun control: Make it more difficult to buy a gun?
Gun control: Importance of gun access issue to R
Gun control: How important is gun issue?
How satisfied is Respondent with life?
Health care: Support 2010 health care law
Health care: Does Respondent have health insurance
Health care: Health of Respondent
Health care: Smoked Cigarettes
Health care: If smoked, how many now
Is Respondent Hispanic?
Health care: Health Care Law effect on number insured
Health care: Health Care Law effect on health care services
Congress: Approve or disapprove of House incumbent
Congress: House incumbent approval
Congress: How much approve House incumbent
Congress: How much disapprove House incumbent
Congress: How good a job does House incumbent do in district
Immigration: Opinion on immigration status checks on suspects
Immigration: Opinion on allowing citizenship to some illegal aliens
Immigration: U.S. government policy toward unauthorized immigrants
Immigration: How likely immigration will take away jobs
Immigration: What should immigration levels be
Favor or oppose limits on foreign imports
Respondent's family income
Respondent's family income
Respondent's income quintile
Indifference scale
Income gap size compared to 20 years ago
Is increased income inequality in U.S. good?
Does Respondent favor/oppose government reducing income inequality?
Health care: Should care be insured by government or by private medical insurance? (7 point scale)
Involvement in politics: Contact congress?
Involvement in politics: post political message?
Involvement in politics: Number of group memberships
Involvement in politics: Give money to political organization?
Involvement in politics: Sign net petition?
Involvement in politics: Has Respondent done any volunteer work in past 12 months?
Is U.S. too supportive of Israel or not supportive enough
Political knowledge: Know party with most members in House?
Political knowledge: Know party with most members in Senate?
Respondent's Political Ideology (3 categories)
Respondent's Political Ideology (7 point scale)
Ideological placement of Democrats (7 point scale)
Ideological placement of Republicans (7 point scale)
Ideological placement of Republican Pres. Candidate (7 point scale)
Respondent's Political Ideology (7 point scale)
Respondent's Political Ideology (7 point scale)
Linked fate: blacks
Linked fate: Hispanics
Linked fate: other people
Linked fate: whites
Linked fate: women
Demographic: Is Respondent married?
Campaign mobilization: Respondent contacted by Party, Candidates, GOTV (numeric scale)
Mode of interview (face-to-face or internet)
Sex discrimination: How much job discrimination against women
Sex discrimination: Discrimination against women
Sex discrimination: How much attention media should pay to discrimination against women
Sex discrimination: Opportunities compared for women and men
Sex discrimination: Do women complaining about discrimination cause more problems
Sex discrimination: Modern sexism
Sex discrimination: Do women demanding equality seek special favors
Sex discrimination: How much more opportunities do women have
Mormon a Christian religion?
Sampling weights: Weight variable
Sampling weights: Weight variable (rounded)
Obama Rating
Respondent vote for Obama?
Sexual orientation of family and friends
Respondent's sexual orientation
Does Respondent own a dog?
Does Respondent own a gun
Patriotism: Important being American
Patriotism: Emotion seeing flag fly
Patriotism: Love of country
Patriotism scale
Strength Respondent favors/opposes death penalty
Respondent favor/oppose death penalty
Favor death penalty?
Party Identification, 3 categories
Party Identification, 7 categories
Political knowledge: Number political facts correct
Political knowledge, 3 categories
Did Respondent vote for President
For whom did Respondent vote for President
Did Respondent vote in the November general election
Did Respondent vote for U.S. House of Representatives
Should marijuana be legal?
Legalize marijuana?
Political knowledge: Program that federal gov't spends the least on
Political knowledge: What is Medicare
Political knowledge: Number of times president can be elected
Political knowledge: Years Senator Elected
Political knowledge: Size of federal deficit
Political knowledge, 3 categories
Presidential approval: Handling of economy (Recode of presapp_econ)
Respondent's vote in 2012 presidential election
Presidential approval: Handling of economy
Presidential approval: Handling of foreign relations
Presidential approval: Handling of foreign relations
Presidential approval: Handling of health care
Presidential approval: Handling of job
Presidential approval scale
Presidential approval: Handling of war in Afghanistan
Respondent's vote in 2012 presidential election
Respondent's vote in 2012 presidential election
Care who wins Presidential Election
Does Respondent consider voting as duty/choice
Did Respondent vote in the Presidential primary or caucus
Which candidate did Respondent vote for in Pres. primary or caucus
Abortion: Pro-choice Scale
Religion: Catholic, other Christian, other, or not religious?
Religion: Attend services
Religion: Attend services
Religion: Does Christian Respondent consider self born-again?
Religion: Provides guidance in day-to-day living
Religion: Important to Respondent?
Religion: Important to Respondent?
Religion: Important part of Respondent's life
Religion: How often does Respondent pray
Religion: Is Bible word of God or men
Black community: Agree/disagree blacks have gotten less than deserve
Black community: Racial conservatism scale
Black community: Agree/disagree past slavery make life more difficult
Black community: Agree/disagree blacks must try harder to get ahead
Black community: Agree/disagree that blacks should work way up without special favors
Did Respondent vote in November general election?
Respondent's Congressional district (in 113th U.S. Congress)
Sample strata: Primary sampling unit for face-to-face cases
State of Respondent address
How often should gov't use scientific methods to solve problems?
Should the Supreme Court be done away with?
Should it be possible to remove Supreme Court justices?
Respondent from South?
Support for government services/spending (7 point scale)
Sample strata for face-to-face sample component
Sample strata for full sample
Favor the TARP program?
Tea Party support
Traditional values: Agree/disagree world is changing we should adjust
Traditional values: Agree/disagree that more emphasis needed on traditional family values
Traditional values: Agree/disagree are newer lifestyles are breaking down society
Traditional values: Agree/disagree that one should be more tolerant of other moral standards
Traditional values: Moral traditionalism scale
Trust: How often can people be trusted?
Trust: Is government run by a few big interests or for benefit of all?
Trust: How many in government are corrupt?
Trust: How often trust gov't in Wash to do what is right? (reversed)
Trust: How often trust government in Wash to do what is right?
Trust: Does government waste much tax money?
Trust: How many in government are crooked?
International relations: Country better off if we just stayed home
International relations: During last year, U.S. position in world is weaker/stronger/same?
ANES 2012 Time Series Release Version
Did Respondent vote for President in 2008? (Recode of interest_voted2008)
Did Respondent vote in 2012?
Voter type (non, new, voter)
Post-stratified weight for face-to-face cases, preliminary
Post-stratified weight for full sample, preliminary release
Post-stratified weight for web cases, preliminary release
Is Respondent white?
Wiretaps: Favor or oppose authority to wiretap terrorism suspects?
Wiretaps: Has government power gone too far?
Working women: Harder to establish bond with child?
Working women: Women's role (numeric scale)
Working women: Women's role at home or work?
Working women: Better if man works and woman takes care of home and family?
How good/bad to have woman president in next 20 years?
Sampling weight
ANES year