Appendix I: Survey Instrument
[INSTRUCTIONS]
Thank you for participating in this survey. For this study we are interested in understanding attitudes towards civil liberties and how Americans prioritize various important values. Please answer the questions as best you can.
[Section 1: Support for civil liberties and authoritarianism. In all sections statement pairs and question items were presented in randomized order unless otherwise indicated.]
In this section, you will read a series of two statements. For each pair, please indicate which one you agree with the most.
Privacy Items
1) Statement 1: Government should be allowed to record telephone calls and monitor email in order to prevent people from planning terrorist or criminal acts.
Statement 2: People’s conversations and email are private and should be protected by the constitution.
2) Statement 1: Everyone should be required to carry a national identity card at all times to show a police officer upon request.
Statement 2: Being required to carry a national identity card would violate people's freedom of association and right to privacy
3) Statement 1: Law enforcement should be free to search a property without a warrant solely on the suspicion that a crime or a terrorist act is being planned there.
Statement 2: Protection against searches without a warrant is a basic right that should not be given up for any reason.
Free Speech Items
4) Statement 1: High school teachers have the right to criticize America’s policies toward terrorism.
Statement 2: All high school teachers should defend America’s policies in order to promote loyalty to our country.
5) Statement 1: People who participate in nonviolent protests against the United States government should be investigated.
Statement 2: People have the right to meet in public and express unpopular views as long as they are not violating the law.
Due Process Items
6) Statement 1: In order to curb terrorism in this country, it will be necessary to give up some civil liberties.
Statement 2: We should preserve our freedoms above all, even if there remains some risk of terrorism.
7) Statement 1: It should be a crime for anyone to belong or contribute money to any organization that supports international terrorism.
Statement 2: A person’s guilt or innocence should not be determined only by who they associate with or the organizations to which they belong.
8) Statement 1: the government should be able to arrest and detain a noncitizen indefinitely if that person is suspected of belonging to a terrorist organization.
Statement 2: Nobody should be held for a long period of time without being formally charged with a crime.
9) Statement 1: Law enforcement should be able to stop or detain people of certain racial or ethnic backgrounds if these groups are thought to be more likely to commit crimes.
Statement 2: Racial profiling should not be done because it harasses many innocent people just because of their race or ethnicity.
Authoritarian (Conformity vs. Autonomy) Items
10) Statement 1: It’s best for everyone if people try to fit in instead of acting in unusual ways.
Statement 2: People should be encouraged to express themselves in unique and possibly unusual ways.
11) Statement 1: Obeying the rules and fitting in are signs of a strong and healthy society.
Statement 2: People who continually emphasize the need for unity will only limit creativity and hurt our society.
12) Statement 1: We should admire people who go their own way without worrying about what others think.
Statement 2: People need to learn to fit in and get along with others.
13) Statement 1: It is most important to give people all the freedom they need to express themselves.
Statement 2: Our society will break down if we allow people to do or say anything they want.
14) Statement 1: Society is always on the verge of disorder and lawlessness and only strict laws can prevent it.
Statement 2: It is more important to give people control over their lives than to create additional laws and regulations.
15) Statement 1: People can only develop their true potential in a fully permissive society.
Statement 2: If we give people too much freedom there will just be more and more disorder in society.
16) Statement 1: Rules are there for people to follow, not to change.
Statement 2: Society’s basic rules were created by people and so can always be changed by people.
17) Statement 1: People should not try to understand how society works but just accept the way it is.
Statement 2: People should constantly try to question why things are the way they are.
18) Statement 1: People should be guided more by their feelings and less by the rules.
Statement 2: The only way to stay out of trouble is to respect the established rules of society.
19) Statement 1: People should be given the opportunity to hear all sides of a question, regardless of how controversial it is.
Statement 2: If we cannot achieve agreement on our values we will never be able to keep this society together.
20) Statement 1: In the long run our cultural and ideological differences will make us a healthier, more creative and stronger society.
Statement 2: It is unlikely that this country will survive in the long run unless we can overcome our differences and disagreements.
21) Statement 1: Society should aim to protect citizens’ right to live any way they choose.
Statement 2: It is important to enforce the community’s standards of right and wrong.
22) Statement 1: Students must be encouraged to question established authorities and criticize the customs and traditions of society.
Statement 2: One of the major aims of education should be to give students a few simple rules of behavior to make them better citizens.
23) Statement 1: Young people sometimes get rebellious ideas but as they grow up they ought to get over them and settle down.
Statement 2: If some people don’t occasionally come up with rebellious ideas there would be less progress in the world.
24) Statement 1: It may well be that children who talk back to their parents respect them more in the long run.
Statement 2: Obedience and respect for authority are the most important virtues children should learn.
25) Statement 1: Children should be taught to do what is right even though they may not always feel like it.
Statement 2: Children should be encouraged to express themselves even though parents may not always like it.
26) Statement 1: The most important values children should learn are love and respect for their parents.
Statement 2: The most important values children should learn are independence and self-reliance.
[Section 2: Personality Assessment]
In the following section we are interested in understanding how you would describe yourself. Please use the scale below to indicate the extent to which you agree with each of the following statements:
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5Disagree
Strongly / Disagree
Somewhat / Neither Agree
Nor Disagree / Agree
Somewhat / Agree
Strongly
I see myself as someone who…
_____1. is talkative
_____2. tends to find faults with others
_____3. does a thorough job
_____4. is depressed, blue
_____5. is original, comes up with new ideas
_____6. is reserved
_____7. is helpful and unselfish with others
_____8. can be somewhat careless
_____9. is relaxed, handles stress well
_____10. is curious about many different things
_____11. is full of energy
_____12. starts quarrels with others
_____13. is a reliable worker
_____14. can be tense
_____15. is ingenious, a deep thinker
_____16. generates a lot of enthusiasm
_____17. has a forgiving nature
_____18. tends to be disorganized
_____19. worries a lot
_____20. has an active imagination
_____21. tends to be quiet
_____22. is generally trusting
_____23. tends to be lazy
_____24. is emotionally stable, not easily upset
_____25. is inventive
_____26. has an assertive personality
_____27. can be cold and aloof
_____28. perseveres until the task is finished
_____29. can be moody
_____30. values artistic, aesthetic experiences
_____31. is sometimes shy, inhibited
_____32. is considerate and kind to almost everyone
_____33. does things efficiently
_____34. remains calm in tense situations
_____35. prefers work that is routine
_____36. is outgoing, sociable
_____37. is sometimes rude to others
_____38. makes plans and follows through with them
_____39. gets nervous easily
_____40. likes to reflect, play with ideas
_____41. has few artistic interests
_____42. likes to cooperate with others
_____43. is easily distracted
_____44. is sophisticated in art, music, or literature
[Section 3: General perceptions on state of the world and social cohesion]
1.Compared to one year ago would you say the nation’s economy is now much better, somewhat better, about the same, somewhat worse or much worse?
1. Much better
2. Somewhat better
3. About the same
4. Somewhat worse
5. Much worse
2. What about 12 months from now do you think the economy will be much better, somewhat better, about the same, somewhat worse or much worse?
1. Much better
2. Somewhat better
3. About the same
4. Somewhat worse
5. Much worse
3. Please indicate how much you would agree or disagree with the following statement: The foundations of this country are strong and we really shouldn’t worry about recent changes in society.
1. Agree strongly
2. Agree somewhat
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Disagree somewhat
5. Disagree strongly
4. Please indicate how much you would agree or disagree with the following statement: It seems as if people in this country have less in common than they used to.
1. Agree strongly
2. Agree somewhat
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Disagree somewhat
5. Disagree strongly
5. Please indicate how much you would agree or disagree with the following statement: The core values of this country are every bit as solid as they have ever been.
1. Agree strongly
2. Agree somewhat
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Disagree somewhat
5. Disagree strongly
5. Please indicate how much you would agree or disagree with the following statement: politics has gotten too conflictual in the last few years and it’s bad for the U.S.
1. Agree strongly
2. Agree somewhat
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Disagree somewhat
5. Disagree strongly
6. Please indicate how much you would agree or disagree with the following statement: On the whole, the increasing diversity in the U.S. has been good for the country.
1. Agree strongly
2. Agree somewhat
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Disagree somewhat
5. Disagree strongly
7. Please indicate how much you would agree or disagree with the following statement: Despite what many people may say, Americans still believe in the same common values.
1. Agree strongly
2. Agree somewhat
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Disagree somewhat
5. Disagree strongly
8. Please indicate how much you would agree or disagree with the following statement: There have been too many things changing in this country and it’s taking a toll on our basic values.
1. Agree strongly
2. Agree somewhat
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Disagree somewhat
5. Disagree strongly
9. How concerned are you that there will be another terrorist attack on U.S. soil in the near future?
1. Extremely concerned
2. Very concerned
3. Somewhat concerned
4. Not at all concerned
10. How concerned are you that terrorists will attack the U.S. with a chemical or biological weapon?
1. Extremely concerned
2. Very concerned
3. Somewhat concerned
4. Not at all concerned
[Section 4, Online self publicizing]
Next, we have just a few questions about your Internet usage
1. Do you currently have a Facebook account?
FACE1: 1-Yes, 2-NO
2.On average, approximately how many minutes per day do you spend on Facebook?
10 or less
10–30
31–60
1–2h
2–3h
3+h
3. How well does the following statement describe you: Facebook is part of my everyday activity.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
4. How often do you change your Facebook status?
1) More than once daily
2) once daily
3) 2 or more times weekly
4) once weekly
5) once monthly
6) less than once monthly
5. How often do you comment on your friends’ walls, post or status?
1) More than once daily
2) once daily
3) 2 or more times weekly
4) once weekly
5) once monthly
6) less than once monthly
6. How often do you post pictures on Facebook?
1) More than once daily
2) once daily
3) 2 or more times weekly
4) once weekly
5) once monthly
6) less than once monthly
6. How often do you chat with friends on Facebook?
1) More than once daily
2) once daily
3) 2 or more times weekly
4) once weekly
5) once monthly
6) less than once monthly
Blogs
1. Do you have a personal website or blog?
1-yes, 2-No
2. Is your blog open to the public?
1-yes, 2-No
3. How often do you update your website/blog?
1) More than once daily
2) once daily
3) 2 or more times weekly
4) once weekly
5) once monthly
6) less than once monthly
[Section 5: General political views and demographics]
1. Are you male of female?
Male
Female
2. What racial or ethnic group or groups best describes you? Please mark up to three of the following choices.
African American/Black
Asian
Native American
Hispanic or Latino
Caucasian/White
Other
Don’t know
3. Which of the following best describes the area of your permanent residence:
Rural
Urban
Suburban
4. How many days a week do you read the news in the paper or online?
Never
1-2 days
3-4 days
5-6 days
Every day
5. How many days in a week do you watch the news on television?
Never
1-2 days
3-4 days
5-6 days
Every day
6. How much interest do you have in politics?
None at all
A little
Some
Quite a bit
A great deal
13. Finally, what about your political party preference? Do you consider yourself a
Democrat, a Republican, an Independent, or something else?
Strongly Democratic
Democratic
Independent
Republican
Strongly Republican
Other
Don’t know