Public Opinion on Current Affairs

Dear Participant,

You are being asked to volunteer in a research study, Public Opinion on Current Affairs. To participate, you must be at least 18 years of age or older. The purpose of this study is to examine the opinions people have about climate change and global warming. If you agree to participate, your part will be following instructions and completing a survey about current affairs in general and climate change in particular. It should take no more than 8-15 minutes of your time.

You will not receive economic compensation for your participation. However, if you complete the survey you may enter in a lottery for a gift certificate of $100. If you win, the gift certificate will be for a store of your choosing. To participate in the lottery, send an e-mail to jsohlber@ic.sunysb.edu after you have completed the survey. Your e-mail address will only be used in the lottery and for no other purpose. The draw will be conducted in August, 2009. You will be contacted via e-mail if you win.

There are no costs to you for participating in this study. In an effort to keep your personal information confidential, the data collected will remain anonymous. To ensure that this research activity is being conducted properly, Stony Brook University's Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects and/or applicable officials of SBU and OHRP (Office for Human Research Protections), have the right to review study records, but confidentiality will be maintained as allowed by law. Your participation is completely voluntary. You do not have to participate if you don’t want to. If you have any questions about the study, you may contact Leonie Huddy at (631) 632-7639 or Jacob Sohlberg at (631) 816-8004. If you have any questions about your rights as a research subject, you may contact Ms. Judy Matuk, Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects at (631) 632-9036.

By continuing, you confirm that you have read the above information, that you would like to be a volunteer in this research study and that you are at least 18 years of age or older.

Thank you for participating in this important research project. We sincerely appreciate the time that you are willing to spend helping us with our research. Please read all questions carefully and answer all of them. Select only one answering option unless you are instructed otherwise.

	In your opinion, which of the following do you consider to be the most serious problem currently facing the world as a whole?
		International terrorism
		Poverty, lack of food and drinking water
		Global warming and climate change
		The spread of an infectious disease
		A major global economic downturn
		The proliferation of nuclear weapons
		Armed conflicts
		The increasing world population
		Other

	How well do you feel you understand the issue of global warming, sometimes called the "greenhouse effect"?
		Extremely well
		Very well
		Fairly well
		Not very well
		Not at all

	Would you say that weather patterns in the county where you live have been more stable in the last three years, more unstable, or about the same?
		More stable
		More unstable
		About the same
		Haven’t lived in the area long enough to know

	How often do you pay attention to news reports about developments in science?
		Regularly
		Seldom
		Hardly ever
		Never

	Please tell me if you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with the following statement: "Developments in science help make society better."
		Strongly agree
		Agree
		Disagree
		Strongly disagree

	Which ONE of the following statements best refects your view of when the effects of global warming will begin to happen?
		They have already begun to happen.
		They will start happening within a few years.

	If global warming is happening, what do you think it is caused by?
		Mostly by human activities
		Mostly by natural changes in the environment

	How true is the following statement? "The greenhouse effect is caused by a hole in the earth’s atmosphere."
		Definitely true
		Probably true
		Probably not true
		Definitely not true
		Don’t know

	How true is the following statement? "Every time we use coal or oil or gas, we contribute to the greenhouse effect."
		Definitely true
		Probably true
		Probably not true
		Definitely not true
		Don’t know

Next are questions about the risks, threats and potential consequences of global warming. If you are unsure about what to answer, please make your best guess. There is no right or wrong answer to the questions.

	What type of negative consequences do you think global warming will have, if any? (Write in your response.)

	How serious of a threat do you think global warming is right now?
		Very serious
		Somewhat serious
		Not so serious
		Not serious at all

	How likely is it that global warming and climate change will worsen the living conditions of people in coastal areas in the United States because of damages caused by hurricanes and tropical storms?
		Very likely
		Somewhat likely
		Not very likely
		Not at all likely

	How likely is it that global warming and climate change will hurt the national economy of the United States because of damages caused by wildfires, hurricanes, droughts, and weather-related disasters?
		Very likely
		Somewhat likely
		Not very likely
		Not at all likely

	How likely is it that global warming and climate change will pose a health risk to people in the United States because lengthier and more intense heat waves cause dehydration, hyperthermia and heat strokes?
		Very likely
		Somewhat likely
		Not very likely
		Not at all likely

	How likely is it that global warming and climate change will have a negative impact on the national economy of the United States because more intense and frequent droughts mean fewer fresh food supplies and higher prices in the supermarket?
		Very likely
		Somewhat likely
		Not very likely
		Not at all likely

	How likely is it that global warming and climate change will increase deaths and illness in the world’s poorest countries because of an increase in tropical diseases?
		Very likely
		Somewhat likely
		Not very likely
		Not at all likely

	How likely is it that global warming and climate change will result in food shortages for people in Asia and Africa because of warming air temperatures?
		Very likely
		Somewhat likely
		Not very likely
		Not at all likely

	How likely is it that global warming and climate change will unleash giant “sand seas” in Africa - giant fields of sand dunes with no vegetation - because a shortage of rainfall and increasing winds?
		Very likely
		Somewhat likely
		Not very likely
		Not at all likely

	How likely is it that global warming and climate change will have its worst effects on the world’s poorest people because they are the least prepared?
		Very likely
		Somewhat likely
		Not very likely
		Not at all likely

	How likely is it that global warming and climate change will worsen your living conditions because of damages caused by extreme weather such as floods and storms?
		Very likely
		Somewhat likely
		Not very likely
		Not at all likely

	How likely is it that global warming and climate change will affect your health because of an increase in tropical diseases?
		Very likely
		Somewhat likely
		Not very likely
		Not at all likely

	How likely is it that global warming and climate change will have a negative impact on your economic and financial situation because more intense and frequent droughts mean fewer fresh food supplies and higher prices in the supermarket?
		Very likely
		Somewhat likely
		Not very likely
		Not at all likely

	How likely is it that global warming and climate change will pose a health risk to you because more intense and lengthier heat waves cause dehydration, hyperthermia and heat stroke?
		Very likely
		Somewhat likely
		Not very likely
		Not at all likely

	Overall, how serious a threat will global warming pose to you and your way of life during your lifetime?
		Very serious
		Somewhat serious
		Not so serious
		Not serious at all

	Overall, how serious a threat do you think global warming will pose to Americans or the American way of life during your lifetime?
		Very serious
		Somewhat serious
		Not so serious
		Not serious at all

	Overall, how serious a threat will global warming pose to poor people around the world, living in many different countries, during your lifetime?
		Very serious
		Somewhat serious
		Not so serious
		Not serious at all

	U.S. government officials are thinking about ways to deal with global warming and climate change. We would like your opinion on several possible ways to do this. You might think they are all good ideas. You might think they are all bad ideas. Or you might think some are good and others are bad. For each policy option, please indicate how strongly you support or oppose it.
		Strongly support	Support	Oppose	Strongly oppose
	Introduce a higher federal mileage standard on vehicles to increase fuel efficiency.
	Give states the right to set stricter global warming policies than those required by federal law.
	Increase the price of fossil fuels (like gasoline) through taxation to encourage people to save energy.
	Establish a climate change education program that through national information campaigns and school education aims to broaden the understanding of climate change, possible long and short-term consequences, and potential solutions.
	The U.S. government should actively engage and lead international negotiations on global warming and climate change.
	Develop technologies to capture carbon dioxide emissions at coal and natural gas-burning power plants for permanent burial underground.
	Introduce an economy-wide market-based cap-and-trade program that would set a limit on greenhouse gas emissions and allow industries to buy and sell their rights to emit such gases. Companies are given a fixed number of permits and can sell their extra permits for cash to other companies if they invent, improve, or acquire a way to reduce their emissions.

	The next questions ask about the values that are important to you in your life. In the parentheses following each value is an explanation to help you understand its meaning. Using the scale below, please indicate how important each value is AS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE IN YOUR LIFE.
		Opposed to my values	Not important	Important	Very important	Of supreme importance
	POWER (social power, authority, wealth)
	ACHIEVEMENT (success, capability, ambition, influence on people and events)
	HEDONISM (doing pleasant things, enjoying life)
	STIMULATION (a varied and exciting life, filled with challenges, novelty, change and adventures)
	SELF-DIRECTION (creativity, independence, curiosity, choosing own goals)
	UNIVERSALISM (equality, social justice, a world at peace, unity with nature, tolerance)
	BENEVOLENCE (loyalty, honesty, helpfulness, responsibility, forgivingness)
	TRADITION (respect for tradition, accepting own portion in life, being devout and humble)
	CONFORMITY (politeness, self-discipline, honoring of parents and elders, being obedient)
	SECURITY (national security, stability of society, family security)

	Please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree to each of the following statements.
		Strongly Agree	Somewhat Agree	Somewhat Disagree	Strongly Disagree
	One should always find ways to help others less fortunate than oneself.
	I believe it is best not to get involved in taking care of other people's needs.
	Any person who is willing to work hard has a good chance of succeeding.
	One of the biggest problems in this country is that we don't give everyone an equal chance.
	Even if people try hard they often cannot reach their goals.

	Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a/an…
		Strong Republican
		Not very strong Republican
		Independent, closer to the Republican Party
		Independent
		Independent, closer to the Democratic Party
		Not very strong Democrat
		Strong Democrat
		Other Party

	We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives. When it comes to politics, do you usually think of yourself as extremely liberal, liberal, slightly liberal, moderate or middle of the road, slightly conservative, extremely conservative, or haven't you thought much about this?
		Extremely liberal
		Liberal
		Slightly liberal
		Moderate; Middle of the road
		Slightly conservative
		Conservative
		Extremely conservative
		Haven't thought much

	In talking to people about elections, we often find that a lot of people were not able to vote because they weren't registered, they were sick, or they just didn't have time. Which of the following statements best describes you:
		I did not vote in the 2008 presidential election
		I thought about voting this time, but didn't
		I usually vote, but didn't this time
		I am sure I voted

	Who did you vote for in the presidential election?
		Barack Obama
		John McCain
		Other

	When talking about Americans, how often do you use “we” instead of “they”?
		All of the time
		Most of the time
		Sometimes
		Rarely
		Never

	How important is being American to you?
		Extremely important
		Very important
		Not very important
		Not important at all

Now we have a set of questions concerning people, places and politics. We want to see how much information about them gets out to the public from television, newspapers and the like.

	What is the name of the current Vice President of the United States?
		Dick Cheney
		Joe Biden
		Hillary Clinton
		Donald Rumsfeld
		Don’t know

	What is the capital city of Afghanistan?
		Baghdad
		Teheran
		Berlin
		Kabul
		Don’t know

	What is the name of the current Senate Majority Leader?
		Tom Daschle
		Nancy Pelosi
		Harry Reid
		Michael Bloomberg
		Don’t know

	What is the name of the Chief Justice of the United States?
		John Roberts
		Dick Cheney
		Samuel Alito
		John Marshall
		Don’t know

Lastly, please answer some questions about your background.

	In what year were you born? (Write in your response.)

	Where were you born?
		In the United States
		Outside the United States

	In what state were you born? (Write in your response.)

	In what country were you born? (Write in your response.)

	What racial or ethnic group or groups best describes you? (Select all boxes that apply.)
		White/Caucasian
		Black/African American
		Hispanic/Latino
		Asian
		Pacific Islander
		Native American
		Other

	What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed?
		Less than 9th grade
		9th to 12th grade, no diploma
		High school graduate
		Some college, no degree
		Associate’s degree
		Bachelor’s degree
		Graduate or professional degree

	Please look at the income groups below and select the group that includes your total family income before taxes in 2008. This includes your income from all sources and the income of all family members living with you. It should include salaries, pensions, self-employment earnings and public assistance. If you are unsure, make your best guess.
		Less than $4,999		$55,000-59,999
		$5,000-9,999		$60,000-64,999
		$10,000-14,999		$65,000-69,999
		$15,000-19,999		$70,000-79,999
		$20,000-24,999		$10,000-89,999
		$25,000-29,999		$90,000-99,999
		$30,000-34,999		$100,000-124,999
		$35,000-39,999		$125,000-149,999
		$40,000-45,999		$150,000-174,999
		$45,000-49,999		$175,000-199,999
		$50,000-54,999		$200,000 or more

Thank you for participating and making a valuable contribution to our research project!

If you want to participate in the lottery for a gift certificate of $100 to a store of your choosing, please send an e-mail to "jsohlber@ic.sunysb.edu" with the subject line "Gift Certificate Lottery". Your e-mail address will only be used in the lottery and for no other purpose. The draw will be conducted in August, 2009. You will be contacted via e-mail if you win.