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ALL YEARS EXC. 2000 TELEPHONE,2002: We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives. Here is (1972,1974: I’m going to show you) a 7-point scale on which the political views that people might hold are arranged from extremely liberal to extremely conservative. Where would you place yourself on this scale, or haven’t you thought much about this? (7-POINT SCALE SHOWN TO R) 2000 TELEPHONE: 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? 2002: 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?
Liberal-conservative self-placement · Asked in 22 waves, 1972–2024 · 56,890 responses · weighted estimates computed from individual responses
Codes that include 'no Pre/Post IW' were dropped for respondents without that interview. Dropped only in years where the codebook names a design split (alternate form, half sample, abbreviated or web instrument): 0 in 1972, 2000. Kept and flagged: 0 (no_answer), 9 (dk). Codebook notes: GENERAL NOTE: For years 1984 and later, a follow-up ‘choice’ question was asked of respondents who replied ‘don’t know’ or ‘haven’t thought much’ to this question; except for years 1984, 1986 and 1990 this follow-up ‘choice’ question was also asked of respondents who answered ‘moderate.’ For these years, a final 3-category summary was constructed: the ‘choice’ question is found in VCF0824; the final 3-category summary is VCF0849. 2000 NOTE: This variable represents 7-point scale data from interviews conducted using both modes (telephone and personal). In addition to the traditional 7-point scale version of this question, approximately half of the 2000 Study respondents (both modes) were instead randomly selected for administration of a branching series. 2012 NOTE: Due to an error in the technical specifications, option ‘Haven’t thought much about it’ was not included in the web instrument; code 9 represents FTF cases only.
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
| Poll | Field dates | Mode | Respondents | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANES 2024 Time Series Study Source variable: V241177. | 2024-08-03 to 2025-02-17 | mixed | 5,521 | 5,504 |
| ANES 2020 Time Series Study Source variable: V201200. | 2020-08-18 to 2021-01-04 | mixed | 8,280 | 8,275 |
| ANES 2016 Time Series Study Source variable: V162171. | 2016-09-07 to 2017-01-09 | mixed | 4,270 | 4,270 |
| ANES 2012 Time Series Study Source variable: libcpre_self. | 2012-09-09 to 2013-01-13 | mixed | 5,914 | 5,912 |
| ANES 2008 Time Series Study Source variable: V083069. | 2008-09-02 to 2008-12-30 | face to face | 2,322 | 2,322 |
| ANES 2004 Time Series Study Source variable: V045117. | 2004-09-07 to 2004-12-19 | face to face | 1,212 | 1,212 |
| ANES 2002 Time Series Study Source variable: V023022. | 2002-09-18 to 2002-12-06 | phone | 1,511 | 1,508 |
| ANES 2000 Time Series Study |
Shares of people who gave an answer. Each column is one wave, evenly spaced rather than to scale in time; hover for exact shares.
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. A group’s column is left blank in waves where its effective sample is under 50; hover for exact shares.
| Group | Extremely liberal | Liberal | Slightly liberal | Moderate, middle of the road | Slightly conservative | Conservative | Extremely conservative | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents | 5% | 16% | 11% | 26% | 14% | 20% | 6% | 5504 | ±2 | |
| Democrats | 11% | 38% | 19% | 25% | 4% | 2% | 1% | 1924 | ±3 | |
| Independents (incl. leaners) | 3% | 8% | 12% | 41% | 20% | 14% | 2% | 1806 | ±3 | |
| Republicans | 1% | 1% | 2% | 14% | 19% | 47% | 16% | 1738 | ±3 |
ANES 2024 Time Series Study · US citizens 18+ (face-to-face samples: contiguous 48 states and DC; web samples: 50 states and DC). Shares of people who gave an answer. n is unweighted; ± is the 95% margin of error at 50% from the weighted effective sample. Groups with an effective sample under 50 are grayed; under 20, hidden.
| 2000-09-05 to 2000-12-22 |
| mixed |
| 1,807 |
| 866 |
| ANES 1998 Time Series Study Source variable: V980399. | 1998-11-04 to 1998-12-23 | mixed | 1,281 | 1,281 |
| ANES 1996 Time Series Study Source variable: V960365. | 1996-09-03 to 1997-01-02 | mixed | 1,714 | 1,714 |
| ANES 1994 Time Series Study Source variable: V940839. | 1994-11-09 to 1995-01-08 | mixed | 1,795 | 1,795 |
| ANES 1992 Time Series Study Source variable: V923509. | 1992-09-02 to 1993-01-16 | mixed | 2,485 | 2,485 |
| ANES 1990 Time Series Study Source variable: V900406. | 1990-11-06 to 1991-01-21 | face to face | 1,980 | 1,980 |
| ANES 1988 Time Series Study Source variable: V880228. | 1988-09-06 to 1989-01-23 | face to face | 2,040 | 2,039 |
| ANES 1986 Time Series Study Source variable: V860385. | 1986-11-05 to 1987-02-07 | face to face | 2,176 | 2,176 |
| ANES 1984 Time Series Study Source variable: V840369. | 1984-09-04 to 1985-01-24 | mixed | 2,257 | 2,247 |
| ANES 1982 Time Series Study Source variable: V820393. | 1982-11-02 to 1983-01-31 | face to face | 1,418 | 1,418 |
| ANES 1980 Time Series Study Source variable: V800267. | 1980-09-02 to 1981-02-07 | face to face | 1,614 | 1,611 |
| ANES 1978 Time Series Study Source variable: V780399. | 1978-11-08 to 1979-01-25 | face to face | 2,304 | 2,304 |
| ANES 1976 Time Series Study Source variable: V763286. | 1976-09-07 to 1977-01-30 | face to face | 2,248 | 2,241 |
| ANES 1974 Time Series Study Source variable: V742305. | 1974-11-06 to 1975-01-31 | face to face | 1,575 | 1,575 |
| ANES 1972 Time Series Study Source variable: V720652. | 1972-09-01 to 1973-02-13 | face to face | 2,705 | 2,155 |