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1970-1984,1986 FORM B, 1988 FORM B: Some people feel that the government in Washington should make every possible effort to improve the social and economic position of blacks (1970: Negroes) and other minority groups (1980: even if it means giving them preferential treatment). Others feel that the government should not make any special effort to help minorities because they should help themselves (1970: but they should be expected to help themselves). 1986 FORM A, 1988 FORM A, 1990 AND LATER: Some people feel that the government in Washington should make every (prior to 1996 only: possible) effort to improve the social and economic position of blacks. (1996-LATER: Suppose these people are at one end of a scale, at point 1). Others feel that the government should not make any special effort to help blacks because they should help themselves. (1996-LATER: Suppose these people are at the other end, at point 7. And, of course, some other people have opinions somewhere in between, at points 2,3,4,5 or 6). ALL YEARS: Where would you place yourself on this scale, or haven’t you thought much about it? (7-POINT SCALE SHOWN TO R)
Government aid to blacks and minorities scale · Asked in 22 waves, 1970–2024 · 56,919 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 2000. Kept and flagged: 0 (no_answer), 9 (dk). Codebook notes: GENERAL NOTE: Note that form B in 1986, form B in 1988, and all previous years specified ‘blacks and other minorities’ in this question, while form A in 1986, form A in 1988, and all cases in 1990 and after specified only ‘blacks.’ To filter for form A/B responses, use variable VCF0012. 2000 NOTE: This variable represents 7-point scale data from interviews conducted face-to-face; telephone respondents were administered asked a branching series and are not represented here.
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: V241255. | 2024-08-03 to 2025-02-17 | mixed | 5,521 | 5,498 |
| ANES 2020 Time Series Study Source variable: V201258. | 2020-08-18 to 2021-01-04 | mixed | 8,280 | 8,275 |
| ANES 2016 Time Series Study Source variable: V161198. | 2016-09-07 to 2017-01-09 | mixed | 4,270 | 4,266 |
| ANES 2012 Time Series Study | 2012-09-09 to 2013-01-13 | mixed | 5,914 | 5,913 |
| ANES 2008 Time Series Study Source variable: V083137. | 2008-09-02 to 2008-12-30 | face to face | 2,322 | 2,320 |
| ANES 2004 Time Series Study Source variable: V043158. | 2004-09-07 to 2004-12-19 | face to face | 1,212 | 1,211 |
| ANES 2000 Time Series Study Source variable: V000641. | 2000-09-05 to 2000-12-22 | mixed | 1,807 | 997 |
| ANES 1998 Time Series Study Source variable: V980462. |
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 | Government should help minority groups/blacks | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Minority groups/ blacks should help themselves | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents | 17% | 12% | 13% | 24% | 11% | 10% | 14% | 5498 | ±2 | |
| Men | 13% | 10% | 13% | 25% | 11% | 12% | 16% | 2539 | ±3 | |
| Women | 20% | 13% | 13% | 24% | 10% | 8% | 11% | 2914 | ±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.
| 1998-11-04 to 1998-12-23 |
| mixed |
| 1,281 |
| 1,281 |
| ANES 1996 Time Series Study Source variable: V960487. | 1996-09-03 to 1997-01-02 | mixed | 1,714 | 1,713 |
| ANES 1994 Time Series Study Source variable: V940936. | 1994-11-09 to 1995-01-08 | mixed | 1,795 | 1,795 |
| ANES 1992 Time Series Study Source variable: V923724. | 1992-09-02 to 1993-01-16 | mixed | 2,485 | 2,482 |
| ANES 1990 Time Series Study Source variable: V900447. | 1990-11-06 to 1991-01-21 | face to face | 1,980 | 1,980 |
| ANES 1988 Time Series Study Source variable: V880332(form A),V880340(form B). | 1988-09-06 to 1989-01-23 | face to face | 2,040 | 2,030 |
| ANES 1986 Time Series Study Source variable: V860426(form B),V860427(form A). | 1986-11-05 to 1987-02-07 | face to face | 2,176 | 2,176 |
| ANES 1984 Time Series Study Source variable: V840382. | 1984-09-04 to 1985-01-24 | mixed | 2,257 | 2,247 |
| ANES 1982 Time Series Study Source variable: V820415. | 1982-11-02 to 1983-01-31 | face to face | 1,418 | 1,418 |
| ANES 1980 Time Series Study Source variable: V801062. | 1980-09-02 to 1981-02-07 | face to face | 1,614 | 1,408 |
| ANES 1978 Time Series Study Source variable: V780373. | 1978-11-08 to 1979-01-25 | face to face | 2,304 | 2,304 |
| ANES 1976 Time Series Study Source variable: V763264. | 1976-09-07 to 1977-01-30 | face to face | 2,248 | 2,238 |
| ANES 1974 Time Series Study Source variable: V742296. | 1974-11-06 to 1975-01-31 | face to face | 1,575 | 1,575 |
| ANES 1972 Time Series Study Source variable: V720629. | 1972-09-01 to 1973-02-13 | face to face | 2,705 | 2,285 |
| ANES 1970 Time Series Study Source variable: V700106(type 0). | 1970-11-04 to 1971-01-13 | face to face | 1,507 | 1,507 |