Do you consider yourself liberal, moderate, or conservative?

Liberal-conservative self-placement, collapsed · Asked in 15 waves, 1984–2020 · 39,944 responses · weighted estimates computed from individual responses

The 'moderate' share depends on the instrument: moderates on the 7-point scale were pushed to choose a side in 1988, 1992, and 1996 on but not in 1984, 1986, or 1990, and how often 'moderate' was accepted when volunteered varies by year and mode (1% or less in 2002 and 2020, 25% to 32% in 2008-2016). Compare liberal vs. conservative, or use VCF0803. 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. NA code treated as not asked where it exceeds 10% of a year's answers (an unlabeled split or filter): 9 in 2000. Kept and flagged: 0 (no_answer), 9 (no_answer). Codebook notes: See also VCF0803 and VCF0824. GENERAL NOTE: This is the final 3-cateogry summary for years 1984 and later, constructed using the initial 7-point scale question (VCF0803) and the follow-up ‘choice’ question (VCF0824), which was asked of respondents who had replied ‘don’t know’ or ‘haven’t thought much’ to the 7-point scale question and, except for years 1984, 1986, AND 1990, also asked of respondents who had answered ‘moderate’. If R’s response to the 7-point scale question was NA, then the follow- up question (‘if you had to choose…’) was not asked and VCF0849 has been coded 9. If DK/HTM in first question and the response to the follow-up was ‘don’t know,’ VCF0849 has been coded 8. If R refused to choose in the follow-up, VCF0848 has been coded 7. Code 1 is comprised of ‘extremely liberal,’ ‘liberal,’ and ‘slightly liberal’ responses to the 7-point scale question (codes 1-3 in VCF0803) and of ‘liberal’ responses to the follow-up. Code 3 for 1984,1986,1990 is comprised of Rs who replied ‘moderate’ to the 7-point scale question (code 4 in VCF0803, with the follow-up not asked) and also of Rs who replied DK or ‘haven’t thought much’ to the 7-point scale question and who then replied ‘moderate’ to the follow-up. For 1988, 1992, 1996 and later, code 3 is comprised of: 1) cases where R replied ‘moderate’ to the 7-point scale question and then refused to choose another category or replied DK/NA to the follow-up; and 2) Rs who replied DK or ‘haven’t thought much’ to the 7-point scale question and then replied ‘moderate’ in the follow-up. Code 5 is comprised of ‘extremely conservative,’ conservative,’ and ‘slightly conservative’ responses to the 7-point scale question (codes 5-7 in VCF0803) and of ‘conservative’ responses in the follow-up. 2000 NOTE: This variable represents 7-point scale follow-up data from interviews conducted using both modes; approximately half of the 2000 Study respondents (both modes) were randomly selected for administration of a branching series and are excluded here.