What do you think is the most important problem facing the country?

Most important national problem, first mention · Asked in 20 waves, 1960–2000 · 32,264 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): 99 in 1972, 1984, 1992, 1996, 2000. Kept and flagged: 0 (other_missing), 98 (dk), 99 (no_answer). Codebook notes: See Appendix NOTE ‘MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM’. GENERAL NOTE: Because of changes in the full sets of codes which have been used over time, this variable is limited to preserving the major groupings which have been utilized with essential consistency through all years. The appendix NOTE gives exact study-by-study versions of the texts of individual codes which have been collapsed to form the VCF0875 group categories. In the 1960, 1966, and 1970 study datasets, one multiple- response variable was coded which included up to 3 mentions (1970: 4). In 1960 and 1970, variables were coded in order of importance in cases where R mentioned more than one problem. Within the study documentation for these two years, it was also stated that, in cases of more than one mentioned problem, if order of importance was ‘not clear,’ responses were then coded in order of mention. From the 1966 documentation, it is not apparent if multiple responses were coded in order of importance or if they were coded in order of mention. The first CODED response (variable) in studies 1960, 1966, and 1970 has been used here. In the 1964 and 1968 study datasets, one single-response variable was coded. This variable was described as including, in cases of more than one given response, the mention considered most important by R. Documentation in both years added that if order of importance was ‘not clear,’ responses were coded in order of mention: in such event, the single variable appearing in the study dataset represented the first mention. Note that, for cases where R mentioned two or three problems but missing data (DK or NA) appeared in the ‘choice’ variable (i.e., R did not choose a single most important problem), the first mention has not been included here, but MD has been coded. EXCEPTION: in 1986, in 142 cases the interviewer mistakenly did not ask R to rank problems by importance when R gave more than one mention. In these 142 cases, the first mention of R has been incorporated. In 1960, 1964 and 1966, the DK category was combined with ‘no issues’ and is included in code 00. 1996 NOTE: A half-sample of respondents were selected to be administered this question. 2000 NOTE: same as 1996. 2012 NOTE: Not yet coded for the 2012 Time Series.