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We would like to know something about how people go about guessing words they do not know. On this card are listed some words--you may know some of them, and you may not know quite a few of them. On each line the first word is in capital letters -- like BEAST. Then there are five other words. Tell me the number of the word that comes closest to the meaning of the word in capital letters. For example, if the word in capital letters is BEAST, you would say "4" since "animal" come closer to BEAST than any of the other words. If you wish, I will read the words to you. These words are difficult for almost everyone -- just give me your best guess if you are not sure of the answer. CIRCLE ONE CODE NUMBER FOR EACH ITEM BELOW. G. Word G
Vocabulary test word G · Asked in 25 waves, 1974–2024 · 35,650 responses · weighted estimates computed from individual responses
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2022).
Shares of people who gave an answer. Each column is one wave, evenly spaced rather than to scale in time; hover for exact shares.
| Group | Incorrect answer | Correct answer | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents |
| Poll | Field dates | Mode | Respondents | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Social Survey 2024 | 2024-04-05 to 2024-12-02 | mixed | 3,309 | 1,074 |
| General Social Survey 2022 | 2022-05-08 to 2023-01-08 | mixed | 3,544 | 1,167 |
| General Social Survey 2018 | 2018-04-12 to 2018-11-10 | face to face | 2,348 | 1,559 |
| General Social Survey 2016 | 2016-04-05 to 2016-11-19 | face to face | 2,867 | 1,888 |
| General Social Survey 2014 | 2014-03-31 to 2014-10-13 | face to face | 2,538 | 1,675 |
| General Social Survey 2012 | 2012-03-20 to 2012-09-05 | face to face | 1,974 | 1,302 |
| General Social Survey 2010 | 2010-03-15 to 2010-08-12 | face to face | 2,044 | 1,430 |
| General Social Survey 2008 | 2008-04-17 to 2008-09-13 | face to face | 2,023 | 1,178 |
| General Social Survey 2006 | 2006-03-07 to 2006-08-07 | face to face | 4,510 | 1,469 |
| General Social Survey 2004 |
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2022).
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.
| 62% |
| 38% |
| 1074 |
| ±4 |
| Democrats | 56% | 44% | 291 | ±8 |
| Independents (incl. leaners) | 61% | 39% | 455 | ±7 |
| Republicans | 69% | 31% | 288 | ±8 |
General Social Survey 2024 · US adults 18+ living in households (English, and Spanish since 2006). 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.
| 2004-08-18 to 2005-01-04 |
| face to face |
| 2,812 |
| 1,472 |
| General Social Survey 2000 | 2000-02-01 to 2000-06-25 | face to face | 2,817 | 1,419 |
| General Social Survey 1998 | 1998-02-01 to 1998-06-19 | face to face | 2,832 | 1,387 |
| General Social Survey 1996 | 1996-02-01 to 1996-05-25 | face to face | 2,904 | 1,960 |
| General Social Survey 1994 | 1994-01-04 to 1994-06-29 | face to face | 2,992 | 1,977 |
| General Social Survey 1993 | 1993-02-05 to 1993-04-26 | face to face | 1,606 | 1,080 |
| General Social Survey 1991 | 1991-02-09 to 1991-05-06 | face to face | 1,517 | 1,024 |
| General Social Survey 1990 | 1990-02-06 to 1990-04-22 | face to face | 1,372 | 928 |
| General Social Survey 1989 | 1989-02-04 to 1989-05-01 | face to face | 1,537 | 1,006 |
| General Social Survey 1988 | 1988-02-12 to 1988-04-26 | face to face | 1,481 | 988 |
| General Social Survey 1987 | 1987-01-31 to 1987-04-28 | face to face | 1,819 | 1,819 |
| General Social Survey 1984 | 1984-02-06 to 1984-04-20 | face to face | 1,473 | 1,473 |
| General Social Survey 1982 | 1982-02-11 to 1982-04-27 | face to face | 1,860 | 1,860 |
| General Social Survey 1978 | 1978-02-13 to 1978-04-29 | face to face | 1,532 | 1,532 |
| General Social Survey 1976 | 1976-02-28 to 1976-05-29 | face to face | 1,499 | 1,499 |
| General Social Survey 1974 | 1974 | face to face | 1,484 | 1,484 |