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What it means to be American, pride, and patriotism.
| Question | Source | Years | Waves |
|---|---|---|---|
| World better if people were more like Americans C. The world would be a better place if people from other countries were more like the Americans | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Pride in America's achievements in sports F. Its achievements in sports | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Importance of being born in America A. To have been born in America | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Pride in America's achievements in arts and literature G. Its achievements in the arts and literature | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Importance of American citizenship for being truly American B. To have American citizenship | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| America is a better country than most others D. Generally speaking, America is a better country than most other countries | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Pride in the way American democracy works A. The way democracy works | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| American TV should favor American films and programs F. American television should give preference to American films and programs | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Importance of respecting American institutions and laws F. To respect America's political institutions and laws | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Prefer being an American citizen over any other A. I would rather be a citizen of America than of any other country in the world | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Pride in America's economic achievements C. America's economic achievements | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Support your country even when it is in the wrong E. People should support their country even if the country is in the wrong | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Importance of being Christian for being truly American E. To be a Christian | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Pride in America's history I. Its history | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Pride in America's political influence in the world B. Its political influence in the world | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Things about America today that cause shame B. There are some things about America today that make me feel ashamed of America | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Foreigners should not be allowed to buy land in America E. Foreigners should not be allowed to buy land in America | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Importance of feeling American G. To feel American | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Importance of helping worse-off people in America H. To help people in America who are worse off than yourself | GSS | 2004–2024 | 3 |
| Importance of never evading taxes for good citizenship B. Never to try to evade taxes | GSS | 2004–2024 | 3 |
| Importance of American ancestry for being truly American To have American ancestry | GSS | 2004–2024 | 3 |
| Importance of always obeying laws for good citizenship C. Always to obey laws and regulations | GSS | 2004–2024 | 3 |
| Importance of speaking English for being truly American D. To be able to speak English | GSS | 1996–2014 | 3 |
| Better to maintain distinct customs or blend in Some people say that it is better for a country if different racial and ethnic groups maintain their distinct customs and traditions. Others say that it is better if these groups adapt and blend into the larger society. Which of these views comes closer to your own? | GSS | 1996–2014 | 3 |
| Impossible to become American without shared customs A. It is impossible for people who do not share American customs and traditions to become fully American | GSS | 1996–2014 | 3 |
| Pride in America's Social Security system D. Its social security system | GSS | 1996–2014 | 3 |
| Importance of living in America most of one's life C. To have lived in America for most of one's life | GSS | 1996–2014 | 3 |
| Closeness to America 4. America | GSS | 1996–2014 | 3 |
| Closeness to your state 3. Your state | GSS | 1996–2014 | 3 |
| Pride in America's fair and equal treatment of all groups J. Its fair and equal treatment of all groups in society | GSS | 1996–2014 | 3 |
| International sports success makes me proud to be American F. When my country does well in international sports, it makes me proud to be an American | GSS | 1996–2014 | 3 |
| Pride in America's scientific and technological achievements E. Its scientific and technological achievements | GSS | 1996–2014 | 3 |
| Pride in America's armed forces H. America's armed forces | GSS | 1996–2014 | 3 |
| Closeness to North America 5. North America | GSS | 1996–2014 | 3 |
| How proud of being American How proud are you of being American? (Please, select one response) | GSS | 2004–2014 | 2 |
| Often less proud of America than would like I am often less proud of America than I would like to be. | GSS | 2004–2014 | 2 |
| Maintain distinct cultures or blend in, 7-point scale Some people say that it is better for America if different racial and ethnic groups maintain their distinct cultures. Others say that it is better if groups change so that they blend into the larger society as in the idea of a melting pot. Here is a card with a scale from 1 to 7. Think of a score of 1 as meaning that racial and ethnic groups should maintain their distinct cultures, and a score of 7 as meaning that groups should change so that they blend into the larger society. What score between 1 and 7 comes closest to the way you feel? (CIRCLE ONE): | GSS | 1994–2000 | 2 |
| Can become truly American through effort or must be born American Some people say that it is possible to become truly American. if a person makes an effort. Others say a person has to be born American to be truly American. What is your position? | GSS | 2024 | 1 |
| Best if every nation had its own country Thinking in general about nations and countries all over the world, to what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement?… It would be best if every nation had its own country where it could make its own decisions. | GSS | 2024 | 1 |
| Free our minds from old traditions and beliefs To understand the world, we must free our minds from old traditions and beliefs. | GSS | 2021 | 1 |
| US success is part of God's plan The success of the United States is part of God’s plan. | GSS | 2021 | 1 |
| Patriotic feelings needed for America to remain united C. Are needed for America to remain united. | GSS | 2014 | 1 |
| Patriotic feelings lead to intolerance B. Lead to intolerance in America | GSS | 2014 | 1 |
| World better if Americans acknowledged America's shortcomings A. The world would be a better place if Americans acknowledged America's shortcomings. | GSS | 2014 | 1 |
| Feel like a citizen of the world E. I feel more like a citizen of the world than of any country. | GSS | 2014 | 1 |
| Patriotic feelings strengthen America's place in the world A. Strengthen America's place in the world. | GSS | 2014 | 1 |
| Patriotic feelings lead to negative attitudes toward immigrants D. Lead to negative attitudes towards immigrants in America. | GSS | 2014 | 1 |
| Foreign films, music, and books damage national culture F. Increased exposure to foreign films, music, and books is damaging our national and local cultures. | GSS | 2004 | 1 |
| Third most important group in describing who you are C. Third Most Important | GSS | 2004 | 1 |
| Importance of willingness to serve in military for citizenship J. To be willing to serve in the military at a time of need | GSS | 2004 | 1 |
| Second most important group in describing who you are B. Second Most Important | GSS | 2004 | 1 |
| Most important group in describing who you are A. Most Important | GSS | 2004 | 1 |
| Ethnic groups' right to maintain unique traditions C. If we want to help create a harmonious society, we must recognize that each ethnic group has the right to maintain its own unique traditions. | GSS | 2002 | 1 |
| What freedom means to you (third mention) C. Third distinct subject mentioned | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| Frequency of using a language other than English F. How often do you use that language in your everyday life? (READ CATEGORIES) | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| What freedom means to you (second mention) B. Second distinct subject mentioned | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| Law making English the official language Do you favor a law making English the official language of the United States, or do you oppose such a law? | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| Common English language unites Americans C. Speaking English as the common national language is what unites all Americans. | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| What freedom means to you (first mention) A. First distinct subject mentioned | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| Frequency of feeling worried about the United States A. How often do you feel WORRIED? Do you feel worried: | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| How often feel satisfied about the United States B. When you think about the United States, how often do you feel SATISFIED? Do you feel satisfied: | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| Remain one nation or allow regions to separate Which of these two statements comes closer to your own view? | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| How often feel hopeful about the United States F. When you think about the United States, how often do you feel HOPEFUL? Do you feel hopeful: | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| How often feel angry about the United States E. When you think about the United States, how often do you feel ANGRY? Do you feel angry: | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| How different life would be if not American If you were no longer an AMERICAN, but were a citizen of another country living outside the United States, how much would it change what you Do in a typical week? Would what you do in a typical week be: | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| Importance of being American to you How important is being an AMERICAN to you, where 0 is not at all important and 10 is the most important thing In your life | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| Frequency of feeling upset about the United States G. When you think about the United States, how often do you feel UPSET? Do you feel upset: | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| How often feel enthusiastic about the United States D. When you think about the United States, how often do you feel ENTHUSIASTIC? Do you feel enthusiastic: | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| How often feel frustrated about the United States C. When you think about the United States, how often do you feel FRUSTRATED? Do you feel frustrated: | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| Ethnic identity versus American identity When you think of social and political issues, do you think of yourself mainly as a member of a particular ethnic, racial, or nationality group or do you think of yourself mainly as just an American? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Quality of life in America versus other advanced nations Do you feel that the quality of life is better in America than in most other advanced industrial countries, about the same, or do you feel that people are better off in most other advanced industrial countries than they are in the United States? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Law making English the official language, government business Do you favor a law making English the official language of the United States, meaning government business would be conducted in English only, or do you oppose such a law? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Government help for groups to blend into society B. Should it be up to the government to help racial and ethnic groups change so that they blend into the larger society, or should this be left up to the groups themselves? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| How often you think of yourself as just American A. Do you think of yourself as "just an American" on all issues, most issues, some issues, or just a few issues? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| How often one thinks of oneself as just an American D. Do you think of yourself as "just an American" on all issues, most issues, some issues, or just a few issues? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Forced choice between ethnic and American identity C. Well, if you had to choose, which would you think of yourself most of the time--mainly as a member of a particular ethnic, racial, or nationality group, or mainly as just an American? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Government role in maintaining distinct cultures A. Should it be up to the government to help racial and ethnic groups maintain their distinct cultures, or should this be left up to the groups themselves? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Pride in being American How proud are you to be an American . . . extremely proud, very proud, somewhat proud, or not very proud? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Third most important event in the last 60 years The next questions concern how people think about the past. There have been a lot of national and world events and changes over the past 60 years--say, from about 1930 right up until today. Would you mention one or two such events or changes that seem to you to have been especially important? There aren't any right or wrong answers to the question--just whatever national or world events or changes over the past 60 years that come to mind as important to you. | GSS | 1993 | 1 |
| Most important event in the last 60 years The next questions concern how people think about the past. There have been a lot of national and world events and changes over the past 60 years--say, from about 1930 right up until today. Would you mention one or two such events or changes that seem to you to have been especially important? There aren't any right or wrong answers to the question--just whatever national or world events or changes over the past 60 years that come to mind as important to you. | GSS | 1993 | 1 |
| Fourth most important event in the last 60 years The next questions concern how people think about the past. There have been a lot of national and world events and changes over the past 60 years--say, from about 1930 right up until today. Would you mention one or two such events or changes that seem to you to have been especially important? There aren't any right or wrong answers to the question--just whatever national or world events or changes over the past 60 years that come to mind as important to you. | GSS | 1993 | 1 |
| Second most important event in the last 60 years The next questions concern how people think about the past. There have been a lot of national and world events and changes over the past 60 years--say, from about 1930 right up until today. Would you mention one or two such events or changes that seem to you to have been especially important? There aren't any right or wrong answers to the question--just whatever national or world events or changes over the past 60 years that come to mind as important to you. | GSS | 1993 | 1 |
| Obligation to keep informed about current affairs F. Keeping fully informed about news and public issues? | GSS | 1984 | 1 |
| Obligation to do community service B. How about volunteering some time to community services? | GSS | 1984 | 1 |
| Obligation to report a crime D. Reporting a crime that he or she may have witnessed? | GSS | 1984 | 1 |
| Obligation of women's wartime military service J. For young women, serving in the military when the country is at war? | GSS | 1984 | 1 |
| Obligation of men's peacetime military service G. How about, for young men, serving in the military during peacetime? | GSS | 1984 | 1 |
| Obligation of men's wartime military service H. For young men, serving in the military when the country is at war? | GSS | 1984 | 1 |
| Obligation to serve on a jury C. How about serving on a jury if called? | GSS | 1984 | 1 |
| Obligation to be able to speak English E. How about being able to speak and understand English? | GSS | 1984 | 1 |