ANES 1984 Time Series Study

This study is part of a time-series collection of national
surveys fielded continuously since 1952. The election studies are
designed to present data on Americans' social backgrounds, enduring
political predispositions, social and political values, perceptions
and evaluations of groups and candidates, opinions on questions of
public policy, and participation in political life. Part 1 of this
collection contains the traditional Pre- and Post-Election Survey
(ICPSR Version). Interviews were conducted in person prior to the 1984
election. In the post-election wave, half of the respondents were
randomly assigned to be reinterviewed in person, and the other half to
be reinterviewed by telephone using a shortened version of the
questionnaire. In addition to the standard core questions, new topic
areas (most of which had been piloted in 1983) included measures of
"predispositions" such as economic individualism and egalitarianism,
and group identification items. Vote validation data also are
provided. Part 2, Continuous Monitoring: January 11, 1984, Through
December 31, 1984, was designed to examine the impact of the election
campaign on voters' perceptions, beliefs, and preferences.
Respondents were questioned about their knowledge of the candidates'
stands on the issues, about their own stand on the issues, and about
their opinions and evaluations of the candidates. Interviews were
conducted by telephone throughout the year, with a total of 46
separate cross-section samples selected by a random-digit dialing
design, and an average of 76 respondents interviewed in each of the 46
sample weeks. Although the survey instrument was very much the same
from one sample week to the next, some questions were deleted and
others added during the course of the campaign, as issues became more
or less relevant. Thirteen versions of the questionnaire were
incorporated into this data file. For each telephone number selected
in the Continuous Monitoring Study administrative information is
included, such as number of calls, household composition, and final
disposition.