General Social Surveys, 1972-2006 [Cumulative File]

The General Social Surveys (GSS) were designed as part of a data diffusion project in 1972. The GSS replicated questionnaire items and wording in order to facilitate time-trend studies. This data collection includes a cumulative file that merges all 25 General Social Surveys into a single file containing data from 1972 to 2006. The 2006 survey was composed of permanent questions that appeared on each of the previous surveys, rotating questions that appeared on two out of every three surveys (e.g., 1973, 1974, 1976), and a small number of occasional questions that occurred in a single survey. The GSS included 11 topical modules: quality of working life, attitudes towards firearms, shared capitalism, level of disability, use of foreign languages, mental health attitudes and experiences, number of people known, participation in congregations, knowledge about and attitude towards science, religious trends, and sexual behavior. The International Social Survey Program (ISSP) modules included in the 2006 survey were: the role of government, and work orientation. Specific topics included social-welfare and economic regulation, civil liberties, spending priorities, and political efficacy. The data also contain several variables describing the demographic characteristics of the respondents.

通用社会调查（GSS）作为1972年数据扩散项目的一部分而被设计。该调查通过复制问卷项目及措辞，旨在促进时间趋势研究。此数据收集包含一个累积文件，将1972年至2006年间的全部25次通用社会调查合并为一个包含数据的单一文件。2006年的调查由永久性问题组成，这些问题出现在每一份之前的调查中，以及轮换性问题，这些问题出现在每三个调查中的两个（例如，1973年、1974年、1976年），还有少数偶尔出现的问题，这些问题仅在单一调查中出现。GSS包含11个主题模块：工作生活品质、对枪支的态度、共享资本主义、残疾程度、外语使用、心理健康态度及经历、认识的人数、教会参与度、对科学的知识和态度、宗教趋势以及性行为。2006年调查中包含的国际社会调查项目（ISSP）模块包括：政府角色和工作导向。具体主题涵盖社会福利和经济监管、公民自由、支出优先级和政治效能。数据还包括描述受访者人口特征的多个变量。