DOI: 10.3886/icpsr06077
title: CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #1, May 1992
title: Archival Version

description: This poll is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys 
 that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other 
 political and social issues. Respondents were asked to comment on what 
 they thought was the most important problem facing the country, and to 
 give their approval rating of George Bush with respect to his handling 
 of the presidency, foreign policy, and the economy. Questions were 
 posed regarding respondents' vote intentions for the 1992 presidential 
 election, their opinions of potential 1992 presidential candidates, the 
 likelihood of their voting in either a Republican or Democratic 
 presidential primary or caucus, their candidate preferences for the 
 Democratic and Republican presidential nominations, and issues 
 presidential candidates should emphasize. Those surveyed were asked 
 about the concern of the presidential candidates for the needs and 
 problems of Black people, the amount of attention the government had 
 given to Blacks and other minorities, the best way for Blacks to gain 
 their rights, and the impact of government programs in the 1960s on 
 poor people. Respondents were queried regarding race relations in the 
 United States, the state of race relations compared to ten years ago, 
 Bush's handling of race relations, and the amount of progress that had 
 been made since the 1960s to conquer racial discrimination. Questions 
 pertaining to the Rodney King trial focused on the jury's verdict 
 acquitting the Los Angeles policemen, whether the videotape of the 
 beating showed enough for the respondent to make a judgment regarding 
 the guilt of the policemen, who was to blame for the riots in Los 
 Angeles, the effect of the riots on Blacks, and the reactions of Bush, 
 Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot to the riots. Those surveyed were also 
 asked whether Bush, Clinton, or Perot could best handle race relations, 
 improve education, create job opportunities, ensure law and order, 
 bring people of different races together, and increase hope that things 
 could get better. Additional questions concerned ways to reduce racial 
 tension and prevent riots, and the amount of money that should be spent 
 on areas such as improving conditions for Blacks, assisting the poor, 
 and funding welfare. Background information on respondents includes 
 sex, age, race, education, religious preference, family income, 
political orientation, and party preference.
description: A variation of random-digit dialing using primary sampling 
 units (PSUs) was employed, consisting of blocks of 100 telephone 
 numbers identical through the eighth digit and stratified by geographic 
 region, area code, and size of place. Within households, respondents 
 were selected using a method developed by Leslie Kish and modified by 
 Charles Backstrom and Gerald Hursh (see Backstrom and Hursh, SURVEY 
RESEARCH [Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press, 1963]).
description: Datasets: 
DS1: CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #1, May 1992
description: Adult population of the United States aged 18 and over 
having telephones at home.
description: A weight variable has been included and must be used 
for any analysis.