DOI: 10.3886/icpsr07368.v1
title: SETUPS: American Politics
title: Version 1

description: Supplementary Empirical Teaching Units in Political Science 
 (SETUPS) for American Politics are computer-related modules designed 
 for use in teaching introductory courses in American government and 
 politics. The modules are intended to demonstrate the process of 
 examining evidence and reaching conclusions and to stimulate students 
 to independent, critical thinking and a deeper understanding of 
 substantive content. They enable students with no previous training to 
 make use of the computer to analyze data on political behavior or to 
 see the results of policy decisions by use of a simulation model. The
 SETUPS: AMERICAN POLITICS modules were developed by a group of political 
 scientists with experience in teaching introductory American government 
 courses who were brought together in a workshop supported by a grant 
 from the National Science Foundation in the summer of 1974. The 
 American Political Science Association administered the grant, and the 
 Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research was host 
 to the workshop and provided data for most of the SETUPS. The modules 
 were tested and evaluated during the 1974-1975 academic year by 
 students and faculty in 155 classes at 69 universities and colleges. 
 Appropriate revisions were made based upon this experience. This 
 collection comprises 15 separate modules: (1) Political Socialization
 Across the Generations, (2) Political Participation, (3) Voting Behavior,
 The 1980 Election, (4) Elections and the Mass Media, (5) The Supreme
 Court in American Politics, Court Decisions, (6) The Supreme Court in 
 American Politics, Police Interrogations, (7) The Dynamics of Political 
 Budgeting, A Public Policy Simulation, State Expenditures, (8) The
 Dynamics of Political Budgeting, A Public Policy Simulation, SIMSTATE
 Simulation, (9) The Dynamics of Political Budgeting, A Public Policy 
 Simulation, SIMSTATE II Simulation, (10) Fear of Crime, (11) Presidential
 Popularity in America, Presidential Popularity, (12) Presidential
 Popularity in America, Advanced Analyses, (13) Campaign '80, The Public
 and the Presidential Selection Process, (14) Voting Behavior, The 1976
 Election, and (15) Policy Responsiveness and Fiscal Strain in 51 
 American Communities. Parts 8 and 9 are FORTRAN IV program SIMSTATE 
 sourcedecks intended to simulate the interaction of state policies. 
 Variables in the various modules provide information on respondents' 
 level of political involvement and knowledge of political issues, 
 general political attitudes and beliefs, news media exposure and usage, 
 voting behavior (Parts 1, 2, and 3), and sectional biases (15). Other 
 items provide information on respondents' views of government, politics, 
 Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter as presidents, best form of government, 
 government spending (Part 3), local police, the Supreme Court (Parts 4 
 and 15), the economy, and domestic and foreign affairs. Additional items 
 probed respondents' opinions of prayer in school, abortion, the Equal 
 Rights Amendment Law, nuclear energy, and the most important national 
 problem and the political party most suitable to handle it (Part 3). Also 
 included are items on votes of Supreme Court judges (Part 5), arrest of 
 criminal suspects and their treatment by law enforcement agencies (Part 6),
 federal government expenditures and budgeting (Part 7), respondents' 
 feelings of safety at home, neighborhood crime rate, frequency of 
 various kinds of criminal victimization, the personal characteristics of 
 the targets of those crimes (Part 10), respondents' opinions of and choice 
 of party presidential candidates nominees (Part 13), voter turnout for
 city elections (15), urban unrest, and population growth rate.
 Demographic items specify age, sex, race, marital status, education, 
 occupation, income, social class identification, religion, political 
party affiliation, and union membership.
description: Datasets: 
DS0: Study-Level Files
DS1: Political Socialization Across the Generations
DS2: Political Participation
DS3: Voting Behavior: The 1980 Election
DS4: Elections and the Mass Media
DS5: The Supreme Court in American Politics: Court Decisions
DS6: The Supreme Court in American Politics: Police Interrogations in New Haven, 1966
DS7: The Dynamics of Political Budgeting: A Public Policy Simulation, State Expenditures
DS8: The Dynamics of Political Budgeting: A Public Policy Simulation, SIMSTATE Simulation
DS9: The Dynamics of Political Budgeting: A Public Policy Simulation, SIMSTATE II Simulation
DS10: Fear of Crime
DS11: Presidential Popularity in America: Presidential Popularity
DS12: Presidential Popularity in America: Advanced Analyses
DS13: Campaign '80: The Public and the Presidential Selection Process
DS14: Voting Behavior: The 1976 Election
DS15: Policy Responsiveness and Fiscal Strain in 51 American Communities
description: (1) The data files for this study are supplied with 
 preliminary SPSS data definition statements. Unlike the other modules in 
 the SETUPS: American Politics collection, the Presidential Popularity in 
 America data definition statements are merged with the data. Users are 
 advised to check the data definition statements, BEFORE running any
 jobs, to make sure that they are compatible with their installations. If
 they are not, users should make the appropriate modifications. (2) The
 data for this instructional subset are distributed by ICPSR through an 
 arrangement with the American Political Science Association. Manuals 
 for the modules are distributed by the American Political Science 
 Association (APSA) Division of Educational Affairs. Individuals at 
 ICPSR member institutions may obtain a bulk order discount on the price 
 of the manuals supplied by the American Political Science Association: 
 POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION ACROSS THE GENERATIONS by Paul Allen Beck, Jere 
 W. Bruner, and Douglas L. Dobson. Faculty should notify the Association 
 of eligibility for this discount and insure that the bookstore order 
form also indicates Consortium membership.