DOI: 10.3886/icpsr37701
title: General Social Survey with Arts Module, United States, 2016
title: Archival Version

description: Since 1972, the General Social Survey (GSS) has been monitoring societal change and studying the growing complexity of American society. The GSS aims to gather data on contemporary American society in order to monitor and explain trends and constants in attitudes, behaviors, and attributes; to examine the structure and functioning of society in general as well as the role played by relevant subgroups; to compare the United States to other societies in order to place American society in comparative perspective and develop cross-national models of human society; and to make high-quality data easily accessible to scholars, students, policy makers, and others, with minimal cost and waiting. GSS questions include such items as national spending priorities, marijuana use, crime and punishment, race relations, quality of life, and confidence in institutions. Since 1988, the GSS has also collected data on sexual behavior including number of sex partners, frequency of intercourse, extramarital relationships, and sex with prostitutes. In 1985 the GSS co-founded the International Social Survey Program (ISSP). The ISSP has conducted an annual cross-national survey each year since then and has involved 58 countries and interviewed over one million respondents. The ISSP asks an identical battery of questions in all countries; the U.S. version of these questions is incorporated into the GSS.
The 2016 GSS added in new variables covering information regarding social media use, suicide, hope and optimism, arts and culture, racial/ethnic identity, flexibility of work, spouses work and occupation, home cohabitation, and health. The arts and culture module was funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). These data are an extract from the General Social Survey, 1972-2016 [Cumulative File], (ICPSR 36797).
description: The General Social Survey (GSS) gathers data on contemporary American society in order to monitor and explain trends and constants in attitudes, behaviors, and attributes. Hundreds of trends have been tracked since 1972. In addition, since the GSS adopted questions from earlier surveys, trends can be followed for up to 80 years.
These data have been selected by NADAC to highlight attitudes towards arts and culture.
description: Due to the number of weights and the various uses for them, users should refer to Appendix A of the PI Codebook.
description: For sampling information, please see Appendix A of the PI Codebook.
description: Datasets: 
DS1: General Social Survey with Arts Module, United States, 2016
description: All noninstitutionalized, English and Spanish speaking persons 18 years of age or older, living in the United States. Smallest Geographic Unit: census region
description: computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI); face-to-face interview; telephone interviewThese data are an extract from the General Social Survey, 1972-2016 [Cumulative File], (ICPSR 36797).Please note that NORC may have updated the General Social Survey data files. Additional information regarding the General Social Surveys can be found at the General Social Survey (GSS) Web site.