September 13-30, 2012: Public Religion Research Institute American Values Survey—Nationwide survey on welfare, inequality, and the rich/poor gap.
In your view, are most people who receive welfare payments genuinely in need of help or are they taking advantage of the system?
44% In need of help
46% Taking advantage of the system
3% Other (Vol.)
7% Don۪t know/Refused
Methodology: Conducted by Public Religion Research Institute, September 13 – September 30, 2012 and based on 3,003 telephone interviews. Sample: National adult. Interviews were conducted by Directions in Research. The survey was funded by the Ford Foundation with additional support from the Nathan Cummings Foundation. 1201 were interviewed on a cell phone. [USPRRI.12VALUES.R19]
(Now, as I read some statements on a few different topics, please tell me if you completely agree, mostly agree, mostly disagree or completely disagree with each one.)…The primary cause of America’s problems is an economic system that results in continuing inequality and poverty.
19% Completely agree
43% Mostly agree
24% Mostly disagree
11% Completely disagree
4% Don۪t know/Refused
Methodology: Conducted by Public Religion Research Institute, September 13 – September 30, 2012 and based on 3,003 telephone interviews. Sample: National adult. Interviews were conducted by Directions in Research. The survey was funded by the Ford Foundation with additional support from the Nathan Cummings Foundation. 1201 were interviewed on a cell phone. [USPRRI.12VALUES.R27B]
And which economic issue is most important to your vote (for president) this year (2012)?…Taxes, the budget deficit, lack of jobs, welfare, Social Security, the gap between rich and poor
8% Taxes
22% The budget deficit
39% Lack of jobs
3% Welfare
9% Social Security
16% The gap between rich and poor
2% Other/Don۪t know/Refused
Subpopulation/Note: Asked of those who said the economy is the most important issue to their vote (59%).
Methodology: Conducted by Public Religion Research Institute, September 13 – September 30, 2012 and based on 3,003 telephone interviews. Sample: National adult. Interviews were conducted by Directions in Research. The survey was funded by the Ford Foundation with additional support from the Nathan Cummings Foundation. 1201 were interviewed on a cell phone. [USPRRI.12VALUES.R08]
(As you may know, next month (December 2012) Congress will be holding a debate about the federal budget for the coming year, which will involve decisions over national priorities. How important do you think the following values or principles should be as guides for these decisions?)…Protecting poor and vulnerable Americans…Is this the most important, a very important, somewhat important, not too important or not at all important as a value or principle guiding these decisions?
12% The most important
50% Very important
31% Somewhat important
5% Not too important
1% Not at all important
1% Don۪t know/Refused
Methodology: Conducted by Public Religion Research Institute, November 7 – November 11, 2012 and based on 1,410 telephone interviews. Sample: National adults re-interviewed. Interviews were conducted by Directions in Research. Respondents were originally interviewed September 13-30, 2012 as part of a national adult sample of 3003. The survey was funded by the Ford Foundation with additional support from the Nathan Cummings Foundation. [USPRRI.12VALUES2.R25B]
Formal Citation
Public Religion Research Institute American Values Survey, Sep, 2012. Retrieved Oct-26-2012 from the iPOLL Databank, The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut. http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/data_access/ipoll/ipoll.html