FSS POS Initial Questionnaire

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FSS Public Opinion Survey
Initial Questionnaire

READ: Now I have some questions on a different topic.  

First, I will ask you about four different numbers that you may have heard of or read about on the radio, TV, newspapers, the Internet, or somewhere else..  (ROTATE Q1-Q4)


1. Do you happen to know who measures the total number of people in the U.S., or the population count? (DO NOT READ)
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Department of Labor
Census Bureau
Department of Commerce
Unemployment Bureau/Department
Federal Government
State Government
Media/TV/News
Gallup
Other


2. Do you happen to know who measures the number of deaths in the U.S. caused by different diseases? (DO NOT READ) 
                        National Center for Health Statistics
Health and Human Services
Centers for Diseases Control
Federal Government
State Government
Media/TV/News
Gallup
Hospitals/Doctors
Other
 
3. Do you happen to know who measures the crime rate in the U.S.? (DO NOT READ) 
                        Federal Bureau of Investigations
                        Bureau of Justice Statistics
Department of Justice
Federal Government
State Government
Media/TV/News
Gallup
Police
Other
 
4. Do you happen to know who measures the U.S. Consumer Price Index or CPI? (DO NOT READ) 
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Department of Labor
Census Bureau
Department of Commerce
Federal Government
State Government
Media/TV/News
Gallup
Private Company
Other

5. Numbers like the ones I just mentioned are federal statistics produced by federal statistical agencies that are part of the federal government. Have you ever used federal statistics for study or work? 

1	Yes
2	No
3	(DK)
4	(Refused)


6. Personally, how much trust do you have in the federal statistics in the United States? Would you say that you tend to trust federal statistics or tend not to trust them? 
        1 Tend to trust them
        2 Tend not to trust them
        3 (DK)
        4 (Refused)
 

Please tell me, do you Strongly agree, Somewhat agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Somewhat disagree, or Strongly disagree with the following statements: (ROTATE 7-14)

5	Strongly agree
4	Somewhat agree
3	Neither agree nor disagree
2	Somewhat disagree
1	Strongly disagree
6	(DK)
7	(Refused)

    7. Policy makers need federal statistics to make good decisions about things like federal funding. 


    8. Statistics provided by federal agencies are generally accurate. 


    9. Statistics provided by federal agencies are often biased. 


    10. Elected officials interfere with the production of statistics by federal agencies. 


    11. People can trust federal statistical agencies to keep information about them confidential. 


    12. People can easily find out exactly how federal statistics are produced. 


    13. Federal statistical agencies are honest. 


    14. Federal statistical agencies are a reliable source for high quality statistics.


Now I’m going to read you a list of organizations in American society. Please tell me how much confidence you, yourself, have in each one – a great deal, quite a lot, some or very little?   (Read and rotate Q15--Q19)

4	A great deal
3	Quite a lot
2	Some
1	Very little
5	(DK)
6	(Refused)

15. Newspapers

16. The military

17. Federal statistical agencies 

18. Congress

    19. Universities




In order to produce statistics, federal agencies can ask people for information in a survey or get it from another source.  If you knew your name and other information would never be singled out and would only be used for statistics, would you prefer that federal statistical agencies: 

20. Ask you for your employment information in a survey -- or ask a state agency, like the employment or workforce office for it?

        1 Ask me in a survey
        2 Ask a state agency
        3 (Neither)
        4 (DK)
        5 (Refused)

21. Ask you for information on your use of healthcare services in a survey --  or ask your insurance company for it?

        1 Ask me in a survey
        2 Ask my insurance company
        3 (Neither)
        4 (DK)
        5 (Refused)


22. Ask you about the cost of products you buy in a survey  -- or use commercial records, like grocery store loyalty cards?|

        1 Ask me in a survey
        2 Use commercial records
        3 (Neither)
        4 (DK)
        5 (Refused)

23. Ask you for your earnings history information from you in a survey -- or ask the Social Security Administration for it?|

    1 Ask me in a survey
    2 Ask Social Security Administration
    3 (Neither)
    4 (DK)
    5 (Refused)

24. Ask you for your income information from you in a survey -- or ask the IRS for it?|

    1 Ask me in a survey
    2 Ask IRS 
    3 (Neither)
    4 (DK)
    5 (Refused)

25. Next, a question about the U.S. Government as a whole. Do you think federal government agencies share a single central database of the name, address and date of birth of U.S. residents?
Yes
No
DK