Final Adult Survey Data

Survey Conducted By:

PETER D. HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC.
1724 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 234-5570

Interviews: 1004 respondents including 171 African Americans, 145 Latinos

Dates: November 3-4, 7-8, 1997

[5]
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
Male
48
42
51
Female
52
58
49

FINAL/Adults

Study #4890B
Human Rights USA
November 1997

SAMPLE POINT
 
AREA
 
TYPE
 
DATE
 
               
November
   
1997
[6]
[7]
[8]
 
[9]
[10]
 
[11]
 
[12]
[13]
 
 

1. First of all, suppose America’s Founding Fathers came back to the present day. Do you think that they would generally approve of the way things are going in the country, or do you think that they’d generally be disappointed?

 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
 
Would approve
16
14
21
[14]
Would be disappointed
76
80
69
 
Mixed (VOL)
6
4
3
 
Not sure
2
2
7
 
 

2. Imagine that a journalist from another country came to the U.S. and was doing a series of interviews with people throughout the nation in order to get a better understanding of Americans and the American way of life. If that reporter asked you what kinds of values most stand out in our society today, what would you say?

Which specific values, principles, or ideals do you feel are most important to Americans? [15-18]

 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
Family values
26
23
24
Honesty, trustworthiness
10
9
7
Money, making a living
7
8
8
Greedy, materialistic
7
6
6
Prayer, religion
6
5
5
Freedom
6
2
1
Work ethics
5
4
3
Education
5
5
9
We've lost our values
7
4
4
Moral values are declining
5
1
3
Too much corruption
3
6
5
Don’t know; no response
12
20
21
 

3. People have different ideas regarding how various groups in this country are treated in our society. For each group I mention, I’d like your opinion on whether they usually receive too many special advantages, usually receive fair treatment, or usually are discriminated against.

THIS TABLE HAS BEEN RANKED BY THE PERCENTAGE OF ALL ADULTS WHO SAY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST
 
Receive Too Many Special Advantages
Receive Fair Treatment
Are

Discriminated Against

Not Sure
 
Poor people        
[24]
All adults
8
23
63
6
 
African Americans
5
9
78
8
 
Latinos
9
25
59
7
 
People with physical or mental disabilities        
[29]
All adults
3
31
61
5
 
African Americans
2
24
66
8
 
Latinos
8
33
56
3
 
The elderly        
[21]
All adults
5
37
54
4
 
African Americans
5
25
67
3
 
Latinos
2
38
58
2
 
Gays and lesbians        
[28]
All adults
17
21
51
11
 
African Americans
7
14
64
15
 
Latinos
6
21
59
14
 
Native Americans        
[30]
All adults
7
34
50
9
 
African Americans
-
24
64
12
 
Latinos
6
34
52
8
 
Blacks        
[20]
All adults
19
33
41
7
 
African Americans
2
19
70
9
 
Latinos
12
37
45
6
 
Women        
[19]
All adults
6
51
40
3
 
African Americans
6
27
63
4
 
Latinos
5
43
49
3
 
Hispanics or Latinos        
[25]
All adults
13
38
38
11
 
African Americans
11
21
55
13
 
Latinos
5
49
42
4
 
Immigrants        
[22]
All adults
28
29
34
9
 
African Americans
23
21
45
11
 
Latinos
14
28
50
8
 
Asians        
[27]
All adults
13
50
23
14
 
African Americans
16
39
30
15
 
Latinos
11
52
26
11
 
Q.3 (cont'd)
Receive Too Many Special Advantages
Receive Fair Treatment
Are

Discriminated Against

Not Sure
 
Teenagers        
[26]
All adults
25
48
20
7
 
African Americans
28
36
29
7
 
Latinos
28
43
24
5
 
Whites        
[23]
All adults
13
63
19
5
 
African Americans
31
46
15
8
 
Latinos
22
67
9
2
 
Wealthy people        
[31]
All adults
64
25
7
4
 
African Americans
64
25
7
4
 
Latinos
67
24
6
3
 
 

4a. Have you personally ever felt that you were the victim of discrimination by society, based on any of the following factors?

THIS TABLE HAS BEEN RANKED BY THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF ALL ADULTS
 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
   
Have Been A Victim (Net)
49
75
63
   
Your racial or ethnic background
19
58
47
 
[32]
Your gender
18
29
16
 
>
Your economic status
18
27
28
   
Your age
15
21
17
   
Your religious beliefs
10
14
10
   
Your language
5
8
18
   
Your sexual orientation
5
9
5
CONTINUE
 
A physical or mental disability
5
8
4
   
Other (VOL)
2
4
-
   
Have not been victim of discrimination

based on these factors

47
23
32
SKIP TO
 
Not sure/refused
4
3
4
Q.5.
 
 

(ASK ONLY OF RESPONDENTS WHO SAY THEY’VE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN Q.4a.)

4b. Has this discrimination occurred just once in a while, fairly often, very often, or almost all the time?

 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
 
Just once in a while
29
43
40
[33]
Fairly often
11
12
11
 
Very often
4
8
8
 
Almost all the time
4
10
5
 
Not sure/refused
1
1
-
 
Have Not Been Victim/Not Sure (Q.4a)
51
26
36
 
 

5. In your opinion, which of the following statements best explains why some people in this country are poor?

STATEMENT A: For the most part, people who live in the United States have a fair and equal opportunity to succeed, as long as they work hard and do their best. Most poor people do have these opportunities, but just don’t do enough to take responsibility and help themselves.

STATEMENT B: Many people in this country face serious hardships and obstacles, such as discrimination and lack of equal opportunities. The system is stacked against some people, and it’s not their fault that they end up living in poverty.

Which of these statements more closely matches your opinion?

 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
 
Statement A/fair and equal opportunity
49
34
53
[34]
Statement B/system stacked against some people
35
51
33
 
Some of both (VOL)
12
13
10
 
Neither (VOL)
3
2
3
 
Not sure
1
-
1
 

6. If you were giving the United States a "report card" on how we are doing when it comes to (READ FIRST ITEM:), would you give the country an "A," "B," "C," "D," or "F"?

THIS TABLE HAS BEEN RANKED BY THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE FOR ALL ADULTS
 
Grade Point Average+
A
B
C
D
F
Cannot Rate
 
Providing young people with access to a quality education              
[35-36]
All adults
2.3
13
31
35
13
8
-
 
African Americans
2.0
12
24
32
17
14
1
 
Latinos
2.3
14
31
35
12
8
-
 
Ensuring equal treatment and equal pay for women in the workplace              
[39-40]
All adults
2.1
9
29
36
18
8
-
 
African Americans
1.8
9
18
35
21
17
-
 
Latinos
2.0
5
30
38
16
11
-
 
Protecting the environment              
[45-46]
All adults
2.0
7
27
32
22
12
-
 
African Americans
1.8
11
16
34
23
16
-
 
Latinos
2.0
7
29
32
20
11
1
 
Helping poor people              
[43-44]
All adults
2.0
7
26
37
22
8
-
 
African Americans
1.6
7
17
29
25
22
-
 
Latinos
2.0
11
25
30
20
12
2
 
People’s involvement in their communities              
[41-42]
All adults
2.0
6
27
40
20
7
-
 
African Americans
1.9
9
19
37
21
14
-
 
Latinos
1.9
4
22
42
20
11
1
 
Americans’ concern and compassion for one another              
[49-50]
All adults
2.0
5
26
38
22
9
-
 
African Americans
1.7
9
17
33
20
21
-
 
Latinos
1.9
6
27
33
24
10
-
 
 
Q.6 (cont'd)
Grade Point Average+
A
B
C
D
F
Cannot Rate
 
Being tolerant of people who have different value systems or lifestyles              
[47-48]
All adults
2.0
5
22
45
19
9
-
 
African Americans
1.7
6
14
37
27
16
-
 
Latinos
2.0
5
24
41
20
8
2
 
Combating racism and prejudice              
[53-54]
All adults
1.9
5
21
41
22
11
-
 
African Americans
1.5
4
16
33
21
26
-
 
Latinos
1.8
6
15
41
21
15
2
 
Providing access to affordable health care              
[51-52]
All adults
1.7
6
17
31
27
18
1
 
African Americans
1.6
7
16
29
24
24
-
 
Latinos
1.9
9
18
36
20
16
1
 
Respecting one another              
[37-38]
All adults
1.7
3
17
42
23
15
-
 
African Americans
1.4
4
11
33
23
29
-
 
Latinos
1.7
4
15
46
20
15
-
 
+ The average grade is based on the assignment of a point value to the letter grades as follows: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, and F=0.
 

7. Now I’d like to discuss the subject of human rights. First, do you believe that every person has basic rights that are common to all human beings, regardless of whether their government recognizes those rights or not; OR do you believe that rights are given to an individual by his or her government?

 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
 
Every person has basic rights
76
74
71
[55]
Rights are given by government
17
19
24
 
Some of both (VOL)
4
4
3
 
Neither (VOL)
-
1
-
 
Not sure
3
2
2
 
 

8. When I mention the term "human rights," what are the first things that come to mind?

(PROBE:) Do you see particular images or think of specific things when I bring up the idea of human rights? [56-59]

 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
Right to say what you want; freedom of speech
14
11
25
Equality, equal opportunity
13
18
13
Right to be treated fairly
10
14
11
Basic rights; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
10
9
5
Freedom to do what you want as long as it is legal/we are not hurting each other
9
9
13
Freedom
7
8
7
Freedom to pursue happiness
7
3
8
Right to work, earn a living
6
4
8
Right to choose
5
4
9
Don’t know; no response
9
12
12
 

9a. From your point of view, what is the overall human rights situation in the United States -- would you say this country has a very serious human rights problem, has a fairly serious human rights problem, has a minor human rights problem, or does not have a human rights problem?

 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
 
Has very serious problem
17
36
22
[60]
Has fairly serious problem
35
38
34
 
Has minor problem
39
23
33
 
Does not have problem
7
2
7
 
Not sure
2
1
4
 
 

9b. And thinking about the human rights situation in countries all over the world, how would you rank the United States -- is the U.S. one of the very best nations in safeguarding the human rights of its people, is it above average, just about average, a little below average, or is the U.S. near the bottom in safeguarding the human rights of its people?

 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
 
One of the very best
34
23
31
[61]
Above average
40
38
35
 
Just about average
19
24
27
 
A little below average
5
12
5
 
Near the bottom
1
3
-
 
Not sure
1
-
2
 
 

10. Some people believe that certain problems or conflicts in American society are tied directly to the violation of basic human rights. Others say that these problems have little or nothing to do with human rights. I’m going to describe a number of particular problems in the U.S. and ask you to give me your opinion.

The first one is (READ FIRST ITEM, THEN ASK:) Would you describe this specifically as a human rights problem, or as some other kind of problem?

THIS TABLE HAS BEEN RANKED BY THE PERCENTAGE OF ALL ADULTS WHO SAY HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEM
 
Human Rights Problem
Other Kind Of Problem
Human Rights And Other Problem (VOL)
Not Sure
 
The use of excessive force or brutality by police when arresting a suspect        
[63]
All adults
68
23
6
3
 
African Americans
73
20
4
3
 
Latinos
73
21
5
1
 
Racism        
[71]
All adults
66
23
7
4
 
African Americans
69
21
9
1
 
Latinos
73
18
4
5
 
Discrimination against gays and lesbians        
[67]
All adults
56
32
5
7
 
African Americans
58
35
4
3
 
Latinos
64
28
4
4
 
Poverty, homelessness, and hunger        
[68]
All adults
53
34
9
4
 
African Americans
62
29
8
1
 
Latinos
63
32
5
-
 
Unequal pay for women in the workplace        
[69]
All adults
51
40
5
4
 
African Americans
57
35