I. Survey Methodology

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Agnes Hutchinson
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I.SurveyMethodology TheElonUniversityPollisconductedusingastratifiedrandomsampleofhouseholdswithtelephonesin thepopulationofinterest inthiscase,citizensinnorthcarolina.

1 I.SurveyMethodology TheElonUniversityPollisconductedusingastratifiedrandomsampleofhouseholdswithtelephonesin thepopulationofinterest inthiscase,citizensinnorthcarolina.thesampleoftelephonenumbers forthesurveyisobtainedfromsurveysamplinginternational,llc. SelectionofHouseholds Toequalizetheprobabilityoftelephoneselection,sampletelephonenumbersaresystematically stratifiedaccordingtosubpopulationstrata(e.g.,azipcode,acounty,astate,etc.),whichyieldsa samplefromtelephoneexchangesinproportiontoeachexchange'sshareoftelephonehouseholdsin thepopulationofinterest.estimatesoftelephonehouseholdsinthepopulationofinterestare generallyobtainedfromseveraldatabases.samplesoftelephonenumbersaredistributedacrossall eligibleblocksofnumbersinproportiontothedensityoflistedhouseholdsassignedinthepopulationof interestaccordingtoaspecifiedsubpopulationstratum.upondeterminingtheprojected(orpreferred) samplesize,asamplingintervaliscalculatedbysummingthenumberoflistedresidentialnumbersin eacheligibleblockwithinthepopulationofinterestanddividingthatsumbythenumberofsampling pointsassignedtothepopulation.fromarandomstartbetweenzeroandthesamplinginterval,blocks aresystematicallyselectedinproportiontothedensityoflistedhousehold"workingblocks."ablock (alsoknownasabank)isasetofcontiguousnumbersidentifiedbythefirsttwodigitsofthelastfour digitsofatelephonenumber.aworkingblockcontainsthreeormoreworkingtelephonenumbers. Exchangesareassignedtoapopulationonthebasisofalleligibleblocksinproportiontothedensityof workingtelephonehouseholds.onceeachpopulation'sproportionoftelephonehouseholdsis determined,thenasamplinginterval,basedonthatproportion,iscalculatedandspecificexchangesand numbersarerandomlyselected.becauseexchangesandnumbersarerandomlyselectedbythe computer,unlistedaswellaslistedtelephonenumbersareincludedinthesample.thus,thesampleof telephonenumbersgeneratedforthepopulationofinterestconstitutesarandomsampleoftelephone householdsofthepopulation,stratifiedbyexchange.

2 ProceduresUsedforConductingthePoll ThesurveywasconductedSunday,March15 th throughthursday,march19 th of2009.duringthistime callsweremadefrom5:00pmto9:00pmest,mondaythroughthursday,andfrom1:00pmto6:00pm EST,onSunday.TheElonUniversityPollusesCATIsystemsoftware(computerassistedtelephone interviewing)intheadministrationofsurveys.foreachworkingtelephonenumberinthesample, severalattemptsweremadetoreachthehousehold.onlyindividualsinhouseholds18yearsorolder wereinterviewed;thosereachedatbusinessorworknumberswerenotinterviewed.withineach household,oneadultisgenerallyselectedbasedonwhethers/heistheoldestoryoungestadultinthe home.interviews,whichareconductedbyliveinterviewers,arecompletedwithadultsfrom householdsinthetargetpopulationasspecified.interviewsforthissurveywerecompletedwith620 adultsfromhouseholdsinnorthcarolina.forasamplesizeof620,thereisa95percentprobability thatoursurveyresultsarewithinplusorminus4.0percentagepoints(themarginofsamplingerror)of theactualpopulationdistributionforanygivenquestion.forsub samples(asubgroupselectedfrom theoverallsample),themarginoferrorishigherdependingonthesizeofthesubsample.whenweuse asubsample,weidentifytheseresultsasbeingfromasubsampleandprovidethetotalnumberof respondentsandmarginoferrorforthatsubsample.inreportingourresults,wenoteanyuseofa subsamplewhereapplicable.becauseoursurveysarebasedonprobabilitysampling,thereareavariety offactorsthatpreventtheseresultsfrombeingperfect,completedepictionsofthepopulation;the foremostexampleisthatofmarginofsamplingerror(asnotedabove).withallprobabilitysamples, therearetheoreticalandpracticaldifficultiesestimatingpopulationcharacteristics(orparameters). Thus,whileeffortsaremadetoreduceorlessensuchthreats,samplingerroraswellasothersourcesof error whilenotallinclusive,examplesofothererroreffectsarenon responserates,questionorder effects,questionwordingeffects,etc. arepresentinsurveysderivedfromprobabilitysamples. QuestionsandQuestionOrder TheElonUniversityPollprovidesthequestionsaswordedandtheorderinwhichthesequestionsare administered(torespondents).conspicuousinreviewingsomequestionsisthe bracketed information.informationcontainedwithinbrackets([])denotesresponseoptionsasprovidedinthe question;thisbracketedinformationisrotatedperquestiontoensurethatrespondentsdonotreceivea setorderofresponseoptionspresentedtothem,whichalsomaintainsquestionconstructionintegrity byavoidingrespondentacquiescencebasedonquestioncomposition.similarly,toprotectagainst questionordereffects(wherespecificquestionsmay prime orinfluencearespondent sanswersto subsequentquestions),questionorderisrandomizedduringadministration.forgroupsofquestionsin whichastandard,setorderofadministrationcaninfluenceresponsestosubsequentquestions, questionsareadministeredrandomlyduringthesurvey;thistechniqueprotectsagainstquestionorder effects.somequestionsusedaprobemaneuvertodeterminearespondent sintensityofperspective. Probetechniquesusedinthisquestionnairemainlyconsistofaskingarespondentiftheirresponseis moreintensethaninitiallyprovided.forexample,uponindicatingwhethers/heissatisfiedor dissatisfied,weaskedtherespondent wouldyousayyouarevery satisfied / dissatisfied? This

3 techniqueisemployedinsomequestionsasopposedtospecifyingthefullrangeofchoicesinthe question.thoughspecifyingthefullrangeofoptionsinquestionsisacommonlyacceptedpracticein surveyresearch,wesometimespreferthattherespondentdeterminewhethertheirperspectiveis strongerormoreintenseforwhichtheprobetechniqueused.anothermethodforacquiring informationfromrespondentsistoaskan open ended question.theopen endedquestionisa questionforwhichnoresponseoptionsareprovided,i.e.,itisentirelyuptotherespondenttoprovide theresponseinformation. TheElonUniversityPoll TheElonUniversityPollisconductedundertheauspicesoftheCenterforPublicOpinionPolling(Hunter Bacot,Director&MileahKromer,AssistantDirector),whichisaconstituentpartoftheInstitutefor PoliticsandPublicAffairs(GeorgeTaylor,Director);boththeseorganizationsarehousedinthe departmentofpoliticalscienceatelonuniversity.theseacademicunitsarepartofeloncollege,the CollegeofArtsandSciencesatElonUniversity,whichisunderthedirectionofDr.StevenHouse(Dean). TheElonUniversityadministration,ledbyDr.LeoLambert,Presidentoftheuniversity,fullysupportthe ElonUniversityPollaspartofitsservicecommitmenttostate,regional,andnationalconstituents.Dr. HunterBacot,aprofessorinthedepartmentofpoliticalscience,directstheElonUniversityPoll.Elon UniversitystudentsadministerthesurveyaspartoftheUniversity scommitmenttoexperiential learningwhere studentslearnthroughdoing.

4 II.SurveyInstrumentandDistributionsbyQuestion Interviewswerecompletedwith620adultsfromhouseholdsintheNorthCarolina.Forasamplesize of620,thereisa95percentprobabilitythatoursurveyresultsarewithinplusorminus4.0 percentagepoints(themarginofsamplingerror)oftheactualpopulationdistributionforanygiven question.questionsarepresentedbytopic,notintheorderasadministered;dataareweightedto reflecttheadultpopulationintermsofrace. AbouttheCodesappearinginQuestionsandResponses ResponseOptionsnotoffered v=volunteeredresponse p=probedresponse Responseoptionsarenotofferedtothepersontakingthe survey(respondent),butareincludedinthequestionas asked(andusuallydenotedbybrackets, []).Responseoptionsaregenerallyofferedonlyfor demographicquestions(backgroundcharacteristic,e.g.,age, education,income,etc.). Respondentsvolunteerresponseoption.Asresponseoptions arenotofferedtothosetakingthesurvey,somerespondents offerorvolunteerresponseoptions.thoughnotall volunteeredoptionscanbeanticipated,themorecommon optionsarenoted. Respondentsself placeinthisoptionorcategory.aprobe maneuverisusedinquestionstoallowtherespondentto indicatewhetherher/hisresponseismoreintensethan initiallyprovidedforinthechoicesappearinginthequestion. Forexample,onprobequestionstheinterviewer,upona respondentindicatingthatshe/heissatisfied(ordissatisfied), isinstructedtoaskhim/her Wouldyousayyouare very satisfied?

5 MostImportantIssue First, I would like to know what you think is the most important issue facing the state of North Carolina? ECONOMY 44.4 JOBS & UNEMPLOYMENT 26.3 ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY EDUCATION 9.0 HEALTH CARE 2.6 TAXES 2.1 CRIME & DRUGS 1.3 IMMIGRATION 1.1 FAMILY VALUES & MORALS 1.0 UNIVERSITY SYSTEM 0.4 OTHER 9.4 DON T KNOW 2.6 REFUSED.1

6 WrongTrack/RightDirection Now, thinking about things in the country, do you feel things in this country [have gotten off on the wrong track, or are going in the right direction]? STRONGLY GOTTEN OFF ON THE WRONG TRACK (p) 26.3 GOTTEN OFF ON THE WRONG TRACK 26.2 GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION 30.5 STRONGLY GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION (p) 8.8 DON T KNOW (v) 7.8 REFUSED (v).5 PresidentObamaApproval Now I m going to ask you some questions about the President.. Do you [approve or disapprove] of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? STRONGLY DISAPPROVE (p) 15.7 DISAPPROVE 13.0 APPROVE 31.0 STRONGLY APPROVE (p) 30.3 DON T KNOW (v) 9.6 REFUSED (v).4

7 STRONGLY DISAPPROVE (p) 15.7 DISAPPROVE 13.0 APPROVE 31.0 STRONGLY APPROVE (p) 30.3 DON T KNOW (v) 9.6 REFUSED (v).4 Do you [approve or disapprove] of the way President Obama is handling the economy? STRONGLY DISAPPROVE (p) 18.2 DISAPPROVE 16.3 APPROVE 36.5 STRONGLY APPROVE (p) 21.2 DON T KNOW (v) 7.4

8 IraqWar Do you [approve or disapprove] of the way President Obama is handling the war in Iraq? STRONGLY DISAPPROVE (p) 7.4 DISAPPROVE 13.0 APPROVE 43.7 STRONGLY APPROVE (p) 21.2 DON T KNOW (v) 14.3 REFUSED (v).5 Do you think the United States is now [less at risk or more at risk] of future terrorist attacks? LESS AT RISK 27.2 ABOUT THE SAME RISK 19.9 MORE AT RISK 43.6 DON T KNOW (v) 8.8 REFUSED (v).5

9 Do you [support or oppose] President Obama's plan to withdraw most U.S. troops from Iraq? STRONGLY OPPOSE (p) 9.6 OPPOSE 12.9 SUPPORT 33.1 STRONGLY SUPPORT (p) 35.0 STAY UNTIL JOB IS DONE (v) 2.3 DON'T KNOW (v) 7.0 REFUSED (v).1 Do you think the war with Iraq was worth fighting or not? NOT WORTH IT 53.6 WORTH IT 39.4 DON T KNOW (v) 5.9 REFUSED (v) 1.1

10 USCongress On a scale of 1 to 10, with [1 being extremely dishonest and 10 being extremely honest], how would you rate the United States Congress? EXTREMELY DISHONEST MIDDLE CATEGORY EXTREMELY HONEST 2.6 DON T KNOW (v) 4.4 REFUSED (v).1

11 NCLegislature On a scale of 1 to 10, with [1 being extremely dishonest and 10 being extremely honest], how would you rate the North Carolina General Assembly? EXTREMELY DISHONEST MIDDLE CATEGORY EXTREMELY HONEST 2.1 DON T KNOW (v) 15.7 REFUSED (v).7

12 Now, I'd like to ask you about the job your state legislators are doing... Please tell me if you [approve or disapprove] of the job each of the following are doing? Do you [approve or disapprove] of the job the Democratic members of the General Assembly are doing? Do you [approve or disapprove] of the job the Republican members of the General Assembly are doing? Do you [approve or disapprove] of the job the Leadership of the House is doing? Do you [approve or disapprove] of the job the Leadership of the Senate is doing? Do you [approve or disapprove] of the job your Representative in the State House is doing? Do you [approve or disapprove] of the job your Senator in the State Senate is doing? Do you [approve or disapprove] of the job The North Carolina General Assembly as a whole is doing? Note: Total (N=620; +/- 4.0%) STRONGLY DISAPPROVE DISAPPROVE APPROVE STRONGLY APPROVE DON T KNOW (v)

13 Now, I'd like to ask you some questions about the accessibility and availability of public documents... Most states have laws called "Sunshine Laws" that make public documents, records, information, and meetings available and accessible to citizens.... are you [aware or not aware] if North Carolina has these laws? Not aware 62.5 Aware 35.2 Don t Know (v) 2.3 In general, how [important or unimportant] is it for citizens to have access to public documents, records, information, and meetings? Would you say it is [not at all important, somewhat important, or very important]? Not at all important 2.7 Somewhat important 26.9 Very important 68.1 Don t Know (v) 2.3

14 Do you believe that citizen access to public documents, records, information, and meetings [does influence or does not influence] government operations? Does not influence government operations 16.1 Influences government operations 75.9 Don t Know (v) 7.9 Now I want to read you some statements about the availability and accessibility of public documents, records, information, and meetings, in connection with how government operates. Please tell me whether you [strongly disagree, disagree, agree, or strongly agree] with each statement... Open records and meetings keep government operations honest Closed records and meetings allow government to get things done Government needs to be able to keep records and meetings secret if necessary Democracy is best when government operates openly Some public records and meetings should be kept secret if it helps the war on terrorism Note: Total (N=620; +/- 4.0%) STRONGLY DISAGREE DISAGREE AGREE STRONGLY AGREE DON T KNOW (v)

15 When it comes to actions and activities of state and local governments, would you say you have [a lot of interest, some interest, little interest, or no interest at all]? No interest 1.2 Little interest 10.9 Some interest 47.8 A lot of interest 39.6 Don t Know (v).5 When it comes to actions and activities of the federal government, would you say you have [a lot of interest, some interest, little interest, or no interest at all]? No interest 1.3 Little interest 3.2 Some interest 34.2 A lot of interest 60.8 Don t Know (v).5

16 When thinking about the accessibility and availability of your state and local governments, would you say they are [always accessible and available, somewhat accessible and available, or not at all accessible and available]? Not at all accessible and available 7.0 Somewhat accessible and available 74.0 Always accessible and available 7.8 Don t Know (v) 10.7 Refused (v).5 When thinking about the accessibility and availability of the federal government, would you say it is [always accessible and available, somewhat accessible and available, or not at all accessible and available]? Not at all accessible and available 18.4 Somewhat accessible and available 70.6 Always accessible and available 4.9 Don t Know (v) 5.4 Refused (v).8

17 Have you ever tried to get any public documents, records, and information? No 47.2 Yes 52.1 Don't Know (v).7 (If yes, continue to next question, if no, skips to other state issue questions) Were you successful in getting these documents, records, or information? No 14.9 Yes 82.8 Don t Know (v) 2.2 Total (N=323; +/-5.6% ) How was your experience in getting these documents, records, or information... was it [very easy, easy, difficult, or very difficult]? Very difficult 12.4 Difficult 40.0 Easy 35.5 Very easy 9.8 Don't recall or remember (v) 1.5 Don t Know (v).8

18 Total (N=323; +/- 5.6%) 100.0

I. Survey Methodology

I. Survey Methodology I.SurveyMethodology TheElonUniversityPollisconductedusingastratifiedrandomsampleofhouseholdswithtelephonesin thepopulationofinterest inthiscase,citizensinnorthandsouthcarolina.thesampleoftelephone numbersforthesurveyisobtainedfromsurveysamplinginternational,llc.