First Amendment Survey

Preface and Demographic Results

Preface to Results

This report of survey results was based on responses from 629 respondents to 27 questionnaire items. For the best understanding of results, the reader should refer to the actual questionnaire instrument in Appendix B for clarification of item wording.

In each of the following descriptive statistics tables, percent (%) refers to valid percent, which is the percent based on only those who actually responded to the item. In some tables the total number of responses is fewer than 629 because of respondents’ choices to not respond to individual items.

Most of the descriptive statistics tables are followed by comments presented in boxes labeled “Additional Findings.” The results presented in “Additional Findings” are based on extensive nonparametric and inferential statistical analyses examining relationships among variables. In many instances the “Additional Findings” refer to significant relationships with variables reported in more detail in other tables. In each instance where significant results are reported, those results are summarized in “Additional Findings” for each variable in the significant relationship. This creates duplication of results in two places, but enables the reader to search for findings of interest for each individual questionnaire item. Only statistically significant findings are reported. Levels of confidence are presented as * = p<.05, ** = p<.01, *** = p<.001, ****=p<.0001.

The first six questions on the survey provided demographic information about the respondants.

Table 2: Sex of respondents

 

Wisconsin Sample (%)

U.S. Census for WI (%)

Female

56.30

51.30

Male

43.70

48.70

 

Additional Findings Related to Sex of Respondents

·Males were more likely than females to believe Americans have too much freedom of religion.*

·Males were more likely than females to believe their rights to free speech have been violated.**

·Females were more likely than males to believe public schools should have a designated time for prayer.*

·Females were more likely than males to believe public schools should have rules to punish students who use racist or sexist speech.*

·Males were more likely than females to believe the phrase “Under God” should be removed from the pledge.**

·Females were more likely than males to believe people should be punished for protesting on public property.*

·Males were more likely than females to believe the government should be able to monitor certain religious groups.****

·Males were more likely than females to believe the government should be able to monitor library withdrawals.*

·Males were more likely than females to be “not sure” about voting in 2004.**

·Males were more likely than females to be Republican or Independent. Females were more likely to be Democrats.**

* = p<.05, ** = p<.01, *** = p<.001, ****=p<.0001

Table 3: Race of respondents

 

Wisconsin Sample (%)

U.S. Census for WI (%)

White

92.4

88.9

African-American

2.5

5.7

Latina/Latino

.8

3.6

Native American

.8

.9

Asian/Pacific Islander

.2

1.7

Multiracial

1.3

1.2

Other

.6

1.6

No Response

1.4

 

Table 4:Age of respondents

 

Wisconsin Sample

U.S. Census for WI (%)

18-24

6.8

.13

25-29

7.9

.08

30-39

19.5

.20

40-49

21.6

.21

50-59

21.5

.15

60+

22.7

.23

 

Additional Findings Related to Age of Respondents

·Those under age 50 were more likely to know freedom of the press.**

·Those between the ages of 40 and 60 were more likely to know the right to petition.*

·Those over age 40 were more likely to agree that there should be designated time for prayer in public schools.**

·Those between the ages of 30 and 60 were less likely to believe in punishment for protesting on public property****, less likely to believe in punishment for criticizing the government during wartime**, but more likely to believe the government should monitor certain religious groups.****

·Those over age 50 were more likely to vote in 2004.****

·Those below age 30 and those 50 to 60 years old were more likely to be Democrats than Republicans.*

* = p<.05, ** = p<.01, *** = p<.001, ****=p<.0001

Table 5: Household Income

 

Wisconsin Sample (%)

U.S. Census for WI (%)

< $30,000

16.1

32.2

$30,000-75,000

56.1

47.5

>$75,000

17.5

20.3

 

Additional Findings Related to Income Groups

·Those who knew that freedom of speech was protected were more likely to have household incomes over $30,000.*

·Those who knew more of the rights protected by the First Amendment were more likely to have household incomes greater than $30,000.**

·Those with incomes above $75,000 were more likely to know the First Amendment protects the right to assemble than those with incomes below $30,000.**

·Those with incomes above $75,000 were more likely to know the First Amendment protects the right to petition than all other income groups.**

·Those with household incomes less than $30,000 were more likely to believe their freedom of the press has been violated.**

·Those with incomes above $75,000 do not believe people should be punished for desecrating or burning the flag.**

·Those with incomes above $75,000 were more likely to support monitoring of library withdrawals than those with incomes below $30,000.*

·Those with incomes above $30,000 were more likely to believe the government should monitor religious groups****, and censor journalists**, but do not believe people should be punished for criticizing the government during wartime.**

·Those with incomes below $30,000 were more likely to be Democrats or Independents while those with incomes above $75,000 were more likely to be Republicans.*

Table 6: Intentions to Vote in the 2004 Presidential Election

Percent

Yes

92.0

No

4.3

Not Sure

3.7

 

Additional Findings Related to Intention to Vote in 2004

·Those who knew more of the rights protected by the First Amendment were more likely to vote in 2004 presidential election.*

·Those who felt their right to free speech has been violated were less likely to vote in the 2004 presidential election.*

·Males were more likely than females to be “not sure” about voting in 2004.**

·Those over age 50 were more likely to vote in 2004.****

* = p<.05, ** = p<.01, *** = p<.001, ****=p<.0001

Table 7: Political Affiliation

 

Wisconsin Sample (%)

FAC National Sample (%)

Democrat

29.3

30.0

Republican

26.1

27.0

Independent

21.5

26.0

No Preference

14.5

8.0

Other

1.9

4.0

I Don’t Know/No Response

6.9

4.0

 

Additional Findings Related to Political Affiliations

·Republicans and Independents were more likely than Democrats to know that freedom of religion is protected.*

·Democrats were more likely than Republicans to believe we have too little freedom of speech.*

·Republicans and Independents were more likely than Democrats to believe we have too little freedom of religion.***

·Republicans were more likely than Democrats and Independents to believe public schools should have designated time for prayer.*

·Democrats and Independents were more likely than Republicans to believe that the phrase “under God” should be removed from the pledge.**

·Republicans were more likely than Democrats and Independents to believe in punishment for burning the flag.***

·Republicans and Democrats were more likely than Independents to believe in punishment for protesting or demonstrating on public property.**

·Republicans were more likely than Democrats and Independents to believe in punishment for criticizing the government during wartime.**

·Republicans were more likely than Democrats and Independents to believe the government should be able to monitor certain religious groups as part of the war on terrorism.****

·Republicans were more likely than Democrats and Independents to believe the government should be able to monitor library withdrawals as part of the war on terrorism.****

·Those below age 30 and those 50 to 60 years old were more likely to be Democrats than Republicans.*

·Those with incomes below $30,000 were more likely to be Democrats or Independents while those with incomes above $75,000 were more likely to be Republicans.*

·Males were more likely than females to be Republican or Independent. Females were more likely to be Democrats.**
* = p<.05, ** = p<.01, *** = p<.001, ****=p<.0001