Volume One: Life Choices

(fielded in 1990)

The Life Choices survey was designed to draw out the subtle nuances of the broad middle in America—rather than the ideological red/blue divide—on controversial moral and legal issues dividing our nation. We uncovered the fundamental beliefs, convictions, and values that inform American opinions on quality of life by asking questions about illegal immigration, nuclear war, homelessness, suicide, child abuse, drug abuse, environmentalism, animal rights, gender roles, suffering, sexuality, and abortion.

Volume Two: The State of Disunion

(fielded in 1996)

What was the state of the union (or disunion) at the turn of the millenia? For volume two we interviewed more than 2,000 Americans to produce a summary of popular political perception, opinion, and expectation.

Volume Three: The Politics of Character

(fielded in 2000)

In this third volume we take up questions surrounding character and its political significance. We consider how issues of morality and character play in the public’s mind, particularly as they pertain to political life. We also attempt to map the moral dispositions and commitments of typical Americans, examine their views of political leadership, and get a sense of their attitudes toward the current state of political life.

Volume Four: Difference & Democracy

(fielded in 2003) NOT YET AVAILABLE

Traditionally, America has prided itself on bringing unity out of diversity. In recent years, however, our country has seemed more marked by fragmentation and irreconcilable differences than e pluribus unum. In this survey volume, we seek to examine, in a complex way, the issues and sensibilities that divide Americans. Although we find divergence over particulars of public policy, we find broad support for American political and economic institutions and national symbols.