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
6
2
 
Latinos
67
26
5
2
 
Q.10 (cont’d)
Human Rights Problem
Other Kind Of Problem
Human Rights And Other Problem (VOL)
Not Sure
 
Violent crime        
[70]
All adults
40
48
9
3
 
African Americans
47
45
6
2
 
Latinos
38
53
6
3
 
The declining quality of public education        
[66]
All adults
40
49
7
4
 
African Americans
57
32
6
5
 
Latinos
50
45
4
1
 
Laws requiring the use of English only        
[64]
All adults
33
55
6
6
 
African Americans
40
51
5
4
 
Latinos
44
47
5
4
 
Unsafe drinking water and polluted air        
[62]
All adults
31
59
7
3
 
African Americans
39
55
4
2
 
Latinos
33
61
3
3
 
The new law that cuts off welfare benefits to people who don’t get a job within a certain time period        
[65]
All adults
28
57
9
6
 
African Americans
38
49
9
4
 
Latinos
30
62
5
3
 
 

11a. As far as you know, is there an official document that sets forth human rights for everyone worldwide? (IF YES, ASK:) Can you tell me the name of that document?

 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
   
Yes, there is an official document      
SKIP TO
 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
8
8
6
Q.12.
[72]
Bill of Rights
2
1
2
   
U.S. Constitution
3
3
3
   
The Bible
2
1
2
   
Other
2
-
2
CONTINUE
 
Not sure of name
7
12
10
   
No, there is not an official document
50
38
47
   
Not sure whether there is an official document
26
37
28
   

(ASK ONLY OF RESPONDENTS WHO DO NOT NAME "UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS" IN Q.11a ABOVE.)

 

11b. As a matter of fact, there is an international document that was agreed to by the United States and other members of the United Nations in 1948. It is called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Before I just mentioned it, had you ever heard of this document?

 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
 
Had heard of Universal Declaration before
24
18
24
[73]
Had not heard of Universal Declaration before
63
68
68
 
Not sure
5
6
2
 
Names Universal Declaration (Q.11a)
8
8
6
 

12. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a document that the U.S. and other members of the United Nations helped to develop and strongly supported. It outlines a full set of rights and freedoms for all human beings. Some of the most basic rights include freedom of thought, speech, and religion; the right to own property, receive equal pay for equal work, and get a quality education; the right to fair economic and employment opportunities, and to adequate food, clothing, housing, and health care. The Declaration states that every human being is entitled to these and other rights.

Regardless of whether you had ever heard of this document before, would you say that the United States currently lives up to all of this, lives up to most of it, lives up to some of it, or lives up to very little of it?

 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
 
Lives up to all of it
6
6
5
[74]
Lives up to most of it
44
30
46
 
Lives up to some of it
36
43
29
 
Lives up to very little of it
11
20
17
 
Lives up to none of it (VOL)
2
1
-
 
Not sure
1
-
3
 
 

13. I’m going to read you some arguments for why we should do more here in the U.S. to uphold human rights for all members of our society.

For example, some people say we should do more to work on human rights because (READ FIRST ITEM, THEN ASK:) Do you personally feel that this is a very strong reason, a fairly strong reason, a fairly weak reason, or a very weak reason for doing more to protect human rights in the U.S.?

THIS TABLE HAS BEEN RANKED BY THE PERCENTAGE OF ALL ADULTS WHO SAY VERY STRONG REASON
 
Very Strong Reason
Fairly Strong Reason
Fairly Weak Reason
Very Weak Reason
Not Sure
 
Educating people about human rights issues is necessary to ensure that everyone knows what their rights are and what they can do to protect those rights          
[78]
All adults
58
29
6
4
3
 
African Americans
70
20
3
4
3
 
Latinos
67
26
2
2
3
 
The U.S. agreed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights fifty years ago, and we should be living up to that agreement          
[77]
All adults
53
30
7
6
4
 
African Americans
58
24
8
6
4
 
Latinos
59
30
8
-
3
 
Poverty and other inequalities and injustice in our society could be reduced or eliminated if we as individuals and communities made it a high priority to defend the human rights of all Americans          
[79]
All adults
48
30
10
7
5
 
African Americans
65
20
5
4
6
 
Latinos
57
26
9
2
6
 
Some major problems facing the country could be reduced or eliminated if government, policymakers, and other leaders made more decisions based on a human rights point of view          
[76]
All adults
40
33
12
11
4
 
African Americans
53
27
8
8
4
 
Latinos
44
37
12
4
3
 
The Constitution alone does not guarantee a full set of rights, such as the right to education and a clean environment          
[75]
All adults
29
39
13
14
5
 
African Americans
43
32
9
12
4
 
Latinos
41
38
14
3
4
 
 

14. Which two or three of the following groups do you feel should take the greatest responsibility for upholding and protecting human rights in this country -- whether you think that they currently do take responsibility or not?

THIS TABLE HAS BEEN RANKED BY THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF ALL ADULTS
 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
 
Elected government officials
54
58
52
[80]
Individuals
43
41
37
>
Civic and community groups
30
28
30
 
Law enforcement
18
17
16
 
Organized religion
18
19
12
 
The media
15
14
15
 
Businesses
15
10
15
 
All equally (VOL)
14
14
15
 
None/other (VOL)
-
-
1
 
Not sure
1
1
3
 
 

15a. As you know, the government has many responsibilities and deals with many high-priority issues. Thinking about everything we’ve discussed, which one of the following statements comes closest to your point of view regarding how we should approach the issue of human rights in this country? Compared to the other challenges facing the country, do you feel we should:

A) move aggressively, putting human rights near the top of the list;

B) move cautiously, trying to make regular progress on human rights problems;

C) move slowly, dealing with specific human rights problems one at a time; or should we

D) simply allow solutions to human rights problems to evolve naturally?

 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
 
Move aggressively
25
41
30
[81]
Move cautiously
51
42
45
 
Move slowly
15
10
17
 
Let solutions evolve naturally
6
4
4
 
Not sure
3
3
4
 
 

15b. Why do you feel that we as a country should or should not pay more attention to human rights issues and work on addressing human rights problems here in this country?

(PROBE:) Is there anything in particular with regard to the kinds of human rights issues we’ve talked about that seems either important to address or not really an important concern? [82-89]

 
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
Net Reasons Important to Address
60%
69%
66%
We can't ignore human rights; if we are caring/compassionate we should care, moral obligation
10
11
8
To make this world a better place, to have fewer problems; for the future of the country
9
6
9
Human rights are fundamental; without them we have nothing
9
9
4
Everybody is equal; less discrimination; we should combat racism
6
11
10
U.S. is the model for human rights; that is what the country is based on
4
4
4
Education is important; less illiteracy
4
8
10
       
Q.15b (cont'd)
All Adults
African Americans
Latinos
Net Reasons Not Really A Concern