Final Youth Survey Data

Survey Conducted by:

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

Interviews: 205 respondents

Dates: November 14-16, 1997

FINAL/Youth
Study #4890B
Human Rights USA
November 1997

1a. First, could you please tell me how old you are?

1b. And what grade are you in high school?

In this survey, we’ll be asking all kinds of questions about your experiences and your attitudes, and it’s very important to the success of this research project that you give us your honest answers and opinions. Please remember that there are no "right" or "wrong" answers to any of these questions. The only answer we want to hear is whatever you truly think or feel.

2a. First of all, suppose America’s Founding Fathers, like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, 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 they’d generally be disappointed?

Which specific values, principles, or ideals do you feel are most important to young Americans in your generation? [17-20]

2c. Let me ask you a general question. From your perspective as a student, do you feel that you are or are not learning things in school that will help prepare your generation to care about and deal with the issues and problems facing our society?

(IF RESPONDENT SAYS HE/SHE IS LEARNING TO DEAL WITH SOCIETAL PROBLEMS, ASK:) And do you think it’s good for school to be teaching these kinds of things, or not?

(IF RESPONDENT SAYS HE/SHE IS NOT LEARNING TO DEAL WITH SOCIETAL PROBLEMS, ASK:) And do you wish your school did teach these kinds of things, or not?

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.

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

(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?

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?

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"?

7. People get involved in different things, depending on their own interests and the time they have available. Thinking about just the past two years, have you personally done any volunteer work or community service, or haven’t you had a chance to do this?

8. 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?

9. 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? [60-63]

10a. How often do you hear or read about human rights issues on the news or in newspapers – very regularly, fairly regularly, once in a while, or hardly ever?

10b. And how often do you talk about human rights issues with your friends, classmates, or family -- very regularly, fairly regularly, once in a while, or hardly ever?

11a. 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?

11b. 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?

12a. 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?

(ASK ONLY OF RESPONDENTS WHO DO NOT NAME "UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS" IN Q.12a ABOVE.)

12b. 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?

13. 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?

14a. Finally, not everyone agrees on whether it’s important to educate the younger generation about human rights issues. As you look toward your own future, how important do you feel that it is for you and people your age to learn about and understand human rights -- extremely important, very important, fairly important, only somewhat important, or not important at all?

14b. Why is that? What difference, if any, does it make for young people to learn about this topic?

(IF "EXTREMELY/VERY/FAIRLY IMPORTANT" IN Q.14a, PROBE:) How would you be changed, and what impact would it have on your generation -- or on the country as a whole -- if more young people learned about human rights?

(IF "ONLY SOMEWHAT/NOT IMPORTANT/DEPENDS/NOT SURE" IN Q.14a, PROBE:) What are your main reasons for believing that it’s not very important for people in your generation to learn about human rights? [72-79]

Thank you so much for your help with this research study. Now, could I please talk to your (mother/father) to ask them a couple of questions about their occupation and background information?

(WHEN PARENT/CAREGIVER COMES ON THE LINE, SAY:) Thank you very much for allowing your child to take part in this study. I just have a few questions to ask you that are for statistical purposes only.

(IF PARENT/CAREGIVER/CHILD IS HESITANT, SAY:) This portion of the survey is just for background information and will only take one to two minutes to complete.

(IF PARENT/CAREGIVER IS NOT HOME OR STILL REFUSES TO COME TO THE PHONE, SAY:) Well, then let me ask you just a few questions that are for statistical purposes only.

F1. (RECORD PARENT’S/CAREGIVER’S GENDER HERE:)

F2. What type of work does the head of your household do? What is the job called?

F3a. (ASK PARENT/CAREGIVER:) What is the highest level of education you have completed? (DO NOT READ CHOICES.)

(ASK CHILD:) Of the parents who live at home with you, what are the highest levels of education they have completed? (READ CHOICES IF NECESSARY. PROBE IF NECESSARY, TO SEE IF THERE IS A SECOND PARENT.)

(ASK ONLY OF PARENT/CAREGIVER)

F3b. And what’s the highest level of education your spouse or partner has completed? If you don’t have a spouse or partner, please just say so. (DO NOT READ CHOICES. RECORD RESPONSE ABOVE UNDER APPROPRIATE PARENT/CAREGIVER.)

F4. What is the best way to describe the area where you live -- a city, a suburb, a small town, or a rural or farming area?

F5. For statistical purposes only, could you please tell me (your child’s/your) race or ethnic group -- Hispanic or Latino, white, African American, Asian, other, or mixed?

F6. And finally, for statistical purposes only, could you please tell me which one of the following categories represents your total household income? Just stop me when I get to the correct category.