Sociology Now, Census Update

WHAT DOES AMERICA THINK? 649

19.1 Environmental Threats and Science

These are actual survey data from the General Social Survey, 2000.

Many of the claims about environmental threats are greatly exaggerated.Less

than 30 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with this statement, and

almost 43 percent disagreed or strongly disagreed. Those in the middle and upper

classes were most likely to disagree, while those in the lower class were most likely

to agree. Age and race differences were not significant.

Modern science will solve our environmental problems with little change to

our way of life.Almost 50 percent of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed

with this statement, while only 22 percent agreed or strongly agreed. Those in the

upper class were most likely to disagree.

CRITICAL THINKING|DISCUSSION QUESTION

1. Why do you think there are social class differences in the survey responses?

19.2 What Are We Willing to Do?

These are actual survey data from the General Social Survey, 2000.

How often do you make a special effort to sort glass or cans or plastic or

papers and so on for recycling?Almost 33 percent of respondents said they

always recycle, while 24 percent said they often recycle. Those in the upper class

were much more likely to say they always recycle (50 percent), and those in the

lower class were more likely to say they never recycle (16.2 percent), although that

percentage was still relatively low.

CRITICAL THINKING|DISCUSSION QUESTION

1. What do you think explains the social class differences in responses?

What

does

America

think

?

3 Go to this website to look further at the data. You can run your own statistics and crosstabs

here: http://sda.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/hsda?harcsda+gss04

REFERENCES:Davis, James A., Tom W. Smith, and Peter V. Marsden. General Social Surveys

1972–2004: [Cumulative file] [Computer file]. 2nd ICPSR version. Chicago, IL: National Opinion Research

Center [producer], 2005; Storrs, CT: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut;

Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research; Berkeley, CA: Computer-Assisted

Survey Methods Program, University of California [distributors], 2005.