Marsden, Peter V.; Fekete, Maleah; Baum, Derick

TR45

The General Social Survey (GSS), conducted since 1972, is a widely-known and used multitopic survey of American adults. Since the 1980s, it has implemented most major survey-based strategies for measuring egocentric networks within one or ore of its national samples, and disseminated the resulting data widely.  It has thereby become an important platform for advancing both substantive and methodological research about personal networks. This chapter recounts the principal approaches to measuring networks used in the GSS, surveys some notable research findings based on them, and discusses relevant methodological research.  We examine the GSS “name generator” instrument, first administered in 1985, in most depth, with attention to its background and usage.  We conclude by highlighting accomplishments and challenges of GSS-based network research. 

GSS years: 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

Kim, Jibum Smith, Tom W. Kang, Jeong-han

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 2012

(no abstract provided)

GSS years: 1978-2002

GSS-NDI

Kim, Jibum Lauderdale, Diane Kang, Jeong-han

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 2010

(no abstract provided)

GSS years: 1998, 2000, 2002

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 8, 2009

(no abstract provided)

GSS years: 2008

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 2006

(no abstract provided)

GSS years: 2004

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 9, 2005

Using the life-events approach is a good way to measure social problems. Problems are greater amoung the poor, undereducated and unmarried, those with younger children, young adults and blacks. Race is playing less of a role in 2004 than 1991, but socio-economic variables are playing more of a role.

GSS years: 1991, 2004

Criminal Victimization Surveys, Current Population Studies on the Labor Force, Chicago material Hardships study, Schedule of Recent Experiences

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 2005

(no abstract provided)

GSS years: 1973-2004

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 2005

(no abstract provided)

GSS years: 2002, 2004

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 2005

(no abstract provided)

GSS years: 2004

Davis, James A.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 2003

Frequency of sex is measured in successive cross sections of U.S. adult householders in the NORC General Surveys, 1989-2000 (effective N= 1 1,697). The design enables one to look at the effects of Birth Cohort and Monotony (duration of marriage) along with the powerhl variable Age. With or without controls, among Married and Not-Married sexual Activity among Actives declines steadily with Age. Net of Age, Cohort (Year of birth) has
no effect among the married but among the Not-Married earlier cohorts are less active and show lower frequencies. Among first marriages Duration (monotony) has no effect, net of Age. The impact of Sex norms and ideology is limited to the lower activity rates of those who are both extremely religious and extremely conservative on sex norms.

GSS years: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 5, 2003

(no abstract provided)

GSS years: 2002

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 6, 2003

(no abstract provided)

GSS years: 2002

Idler, Ellen L. ,et al.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 6, 2001

The emerging interest in the role of religion and spirituality in health and medicine has been hampered by an absence of measurement tools for assessing the complex, multidimensional nature of individual religiousness and spirituality. The authors, members of a working group on health and religion, conceptualized domains of the construct, identified the potential relevance of each domain to health, then located or developed, and pilot-tested items for the domain. Thirty-three items were fielded in the 1998 General Social Survey (GSS) (N=1445), a representative sample of the U.S. population.
Factor analysis within and across domains produced 9 indices with good reliability and 3 individual items. The items and indices show low to moderate correlations with each other and with additional standard measures of religiousness in the GSS, demonstrating content, convergent, and discriminant validity. The resulting instrument is: multidimensional, brief enough to be included in clinical or epidemiological survey interviews, inclusive of both traditional religiousness and non-institutionallybased spirituality, appropriate for diverse Judeo-Christian populations, and potentially useful in many types of health research. 

GSS years: 1998

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 4, 2001

(no abstract provided)

GSS years: 1972-2000

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 8, 1998

Although there is general opposition to prostitution, when asked in a favorable way the selling of sex can be approved by the majority. Those people against prostitution tend to hold traditional religious beliefs and do not have pleasure orientated attitudes towards sex and drugs.

GSS years: 1977-1996

Yankelovich 1977, 1985, 1991; Harris 1965, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1978, 1990; Roper 1974-76, 1979-81, 1987; Gallup 1981, 1990, 1991; Black 1989; CLS 1978; Audits and Surveys 1983-83

DiMaggio, Paul Louch, Hugh

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 12, 1998

Individual consumers prefer dealing with relatives, friends, or other acquaintances in transactions that are not likely to be repeated and incur a high risk of asymmetric information. People believe friends give them better deals than strangers and would be less likely to withhold information relevant to the product.

GSS years: 1998

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 6, 1996

While trends in public opinion became increasingly negative when the survey questions focused directly on the Iran-Contra affair, trust in government and evaluations of the president moved in a positive direction.

GSS years: 1984, 1986

CBS/NYT 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987; ABC/WP 1985, 1986; ANES 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986; Harris 1984, 1986

Kalleberg, Arne L.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 3, 1995

The main difference between full-time and part-time workers are in the rewards and benefits they receive from their jobs. Part-timers are paid less and receive fewer fringe benefits. Male part-timers are especially disadvantaged with regard to autonomy and advancement opportunities. However, part-timers and full-timers are equally committed to their work and place equal importance on job security, doing interesting work, and having opportunities for advancement.

GSS years: 1973-1993

BLS 1976-1991

DiMaggio, Paul Bryson, Bethany

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 1, 1995

Despite extensive public controvery over issues of cultural authority and diversity in the arts and education, little research has analyzed the nature and causes of relevant public attitudes. Using data from the GSSrs 1993 "culture" module, we analyze responses to a set of questions dealing with such matters as confidence in educators' judgment in creating curricula, the appropriate role in curicula of the classics and multicultural works, and the value of modern art. Patterns of responses for both full and college-educated samples are inconsistent with the view that a "culture war" divides the American public; with predictions drawn from social-closure theory; and with hypotheses about generational change based on recent critiques of higher education. Results are more consistent with a view of attitudes towards high culture, multiculturalism, and elite cultural authority as separate dimensions, shaped by different causal antecedents. Support for high culture is
positively associated with educational attainment, participation in the arts, and political tolerance; sympathy with cultural pluralism is greater among the well educated, women, and the young, and weaker among political conservatives and those who support racial separation. Skepticism about elite cultural judgments is associated positively with education and negatively with confidence in professionals. Our findings suggest that certain premises that have shaped public debates about the arts and higher education have been misleading.

GSS years: 1993

Marsden, Peter V. Marsden, Peter V. Swingle, Joseph F.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 10, 1993

Analysis of response distributions for these items reveals a relatively high degree of consensus among Americans regarding the value of self-sufficiency, the efficacy of individual striving, and the virtues of honesty and responsibility in friends.

GSS years: 1993

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 10, 1993

(no abstract provided)

GSS years: 1988-2002

Kalleberg, Arne L. Marsden, Peter V.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 2, 1993

This paper examines the relationship between organizational commitment and job performance. We first discuss the theoretical rationale for why organizational commitment should enhance job performance. Then, we estimate the empirical relations between these constructs using data from a recent survey of a representative sample of employed Americans--the 1991 General Social Survey. These data suggest that there is a statistically significant--though modest-- relationship between the "effort" dimension of organizational commitment and job performance. We next evaluate several possible explanations of this observed effect of commitment on performance. We finally discuss some of the implications and possible interpretations of our results. 

GSS years: 1991

Marsden, Peter V. Kalleberg, Arne L. Cook, Cynthia R.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 1992

(no abstract provided)

GSS years: 1991

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 1992

The article reviews the history, causes, and controversies over racial labels for black Americans.

GSS years: 1982

Gallup 1969, 1991; Roper 1974; National Survey of Black Americans 1979-1980; NYT 1989; ABC/WP 1989; NBC/WSJ 1990; LAT 1991

Bobo, Lawrence Kluegel, James R.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 1991

Based on judgments of lack of economic progress, Americans inaccurately stereotype blacks, Hispanics, and Asians as less intelligent, more violent, more lazy, less patriotic, and more likely to prefer to live off welfare than whites. These views decrease with more education and increase with age, high levels of authoritarianism, and high levels of prejudice. Increased perception of discrimination against blacks is mainly due to higher levels of education.

GSS years: 1990

Bobo, Lawrence Kluegel, James R.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 1991

Whites, males, and the less educated favor programs targeted to the poor rather than blacks while blacks do not express a consistently large preference for race- or poor- based policies. Those holding prejudiced views reject both types of policies.

GSS years: 1990

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 1990

Americans still maintain different opinions and images of various ethnic groups, with minorities typically being viewed more negatively than whites. While such images are not related to busing, negative images relate to less support for affirmative action, school integration, attitudes towards foreign nations, neighborhood integration, and racial intermarriage.

GSS years: 1990

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 1990

Despite a low percentage of homosexuals, a high percentage of monogamous married people, and a sizeable abstinent population, many of the young, unmarried males, and minorities in urban areas have multiple and/or unfamiliar sex partners exposing them to the risk of AIDS.

GSS years: 1988, 1989

Greeley, Andrew M. Michael, Robert T. Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 1989

In the past year, about 4 out of 5 adults report monogamous behavior over the previous year, with 19 out of 20 married persons reporting the same. While most believe premarital sex is not always wrong, most respondents still highly disapprove of extramarital sex.

GSS years: 1988

British Market Research Bureau 1986; CBS 1986; Gallup 1987; NBC 1986-87; CPR 1988

Bobo, Lawrence Gilliam, Franklin D. ,Jr. Gilliam, Franklin D. ,Jr.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 10, 1988

There are no interracial differences in sociopolitical participation after controlling for differences in socioeconomic status. The most active segment of the black population is no longer the politically discontented, those with a high sense of political efficacy but with low trust. Now, the politically engaged, those who exhibit high efficacy and high trust, are most active among blacks.

GSS years: 1987

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 2, 1987

Strong feminist views positively associate with tolerance of pornography through the intervening effects of liberalism. Those supporting women's rights also tend to support freedom of expression and tolerate nontraditional lifestyles; these latter views positively correlate with tolerance of pornography.

GSS years: 1975-1986

Burt, Ronald S.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 1986

Expressions of happiness increase with the size of a person's discussion network and decrease with the prevalence of strangers in the network. The density of especially close relations in the network has no direct effect on happiness. It is the negative impact of strangers rather than the positive impact of close relations that determines expressions of happiness.

GSS years: 1985

Davis, James A. Sheatsley, Paul B.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 12, 1985

Americans are in general satisfied with the all-volunteer military and support for a peacetime draft is at an all time low. A majority view military service as a good experience, favor the draft in emergencies, favor mandatory universal service, and favor accepting educationally unqualified volunteers and upgrading their basic skills. By far the most expected future for the military in the next ten years is repeated guerrilla wars against left-wing rebels.

GSS years: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985

Marsden, Peter V.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 2, 1987

Bivariate analysis of subgroup differences by age, education, race, sex, and size of place indicates that network range is greatest among the young, the highly educated, and the urban dwellers.

GSS years: 1985

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 1984

Women are less supportive of force and violence than men.

GSS years: 1972-1978, 1982, 1983

Roper; Gallup; NORC 1950-1952, 1971; SRC; Harris

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 6, 1984.

Differences among religious groups, not only in their religious practices and beliefs, but also in their moral views, class structure, family values, and tolerance attitudes are found. Overall, Protestants currently comprise 64 percent of the adult population, Catholics 25 percent, Jews 2 percent, and no preference about 7 percent.

GSS years: 1972-1984

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 1985

Support for women's rights is associated with a wife's involvement in the labor force among wives and their husbands as well. The impact is strongest and most consistent on issues dealing with the home and work, but also extends into some political women's rights issues. This helps explain the lack of differences between men's and women's opinions on women's rights issues.

GSS years: 1972-1982

Davis, James A. Lauby, Jennifer Sheatsley, Paul B.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 4, 1983

(no abstract provided)

GSS years: 1983

Davis, James A.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 10, 1982

Occupational mobility has no effect on a wide variety of attitudes and behavior. Other conclusions are that people from farm backgrounds tend to be more conservative; respondents' occupational status has a significant effect on about 43 of the items analyzed; and education is the strongest predictor. The notion of powerful class culture thus receives little support. (See also No. 1718)

GSS years: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980

Davis, James A.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 6, 1982

Occupational mobility in the U.S. has been strongly upward, but actually the percentage of downwardly mobile white collar workers' sons is as high as the percentage of upwardly mobile blue collar workers' sons. Education can be viewed as both preserving the class structure in America (as father's occupation and son's education are highly correlated) or as the vehicle for the upward mobility (since education is highly correlated with occupation net of father's occupation). Ethnic group differences in occupational prestige, while significant, are not overwhelming. Over the last generation, ethnic group rankings have remained fairly constant.

GSS years: 1972-1976

OCG 1962, 1973

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 1981

It isn't periods of national economic malaise that bring about greater prejudices, but rather greater prejudice can be found at any time disproportionately among the poor and less educated. Social alienation is higher among lower socioeconomic groups and thus serves as both a link among causes of prejudices and a cause itself. However, all groups, including the lower socioeconomic status groups have become more tolerant over the last 40 years.

GSS years: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980

NORC 1944

Smith, Tom W.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 3, 1982

An analysis of measures of psychological well-being show little support for Campbell's hypothesis of a distressed college dropout. Among graduate dropouts, however, there is a clear drop on most measures of psychological well-being. This is true even though occupational prestige and income continue to rise with years of educational attainment, even among college dropouts.

GSS years: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980

Davis, James A.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC , 8, 1979

The relationships between background variables and attitude items are investigated and reveal that after controlling for interrelations between predictors, persistent but not consistent associations exist for education and opinion responses. However, age is a persistent and consistent correlate of attitudes while religion and sex are associated with opinion for about half of all variables. Race and region are powerful predictors of attitudes. These two items along with religion, form systems of suppressor variables. Sex differences appear for about half the items. Men's options tend to line up with those of the Better Educated.

GSS years: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978

Smith, Tom W. Taylor, D. Garth Mathiowetz, Nancy A.

Topical Report, Chicago, NORC

Between 1972 and 1978 there has been a decline in confidence in political and social institutions. This is both a cause and an effect of the Watergate era. Overseeing and investigating efforts of Congress, the press, and citizen groups during this period would not have been pursued so forcefully if the credibility of these institutions had not been undermined by changes in public trust before the 1970s.

GSS years: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978

Harris 1967, 1972-77; SRC 1952, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1964 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1976