Yes. It is essential that users of the GSS consult the codebook to learn the exact wording of questions in the survey. The brief variable labels distributed with the data (e.g. “Abortion if woman wants for any reason” for variable ABANY) give only a general guide to variable content. Users must also learn the possible responses for each question and the codes assigned to them. The codebook also provides full documentation of other methodological features of the GSS that users must understand.
