Data for the 1982 National Election Study were obtained by interviewing, in person, individuals living in households in the coterminous United States, exclusive of households on military reservations. The 74 primary areas of the SRC national sample include 12 major metropolitan areas, 32 other standard metropolitan statistical areas (SMSAs), and 30 counties or county-groups representing the nonmetropolitan or rural portions of the country. At the overall rate of 1:35,360, a sample of 2,278 housing units was drawn. These are the dwellings where interviewers called in 1982 to attempt interviews with one objectively-selected eligible person. The selections were thinly spread, averaging only one or two from a sample block.

This study is part of a time-series collection of national surveys fielded continuously since 1952. The election studies are designed to present data on Americans' social backgrounds, enduring political predispositions, social and political values, perceptions and evaluations of groups and candidates, opinions on questions of public policy, and participation in political life. In addition to the usual content, other items included an evaluation of President Ronald Reagan's performance in office, his personal qualities, and the respondent's own feelings toward him.

face-to-face interview, telephone interview The 1982 Election Study had two components: (a) a traditional face-to-face post-election survey, and (b) an experimental post-election survey using computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). Only the personal interview data are included in this data collection. An integrated file containing both personal and telephone data is available as NATIONAL ELECTION STUDIES METHOD COMPARISON PROJECT, 1982 (ICPSR 8233).

United States citizens who were 18 years of age or older by Election Day, 1982.

American National Election Study (ANES) Series

Datasets: DS1: Dataset