General social surveys, 1972-1988

James A. Davis, Tom W. Smith, Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research

The General Social Survey (GSS) has been conducted by the National Opinion Research Center annually since 1972 except for the years 1979 and 1981. The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research has prepared a cumulative dataset that merges 15 years of the GSS into a single file, with each year or survey constituting a subfile. The content of each year's survey changes slightly as some items are added to or deleted from the interview schedule. Annual topical modules designed to investigate new issues or to expand the coverage of an existing subject have been part of the GSS since 1984. The 1988 topical module concerns religious socialization, behaviors, and beliefs. Other topics covered have been socio-political participation (1987), the feminization of poverty (1986), social networks (1985), and the role of the military (1984). The GSS also has expanded in recent years by adding a...