Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy

The National Surveys on Energy and Environment (NSEE)
Spring 2010 Data Tables

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Survey Methodology
N 712
Margin of Error +/- 3.7%
Fielding Dates March 22, 2010 - April 9, 2010
Data tables below are weighted by Gender, Age, Race, Income, and Education


Table of Contents

    Introduction

  1. Respondent's age
  2. Respondent's place of residence

    3. Global Warming

  3. Belief in global warming
  4. Confidence in belief in global warming
  5. Cause of global warming
  6. Seriousness of global warming
  7. Immediate government action required
  8. Factor that caused belief in global warming
  9. Factors that affected view
  10. Factor that caused belief of no global warming
  11. There is not enough evidence
  12. Scientists are overstating evidence
  13. Earth's atmosphere is too large
  14. Warming is a result of natural trends
  15. Media is overstating evidence

    16. Demographics

  16. Racial identity
  17. Religious affiliation
  18. Are you an evangelical Christian?
  19. Highest level of education
  20. Primary source for news
  21. Political party affiliation
  22. Family income
  23. Gender



Hello. My name is _________ and I'm a student at Muhlenberg College. We are conducting a research project regarding environmental issues in the United States. Would you be able to help us by answering a few questions?

Q1. Thank you. What is your current age? [CODED INTO CATEGORIES]

  Total
Thank you. What is your current age? [CODED INTO CATEGORIES] 18-29 11%
30-44 17%
45-64 42%
65 and older 29%
Refused, but stated they are 18 or over 2%
N 712
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q2. What state do you currently reside in? [CODED INTO REGIONS]

  Total
What state do you currently reside in? [CODED INTO REGIONS] Northeast 20%
South 34%
Midwest 23%
West 24%
N 712
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q3. Next, I would like to ask you a few questions on the issue of global warming.  From what you’ve read and heard. Is there solid evidence that the average temperature on earth has been getting warmer over the past four decades?

  Total
Next, I would like to ask you a few questions on the issue of global warming.  From what you’ve read and heard. Is there solid evidence that the average temperature on earth has been getting warmer over the past four decades? Yes 52%
No 36%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 13%
N 712
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q4. How confident are you that the average temperature on earth is increasing?  Are you very confident, fairly confident, not too confident or not confident at all that the average temperature on earth is increasing?

  Total
How confident are you that the average temperature on earth is increasing?  Are you very confident, fairly confident, not too confident or not confident at all that the average temperature on earth is increasing?(Among those who said there is solid evidence of global warming) Very Confident 51%
Fairly Confident 39%
Not Too Confident 7%
Not Confident At All 2%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 1%
N 368
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q5. Is the earth getting warmer because of human activity such as burning fossil fuels, or mostly because of natural patterns in the earth’s environment?

  Total
Is the earth getting warmer because of human activity such as burning fossil fuels, or mostly because of natural patterns in the earth’s environment? (Among those who said there is solid evidence of global warming) Human Activity 42%
Natural Patterns 19%
A Combination (Volunteered) 30%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 10%
N 368
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q6. In your view is global warming a very serious problem, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not a problem?

  Total
In your view is global warming a very serious problem, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not a problem? (Among those who said there is solid evidence of global warming) Very Serious 57%
Somewhat Serious 36%
Not Too Serious 4%
Not A Problem 2%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 1%
N 368
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q7. Do you or do you not think global warming requires immediate government action?

  Total
Do you or do you not think global warming requires immediate government action? (Among those who said there is solid evidence of global warming) Yes, it requires immediate government action 72%
No, it does not require immediate government action 17%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 12%
N 368
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q8. What is the primary factor that has caused you to believe that temperatures on earth are increasing? [Coded open-end response]

  Total
What is the primary factor that has caused you to believe that temperatures on earth are increasing? (Among those who said there is solid evidence of global warming) [Coded open-end response] Declining Glaciers and Polar Ice 16%
Warmer Temperatures Observed 21%
Weather Changes 15%
Scientific Research/Data 15%
Al Gore's Documentary 14%
Media Coverage 5%
Declining Species 5%
Human Activity 0%
Natural Patterns 1%
Ocean/sea-level rise 6%
Religious Factors 0%
Population Growth 0
Growing Seasons/Plants 0%
Not Sure/Other 3%
N 368
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q9-16. Next I would like to read you a list of factors that may or may not have had an effect on your view that the earth is getting warmer. For each factor that I mention please indicate if it has had a very large, somewhat large, not too large, or no effect on your view that the earth is getting warmer. [ROTATED LIST]

  Declining glaciers and polar ice throughout the globe Warmer temperatures in your area during recent years Computer models that indicate the earth is getting warmer The strength of hurricanes hitting the United States Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" Milder winters in your area Declining numbers of polar bears and penguins Severe droughts in areas across the United States
Next I would like to read you a list of factors that may or may not have had an effect on your view that the earth is getting warmer.  For each factor that I mention please indicate if it has had a very large, somewhat large, not too large, or no effect on your view that the earth is getting warmer.” (Among those who said there is solid evidence of global warming) [ROTATED LIST] Very Large 55% 32% 24% 32% 16% 19% 42% 30%
Somewhat Large 32% 40% 39% 38% 23% 40% 30% 39%
Not Too Large 4% 14% 15% 13% 12% 15% 9% 13%
No Effect 6% 13% 16% 12% 36% 24% 10% 14%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 3% 1% 6% 5% 13% 2% 9% 5%
N 368 368 363 368 363 368 368 368
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q17. What is the primary factor that makes you believe that temperatures on earth are not increasing? [Coded open-end response]

  Total
What is the primary factor that makes you believe that temperatures on earth are not increasing? (Among those who said there is not solid evidence of global warming) [Coded open-end response] Personal Observations 23%
Natural Patterns 43%
Not Enough Evidence 13%
Media has Misled 5%
Evidence Disproves 8%
Religious Factors 2%
Political Factors 7%
No Particular Reason 0%
Not Sure/Other 0%
N 253
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Please identify your level of agreement with the following statements. For each statement please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree. First,

Q18. There is not enough scientific evidence to support claims that the earth is getting warmer.

  Total
There is not enough scientific evidence to support claims that the earth is getting warmer. Strongly Agree 26%
Somewhat Agree 24%
Somewhat Disagree 19%
Strongly Disagree 28%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 4%
N 712
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q19. Scientists are overstating evidence about global warming for their own interests.

  Total
Scientists are overstating evidence about global warming for their own interests. Strongly Agree 21%
Somewhat Agree 26%
Somewhat Disagree 23%
Strongly Disagree 23%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 6%
N 711
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q20. The Earth's atmosphere is too large for man's activity to change the climate.

  Total
The Earth's atmosphere is too large for man's activity to change the climate. Strongly Agree 12%
Somewhat Agree 20%
Somewhat Disagree 28%
Strongly Disagree 28%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 12%
N 712
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q21. Any recent warming on earth is the result of natural trends and not the activities of man.

  Total
Any recent warming on earth is the result of natural trends and not the activities of man. Strongly Agree 25%
Somewhat Agree 29%
Somewhat Disagree 22%
Strongly Disagree 19%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 5%
N 712
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q22. The media is overstating the evidence about global warming.

  Total
The media is overstating the evidence about global warming. Strongly Agree 31%
Somewhat Agree 29%
Somewhat Disagree 21%
Strongly Disagree 15%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 4%
N 712
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Finally a few questions about yourself.

Q23. Which of the following categories best describes your racial identity? Are you [READ LIST]

  Total
Finally a few questions about yourself. Which of the following categories best describes your racial identity? Are you [READ LIST] White/Caucasian 81%
African-American 8%
Hispanic 7%
Latino <1%
Asian 1%
Native American <1%
Mixed Race 2%
Other 1%
N 700
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q24. Which of the following categories best describes your religious affiliation? Are you [READ LIST]

  Total
Which of the following categories best describes your religious affiliation? Are you [READ LIST] Protestant 44%
Catholic 31%
Jewish 3%
Muslim <1%
Hindu <1%
Other Religion (Including Agnostic) 20%
Atheist 1%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 2%
N 657
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q25. Would you describe yourself as an evangelical Christian?

  Total
Would you describe yourself as an evangelical Christian? (Among those who identified as Protestant) Yes 45%
No 48%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 8%
N 284
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q26. What is your highest level of education? [READ LIST]

  Total
What is your highest level of education? [READ LIST] Less Than High School Graduate 5%
High School Graduate 25%
Some College or Technical School 29%
College Graduate 30%
Graduate or Professional Degree 12%
Not Sure (Volunteered) <1%
N 705
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q27. Which of the following is your primary source for national and world news? [READ LIST]

  Total
Which of the following is your primary source for national and world news? [READ LIST] Television 55%
Newspapers 19%
Talk Radio Programs 3%
Radio News Programs 3%
The Internet 16%
Other (Volunteered) 2%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 2%
N 710
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q28. Which of the following best describes your political party affiliation? [READ LIST]

  Total
Which of the following best describes your political party affiliation? [READ LIST] Democrat 35%
Republican 26%
Other Party 5%
Independent 32%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 3%
N 678
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Q29. Which of the following categories best describes your family income? Is it [READ LIST]

  Total
Which of the following categories best describes your family income? Is it [READ LIST] Less than 20,000 13%
20,000 - 40,000 20%
40,000 - 60,000 31%
60,000 - 80,000 14%
80,000 - 100,000 9%
Over 100,000 13%
Not Sure (Volunteered) 2%
N 539
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Respondent Gender

  Total
Respondent Gender Male 50%
Female 50%
N 712
*Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding within cells.



Thank you for your help with the survey. We appreciate your time.