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 |
- Respondent's age
- Respondent's place of residence
Global Warming
- Belief in global warming
- Confidence in belief in global warming
- Cause of global warming
- Seriousness of global warming
- Immediate government action required
- Factor that caused belief in global warming
- Factors that affected view
- Declining glaciers and polar ice
- Warmer local temperatures
- Computer models
- Strength of hurricanes
- "An Inconvenient Truth"
- Milder local winters
- Declining numbers of polar bears and penguins
- Severe US droughts
- Factor that caused belief of no global warming
- There is not enough evidence
- Scientists are overstating evidence
- Earth's atmosphere is too large
- Warming is a result of natural trends
- Media is overstating evidence
- Racial identity
- Religious affiliation
- Are you an evangelical Christian?
- Highest level of education
- Primary source for news
- Political party affiliation
- Family income
- 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.
|
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.
|
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.