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Eurobarometer Data Service

Political Interest

To what extent would you say you are interested in politics?

  1. a great deal 
  2. to some extent 
  3. not much 
  4. not at all
ZA Study Number Eurobarometer Fieldwork Month Fieldwork Year Question Number Variable Name (1)
131819 3-4 1983 Q.170 V102
171530 10-11 1988 Q.365 V507
175031 3-4 1989 Q.366 V265
175131.A 7 1989 Q.264 V436
175232 10-11 1989 Q.37 V87
175333 3-4 1990 Q.14 V25
196034.0 10-11 1990 Q.17 V75
249141.1 6-7 1994 Q.3 V47
256342 11-12 1994 Q.19 V56
305249 4-5 1998 Q.37  
350955.2 5-6 2001 Q.3_2 (4)  
369258.0 9-10 2002 Q10_1 (5)  
423363.1 1-2 2005 QA1_2 (6)  
441564.3 11-12 2005 QB2_1 (7)  

In general, do you pay attention to news about each of the following?

... Politics

... Foreign policy/international affairs (3)

  1. a lot of attention 
  2. a little attention 
  3. no attention at all
ZA Study Number Eurobarometer Fieldwork Month Fieldwork Year Question Number Variable Name (1)
320452.0 10-11 1999 Q.16_1  
350755.1 4-5 2001 Q.12_1  
363957.1 3-5 2002 Q.9_1  

 

(Are you interested in) Politics in (your country)?

0. not mentioned
1. mentioned

ZA Study Number Eurobarometer Fieldwork Month Fieldwork Year Question Number Variable Name (1)
120817 3-4 1982 Q.141b V44
154426 10-11 1986 Q.159b V51
171328 10-11 1987 Q.142b V25
196034.0 10-11 1990 Q.9_2 V31
196234.2 10-11 1990 Q.8_2 V30
224237.2 4-5 1992 Q.4_12 V30(2)

(Are you interested in) International politics?

0. not mentioned 
1. mentioned

ZA Study Number Eurobarometer Fieldwork Month Fieldwork Year Question Number Variable Name (1)
120817 3-4 1982 Q.141j V52
154426 10-11 1986 Q.159j V59
171328 10-11 1987 Q.142j V33
196034.0 10-11 1990 Q.9_10 V39
196234.2 10-11 1990 Q.8_10 V38

(1) Please note that the variable names refer to the final ICPSR/ZA codebook editions, if available. 

(2) Also asked for "interest in local politics" (V29). 

(3) Further topics are: social issues such as education, health care, poverty etc.; the European Union; the economy; sport; the environment; culture.

(4) Different question context with dichotomised answer: Please tell me if you are fairly interested or not in each of the following topics: (1) Sports; (2) ; (3) Economics and finance; (4) Science and technology; (5) Culture.

(5) Different question context with 3-point answer scale: In everyday life, we have to deal with many different problems and situations, where we feel more or less interested and confident. I am going to read you a number of statements. For each of them, please tell me whether you feel they are true for you most of the time, or some of the time, or hardly any of the time. (1) ; (2) I feel well informed about what is going on in politics; (3) I find it difficult to follow political arguments and debates; (4) I am interested in science and technology; ... (in total 10 items)

(6) Different question context with 3-point answer scale: For each issue I read out, please tell me if you are very interested, moderately interested or not at all interested in it. (1) Sports news; (2) ; (3) New medical discoveries; (4) Environmental pollution; (5) New inventions and technologies; (6) New scientific discoveries.

(7) Different question context: For each of the following statements, please tell mi if it applies to you often, sometimes, rarely or never. (1)  (2) I keep up to date on what is going on in politics; (3) I discuss politics with other people;  (4) I am interested in science and technology; (5) I keep up to date on what is going on in science and technology; (6) I discuss science and technology with other people.