Pol242y Student Survey

This webpage contains a survey that will be used for teaching purposes in POL242y. The questions included here are taken from the 2001 Macleans survey, a national study of Canadian opinion. The data for the original survey will be analyzed in class and in your computing assignments. The data collected here will be used to illustrate how data sets are constructed and to make comparisons between the views of our class and the Canadian population at large.

  1. In the last few years do you think that Canadians have become significantly more like Americans, somewhat more like Americans, that there has been no change, that we have become somewhat less like Americans, or significantly less like Americans?


  2. How would you describe our relations with the United States? Are we like family to each other, the best of friends, friends but not especially close, (or) cordial but distant with each other, or openly hostile and unfriendly?


  3. Now I'd like to ask you some questions about the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11 and the events following this attack. 18. Overall, do you feel that the attacks in New York and Washington was an attack on the United States alone or an attack on western democratic societies, including Canada?

    attack on US alone
    attack on Western democratic societies

  4. There has been some discussion about the causes of the terrorist attacks and the possible grievances that some in the Middle East feel toward the Western World. Do you think there is any basis for any feeling of grievance against the West or that there is no basis for these feelings?

    Some basis for these feelings
    No basis for these feelings

  5. Do you think the United States and its allies will be successful or not at eliminating the threat of terrorism from Islamic fundamentalist groups? That is, will they be able to completely eliminate the threat, somewhat eliminate the threat, or be unable to eliminate the threat of fundamentalist terrorisms?


  6. And how long do you think the war against terrorist will last? Will it last for the next few months only, for a year, for two or three years, for four or five years or for six or more years?


  7. How likely is it that Canada could become a terrorist target? Do you think it is very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely?


  8. How satisfied are you with the federal government's response thus far to the September 11 attacks. Would you say that you have been very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied, or not at all satisfied?


  9. There are many ways that the federal government could respond to the threat of terrorism in North America. For each of the following, I'd like you to tell me if you support or oppose each suggestion. You can do this by using a seven-point scale in which seven means that you strongly support this option and one means that you do not support this option at all. The first is … 28. Restricting the number of immigrants that come to Canada from Muslim countries.

    1 2 3 4 5

  10. Keeping refugee claimants from any county in secure locations where they will not have contact with Canadian society until after their case has been heard.

    1 2 3 4 5

  11. Harmonizing Canada's immigration and refugee policy with the United States, by making them the same.

    1 2 3 4 5

  12. HAVING A COMMON SECURITY PERIMETER AROUND NORTH AMERICA THAT WOULD INCLUDE allowing US customs and immigration officials at all entry points into Canada

    1 2 3 4 5

  13. The introduction of personal identity cards for all Canadian residents that includes a photo and a thump print or some other hard to reproduce form of identification.

    1 2 3 4 5

  14. Putting anybody who comes to Canada without valid ID and claims refugee status on the next plane back to where they arrived from.

    1 2 3 4 5

  15. As you may know, the federal government has recently introduced an anti-terrorism bill that gives the police new powers of detention and investigation, such as phone tapping. Based on what you know of this bill, how do you feel about these measures? Are you very supportive, somewhat supportive, neutral, somewhat opposed or very opposed?


  16. Some people have argued that while they support the need for greater police powers in investigating suspected terrorists, they worry that these powers will be abused and that the police will use them in non-terrorist investigations. How likely do you think it is that the police would abuse these new powers and use them against groups other than suspected terrorists? Is this very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely?


  17. Overall, do you approve or disapprove of US military action against terrorism?

    strongly approve
    somewhat approve
    somewhat disapprove
    strongly disapprove

  18. And for the following potential types of attacks on the US, I'd like you to tell me how likely you consider each to be, is it very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely? The first is : A serious chemical or biological attack, such as smallpox that could kill millions of people.

    very likely
    somewhat likely
    not too likely
    not likely at all

  19. The explosion of a nuclear device in a US city.

    very likely
    somewhat likely
    not too likely
    not at all likely

  20. An attack on a nuclear power station.

    very likely
    somewhat likely
    not too likely
    not at all likely

  21. The hijacking of jetliners for use as weapons.

    very likely
    somewhat likely
    not too likely
    not at all likely

  22. Now I'd like to ask you some questions abut Canadian involvement in the response to the terrorist attacks. Do you support or oppose Canadian involvement in the action in Afghanistan, that is do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose Canada's involvement?


  23. Do you think Canadians critical of the war effort should keep their thoughts to themselves at this point in time or should they speak out?


  24. In the fight against terrorism, the US has said that it might also consider using additional military force above and beyond that which has been used already. In general, would you support or oppose: Using military force against suspected terrorist targets in other Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq.

    strongly support
    somewhat support
    somewhat oppose
    strongly oppose

  25. Conducting government authorized assassinations of political figures known to support terrorist groups in the Middle East.

    strongly support
    somewhat support
    somewhat oppose
    strongly oppose

  26. As a result of the terrorist attacks and the US led response have you changed plans or experienced any of the following ?

    Cancelled or postponed a trip by air.
    Had trouble sleeping
    Felt a stronger need for religious beliefs
    Felt a stronger need to go to a place of worship
    Been more appreciative of your family life
    Taken more interest in news reports
    Been less interested in sex
    Deferred buying a major item
    Had less interest in material wealth &possessions
    Been less driven to succeed at work or school
    Sought advice from a counselor
    Sought advice/read about how to protect yourself

  27. As a result of the terrorist attacks have your views on Muslims and the Islamic religion, changed for the worse, remained unchanged, or changed for the better?


  28. Now I'd like to read you a number of statements that various people have made and have you tell me if you agree or disagree with each one. You can do this by telling me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, neither agree nor disagree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree? The first is ... We should substantially increase the amount of money we spend on our armed forces.


  29. I am prepared to give up some of my freedoms in order to combat terrorism more effectively


  30. Canada should be prepared to give up some of its sovereignty in order to combat terrorism


  31. We don't need to spend much money on armed forced since we have the United States next door.


  32. I would prefer that the United States and its allies bring Osama bin Laden and his key aids to trail rather than just try to kill them.


  33. The attack on Afghanistan is not a war on terrorism, it is an attack on the Islamic people and on Islamic culture.


  34. What is your age ?


  35. What is your gender?

    female
    male

  36. What year are you in university ?


  37. Are you a primarily...


  38. What is your religious affiliation?


J.Fletcher 
Modified Maclean's 2001 data set
Posted: September 16, 2002