Elections: International Social Surveys and Opinion Polls

Note: The data is drawn from some of the data in the Pew Global Values Survey (a dataset not listed here because it requires specialized statistitical software)
Select the "Custom Analysis" tab.
U.S. Image: Opinion of the United States~Confidence in the U.S. President~Drone Strikes~ U.S. Personal Freedoms
World Economy: Satisfaction with National Conditions~Country's Economic Situation~Views on Trade~Future Economic Situation
China Image: Opinion of China~Views of Chinese President~China's Growing Economy~China Personal Freedoms
Balance of Power: World's Leading Economic Power~World's Leading Superpower
Rating Countries: Opinion of Iran ~Opinion of Russia~Opinion of Brazil

Silver Spring, MD: ORS.
Polls taken on a variety of subjects all over the world from 1986 to the present. Each record in the database consists of one poll question and the participants' responses. Records are indexed in one of more than 5,000 topics and six search fields: subject matter, question text, universe, date, polling organization and response categories. Other information provided includes: source name and contact information, sample size, and notes on the sample population. Partially supersedes American Public Opinion Index and American Public Opinion Data [microfiche].

In partnership with the International Institutions and Global Governance program at the Council on Foreign Relations, WorldOpinion.org consolidates global and U.S. public opinion across ten major issue areas: elements of world order, international institutions, violent conflict, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change, energy security, the global economy, economic development, and human rights.

"The General Social Survey (GSS) is a nationally representative survey of adults in the United States conducted since 1972. The GSS collects data on contemporary American society in order to monitor and explain trends in opinions, attitudes and behaviors. The GSS has adapted questions from earlier surveys, thereby allowing researchers to conduct comparisons for up to 80 years." [About the GSS] Download to explore with statistical analysis software (SPSS, STATA, SAS), use the online data explorer., or view reports based on the survey in Key Trends.

Note: Works best in Google Chrome
Offers reports summarizing the survey results and an online analysis tool. Select the round (currently, 1-5),
Select a variable. This opens the analysis tool.
Choose a variable to cross-tabulate,
Select additional variables, as needed.

2 waves -- 2001-2003, 2005-2008.
Select the study,
Select a a single country or multiple countries,
Select a question (variable) by clicking on the link (for example, gender of respondent). This opens up the online analysis tool,
Select Cross-tabs,
Use the arrows to page through the different variables that can be analyzed.

Latin America Public Opinion Project
Requires the use of data analysis software (Stata or SPSS) and some understanding of statistical analysis methods.
Datasets of surveys of democratic public opinion and behavior in the Americas using national probability samples of voting-age adults. Note: You can find some prepared reports under the Spotlights series.

Offers data sets for analysis. Also offers prepared reports and fact sheets based on the survey results. To find the prepared reports, go to the "Standard Eurobarometer" page and scroll down under "Attachments."

The ESS Data Download Wizard gives access to cumulative data from countries that have been included in the integrated ESS files in two or more rounds, and all variables from questions that have been asked in more than one round. Note: You must register to use the the wizard.

Different topics covered each year, but hasn't been updated in some years. It may still provide an interesting point-in-time understanding:

• 2007 - Leisure Time and Sports
• 2005 - Work Orientations III
• 2004 - Citizenship
• 2003 - National Identity II
• 2002 - Family III
• 2001 - Social networks II
• 2000 - Environment II
• 1999 - Social Inequality III
• 1998 - Religion II

Select a question (variable) by clicking on the link (for example, gender of respondent). This opens up the online analysis tool.
--Select Cross-tabs.
--Use the arrows to page through the different variables that can be analyzed.

Beginning in 1981, conducted in successive waves.
A.- Perceptions of life
B.- Environment
C.- Work
D.- Family
E.- Politics and Society
F.- Religion and Morale
G.- National Identity
S.- Structure of the file
X.- Socio-demographics
Y.- Special Indexes
Search tips: On the left-hand menu, select Online Data Analysis. "You may browse the variable index and see question texts, frequencies for each answer, crosstabs of each question by country or any other variable, and even graphics."
You can also check under Findings & Insights for summaries of some of the findings.