Middletown Area Study, 1983

Data for the Middletown Area Studies were collected every year from 1978 to 1997. The purpose of these studies was to assess the views and lifestyles of citizens on a diverse range of subjects. The major topics included questions on life satisfaction, education, income, family, religion, and politics. The 1983 survey focused on current events such as nuclear weapons, child abuse and the "moral majority."

Data File

Cases: 373
Variables: 116
Weight Variable: None

Data Collection

Date Collected: Data were collected each year during the spring from 1978 to 1981 and each year during the fall from 1981 to 1997 (the 1981 spring study is labeled 1981A and the 1981 fall study is labeled 1981B). The 1983 interviews were conducted during the period from October 21 to November 4, 1983.

Funded By

Dean's office of the College of Sciences and Humanities at Ball State University

Collection Procedures

Data were collected by means of telephone interview surveys. Telephone numbers of people who lived within Delaware County, Indiana, were randomly generated by a computer program in such a way that the proportion of telephone numbers within each of the active exchanges in Delaware County was the same in the sample as it was in the population.

Sampling Procedures

The sample consists of people who live within the Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area of Muncie, Indiana, or Delaware County. In 1987, 1991 and 1995, only residents of Delaware County who were 60 years old or older were sampled. In 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996 only people who intended to vote were sampled; and in 1988 and 1992, Catholics were over-sampled.

Principal Investigators

Jerry G. Bode
Ronald Burton
John G. Condran
Stephen D. Johnson
David C. Morris
William Morris
Harry Nelson
Joseph B. Tamney

Related Publications

John Condran and Jerry Bode, "Rashomon, Working Wives, and Family Division of Labor" (1982). Journal of Marriage and the Family, 44:421-426.

Johnson, Stephen D., and Joseph B. Tamney (1986). The Political Role of Religion in the United States. Boulder, CO: Westview Press (Frederick A. Praeger, publisher).

Johnson, Stephen D., and Joseph B. Tamney (1998). "The popularity of strict churches." Forthcoming. Review of Religious Research 39(3): 209-223.

Tamney, Joseph B., and Stephen D. Johnson (1997). "Christianity and public book banning." Review of Religious Research 38(3):263-71.

Tamney, Joseph B., and Stephen D. Johnson (1997). "A test of the free-rider issue." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 36(1):104-8.

Johnson, Stephen D., and Joseph B. Tamney (1996). "The election of a traditional-family-values candidate." Review of Religious Research 38(2):97-110.

Johnson, Stephen D., and Joseph B. Tamney (1996). "The political impact of traditional family values." Sociological Focus 29(2):125-34.

Johnson, Stephen D. (1995). "Model of factors related to tendencies to discriminate against people with AIDS." Psychological Reports 76:563-572.

Johnson, Stephen D., Joseph B. Tamney, and Ronald Burton (1994). "Pro-life and pro-choice issue voting."
Southeastern Political Review 22(3):409-26.

Johnson, Stephen D. (1994). "What relates to vote for three religious categories?" Sociology of Religion 55(3):291-305.

Tamney, Joseph B., Stephen D. Johnson, and Ronald Burton (1994). "The abortion controversy: Conflicting beliefs and values in American society and within religious subgroups." In Abortion Politics in the United States and Canada: Studies in Public Opinion, edited by Ted Jelen and Marthe A. Chandler. New York: Praeger.

Johnson, Stephen D. (1992). "Not seeing the trees for the forest: A reply to Baggaley." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 31(4):35-36.

Johnson, Stephen D. (1992). "Anti-Arabic prejudice in 'Middletown." Psychological Reports 70:811-18.

Tamney, Joseph B., Jennifer Mertens, Stephen D. Johnson, Ronald Burton, and Rita Caccamo (1992). "Personal experience, ideology, and support for feminism." Sociological Focus 25:203-16.

Tamney, Joseph B., Stephen D. Johnson, and Ronald Burton (1992). "The abortion controversy: Conflicting beliefs and values in American society." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 31:32-46.

Johnson, Stephen D., Joseph B. Tamney, and Ronald Burton (1991). "Economic satisfaction vs. moral conservatism in the 1988 Presidential election." Sociological Focus 24(4):303-14.

Tamney, Joseph B., and Stephen D. Johnson (1990). "Religious diversity and ecumenical action." Review of Religious Research 32:16-26.

Johnson, Stephen D., Joseph B. Tamney, and Ronald Burton (1990). "Factors influencing vote for a Christian right candidate." Review of Religious Research 31:291-304.

Johnson, Stephen D., Joseph B. Tamney, and Ronald Burton (1989). "Pat Robertson: Who supported his candidacy for President?" Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 28:387-99.

Johnson, Stephen D. (1989). "Discrimination against AIDS victims." Psychological Reports 64:1261-62.

Tamney, Joseph B., Shawn Powell, and Stephen D. Johnson (1989). "Innovation-diffusion theory and religious nones." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 28:216-29.

Burton, Ronald, Stephen D. Johnson, and Joseph B. Tamney (1989). "Education and fundamentalism." Review of Religious Research 30:344-59.

Tamney, Joseph B., Stephen D. Johnson, and Ronald Burton (1989). "Fundamentalism and economic restructuring." In Religion and Political Behavior in the United States, edited by Ted G. Jelen, 67-82. New York: Praeger.

Tamney, Joseph B., Ronald Burton, and Stephen D. Johnson (1988). "Christianity, social class, and the Catholic Bishops' economic policies." Sociological Analysis (Presidential Edition) 49:785-965.

Tamney, Joseph B., and Stephen D. Johnson (1988). "Explaining support for the moral majority." Sociological Forum 3:234-55.

Tamney, Joseph B., and Stephen D. Johnson (1989). "Fundamentalism and self-actualization." Review of Religious Research 30(3):276-86.

Johnson, Stephen D. (1987). "Factors related to intolerance of AIDS victims." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 26(1):105-10.

Tamney, Joseph B., and Stephen D. Johnson (1987). "Church-state relations in the eighties: Public opinion in Middletown." Sociological Analysis 48(1):1-16.

Johnson, Stephen D., Joseph B. Tamney, and Sandy Halebsky (1986). "Christianity, social traditionalism, and economic conservatism." Sociological Focus 19(3):299-314.

Johnson, Stephen D., and Joseph B. Tamney (1985). "The impact of the Christian right on the 1984 Presidential election." Review of Religious Research 27(2):124-33.

Tamney, Joseph B., and Stephen D. Johnson (1985). "Consequential religiosity of modern society." Review of Religious Research 26(4):360-78.

Tamney, Joseph B., and Stephen D. Johnson (1985). "Christianity and the nuclear freeze." Sociological Analysis 46(3):321-27.

Johnson, Stephen D., and Joseph B. Tamney (1985). "Mobilizing support for the moral majority." Psychological Reports 56:987-94.

Johnson, Stephen D., and Joseph B. Tamney (1984). "Support for the moral majority: A test of a model." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 23(2):183-96.

Tamney, Joseph B., and Stephen D. Johnson (1984). "Religious television in Middletown." Review of Religious Research 25(4):303-13.

Tamney, Joseph B., and Stephen D. Johnson (1983). "The moral majority and Middletown." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 22(2):145-57.

Johnson, Stephen D., and David C. Morris (1983). "Who should bear the costs for the elderly: The government or family?" Gerontopics 5(3):37-40.

Johnson, Stephen D., and Joseph B. Tamney (1982). "The Christian right and the 1980 Presidential election." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 21(2):123-31.

Notes

U.S. Census Codes for OCC (Var 68)
1 Accountant
3 Comp programmers
5 Comp specialists
12 Electrical engineers
23 Engineer, NEC
31 Lawyer
32 Librarian
56 Personnel, Labor Relation
75 R.N.
76 Therapists
80 Clinical Lab Tech
85 Health Tech
86 Clergyman
91 Economist
93 Psychologist
95 Urban and Regional Planner
100 Social worker
125 Educ teacher
133 Theology teacher
140 Teacher, NEC
142 Elem teacher
144 Sec. teacher
145 Teacher, except college
154 Industrial eng tec
162 Engineer and sci tec
173 Technician, NEC
182 Dancer
183 Designer
184 Editor or reporter
190 Painter or sculptor
194 Writer
202 Bank officer
210 Credit man
215 Inspector, except cond or pub ad
220 Office manager
231 Sales manager
240 School admin, except college
245 Manager, admin, NEC
262 Demonstrator
265 Insurance agent
266 Newsboy
270 Real estate agent
280 Salesman, sales clerk, nec
283 Sales, retail
285 Salesmen of a service
305 Bookkeeper
310 Cashier
313 Collectors
325 File clerk
326 Insurance adjuster
331 Mail carrier
332 Mail handler
360 Payroll clerk
364 Receptionist
372 Secretaries
381 Stock clerk
394 Misc clerical worker
395 Not specified clerical worker
396 Clerical workers
401 Auto access installer
423 Printing trade, apprentice
452 Inspector, nec
462 Machinist apprentice
473 Auto mech
482 Appliance installer
492 Misc mechanic
495 Mechanic, nec
502 Millwright
510 Painter
522 Pipe fitter
530 Pressman, plate printer
535 Sheet metal worker
554 Telephone linemen
561 Tool and die maker
562 Tool and die maker appren
586 Craftsmen and kindred workers
602 Assembler
613 Dressmaker, exc factory
650 Drill press operator
690 Machine operator, misc
692 Machine operator, nec
694 Misc operatory
695 Operator, nec
696 Operatives
703 Bus driver
705 Deliverymen
751 Construction laborer
755 Gardener
762 Stock handler
780 Misc laborer
796 Laborer
801 Farmer
824 Farm service laborer
902 Cleaner
903 Janitor
912 Cook
915 Waiter
916 Food service worker
922 Health aide
925 Nursing aide
926 Practical nurse
942 Child care worker
944 Hairdresser
954 Welfare service aide
961 Fireman
962 Guard
976 Service worker

U.S. Census Codes for SPOCC (Var 75)
1 Accountant
3 Comp programmers
5 Comp specialists
23 Engineer, NEC
65 Physicians, medical or osteopathic
86 Clergyman
93 Psychologist
114 Psychology teacher
140 Teacher, NEC
142 Elem teacher
144 Sec. teacher
145 Teacher, except college
194 Writer
213 Construction inspector
216 Manager of building
220 Office manager
222 Officials and public administration
225 Agent and buyer
230 Restaurant manager
245 Manager, admin, NEC
246 Managers and admin, exc farm
270 Real estate agent
280 Salesman, sales clerk, nec
310 Cashier
314 Counter clerks
330 Library attendant
332 Mail handler
372 Secretaries
382 Teacher aide
394 Misc clerical worker
395 Not specified clerical worker
430 Electrician
431 Electrician apprentice
433 Electric linemen
441 Foreman
445 Glazier
452 Inspector, nec
481 Heavy equipment mech
482 Appliance installer
495 Mechanic, nec
502 Millwright
530 Pressman, plate printer
561 Tool and die maker
575 Craftsmen and kindred workers
602 Assembler
635 Metal plater
652 Lathe and milling mach operator
653 Precision machine operative
690 Machine operator, misc
692 Machine operator, nec
694 Misc operatory
695 Operator, nec
712 Railroad brakeman
715 Truck driver
770 Warehousemen
780 Misc laborer
785 Laborer, nec
801 Farmer
824 Farm service laborer
902 Cleaner
903 Janitor
914 Food counter and fountain worker
915 Waiter
922 Health aide
925 Nursing aide
926 Practical nurse
944 Hairdresser
952 School monitor
961 Fireman
962 Guard
964 Policemen
983 Laundry, private household