This data collection is comprised of responses from two sets of survey questionnaires, the basic Current Population Survey (CPS) and a survey administered as a supplement to the November 2008 CPS questionnaire on the topic of Civic Engagement. The Corporation for National and Community Service sponsored the November supplemental questions.
The CPS, administered monthly, collects labor force data about the civilian noninstitutional population aged 15 years old or older living in the United States. Moreover, the CPS provides current estimates of the economic status and activities of this population which includes estimates of total employment (both farm and nonfarm), nonfarm self-employed persons, domestics, and unpaid helpers in nonfarm family enterprises, wage and salaried employees, and estimates of total unemployment. Data from the CPS are provided for the week prior to the administration of the survey.
All persons eligible for the basic CPS survey were also eligible for the supplement survey. Self or proxy responses were allowed for the supplement, that is a single respondent could provide answers for themselves or provide answers for all eligible household members, provided the respondent him/herself was a household member 15 years of age or older.
The supplement questions sought to measure the level of civic engagement of individuals in the United States. Civic engagement is a broad concept that can be defined by one's level of or involvement in: empowerment and political action; groups and networks; trust and solidarity; information and communication; and social cohesion and inclusion. The supplement questions specifically related to people's level of communication with their friends and family, involvement and level of participation in their communities as well as organized groups, extent of political action and knowledge, extent of connections with other community members, and how often individuals get news and information from various media sources.
Demographic variables include age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, marital status, veteran status, educational background, occupation, industry, and income.
K1 Hispanic or Latino origins K1 census data K1 Communities K1 community involvement K1 Compensation K1 demographic characteristics K1 Economic conditions K1 Employment K1 full-time employment K1 household composition K1 Households K1 Income K1 Industry K1 Interpersonal communication K1 labor (work) K1 labor force K1 media use K1 News Media K1 part-time employment K1 Participation K1 political action K1 population characteristics K1 Social Networks K1 wages and salaries K1 Work K1 Work Experience K1 WORKING hours K1 Forschungsdaten DO 10.3886/ICPSR29644.v1