STUDY DESCRIPTION

Title of Study
Australian Election Study, 2001

Local archive where study is stored
Australian Social Science Data Archive
Research School of Social Sciences
The Australian National University
ACT 0200

number of study (data set): 1048

Depositor
Clive Bean
School of Humanities and Human Services
Queensland University of Technology
Carseldine Campus
Brisbane QLD 4034

Date of Deposit
11 April 2002

Principal Investigator(s)
Bean, Clive
Queensland University of Technology

Gow, David
University of Queensland

McAllister, Ian
Australian National University

Funding Agency
Australian Research Council
Grant No. A00106341

Other Identifications/Acknowledgements
Data producers:
Australian Social Science Data Archive

Research Topic (Abstract)
The 2001 Australian Election Study is the sixth in a series of surveys beginning in 1987 that have been timed to coincide with Australian Federal elections. The series also builds on the 1967, 1969 and 1979 Australian Political Attitudes Surveys. The Australian Election Studies aim to provide a long-term perspective on stability and change in the political attitudes and behaviour of the Australian electorate, and investigate the changing social bases of Australian politics as the economy and society modernise and change character. In addition to these long-term goals they examine the political issues prevalent in the election and assess their importance for the election result.

The 2001 survey replicates many questions from the previous Australian Election Studies, but also introduces a variety of new questions including a section on political and social institutions. Other sections cover the respondent's interest in the election campaign and politics, their past and present political affiliation, evaluation of parties and candidates, alignment with parties on various election issues, evaluation of the current economic situation, attitudes to a range of election issues including the immigration, refugees and asylum seekers, terrorism, taxation, unemployment, and workers entitlements, attitudes to issues relating to the environment and defence, assessment of the current level of racial prejudice operating in Australia today, and opinions on various social policy issues including abortion, equal opportunities, sex discrimination, and government assistance to Aborigines.

Background variables include level of education, employment status, occupation, type of employer, position at workplace, trade union membership, sex, age, own and parents' country of birth, parents' political preferences, religion, marital status, income, and where applicable, the occupation, trade union membership and political preference of the respondent's spouse.

Subject Terms
Attitudes; Culture; Defence; Economic policy; Elections; Environment; Immigration; International relations; Political parties; Politicians; Politics; Racial discrimination; Republicanism; Social policy

Kind of Data
survey

Time Dimensions
cross-sectional (one-time) study partial replication

Definition of Total Universe
persons on the Australian electoral roll at the close of rolls, October 2001

Sampling Procedures
stratified systematic random sample The sample of electors for all Australia was drawn from the Commonwealth Electoral Roll by the Australian Electoral Commission following the close of rolls for the 2001 election. The Commission supplied name and address information only, to be used only for this study.

Number of Units (Cases)
number of units in original sample: 4000
number of units out of scope:
return-to-sender: 215
person incapable, overseas, deceased, etc.: 154
number of replacements: 0
number of units in scope: 3631
number of cases (unweighted): 2010

Dates of Data Collection
first date of data collection: 12 November 2001 (mail-out date)
last date of data collection: 5 April 2002 (closing date for returns)

Method of Data Collection
self-completion (mail out, mail back)

Actions to Minimise Losses
A thankyou/reminder postcard was sent to all respondents and non-respondents ten days after the original mail-out (22 November 2001). A second reminder letter and questionnaire were sent to remaining non-respondents four weeks after the original mail-out (11 January 2002). A final reminder letter and third questionnaire were sent a month later (14 February 2002).

Data Gathering staff
Australian Social Science Data Archive

DIMENSIONS OF DATA SET

number of cases: 2010
number of variables per case: 379

A copy of the User Undertaking Form must be signed before data may be accessed.

References to related studies

Bean, Clive et al. Australian Candidate Study, 2001 [computer file]. Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 2002. (ASSDA No. 1049).

Gow, David et al. Australian Constitutional Referendum Survey Study, 1999 [computer file]. Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 2000. (ASSDA No. 1018).

Bean, Clive et al. Australian Election Study, 1998 [computer file]. Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 1998. (ASSDA No. 1001).

Jones, Roger et al. Australian Election Study, 1996 [computer file]. Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 1996. (ASSDA No. 943).

Jones, Roger et al. Australian Candidate Study, 1996 [computer file]. Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 1996. (ASSDA No. 944).

Jones, Roger et al. Australian Election Study, 1993 [computer file]. Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 1993. (ASSDA No. 763)

McAllister, Ian et al. Australian Candidate Study, 1993 [computer file]. Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 1993. (ASSDA No. 764).

McAllister, Ian et al. Australian Election Study, 1990 [computer file]. Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 1990. (ASSDA No. 570)

Gow, David et al. Australian Candidate Study, 1990 [computer file]. Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 1990. (ASSDA No. 571).

McAllister, Ian and Mughan, Anthony. Australian Election Survey, 1987 [computer file]. Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 1987. (ASSDA No. 445).

McAllister, Ian et al. Australian Candidate Study, 1987 [computer file]. Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 1987. (ASSDA No. 479).

Aitkin, Don. Macquarie University Australian Political Attitudes Survey, 1979 [computer file]. Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 1982. (ASSDA No. 9).

Aitkin, Donald et al. Australian National Political Attitudes Wave II, 1969 [computer file]. Michigan: Inter-University Consortium for Political Research, 1976. (ICPSR No. 7393).

Aitkin, Donald and Kahan, Michael. Australian National Political Attitudes Wave I, 1967 [computer file]. Michigan: Inter-University Consortium for Political Research, 1975. (ICPSR No. 7282).

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