D1070: The Australian Survey of Social Attitudes, 2003

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S)
Gibson, Rachel, The Australian National University
Wilson, Shaun, The Australian National University
Denemark, David, University of Western Australia
Meagher, Gabrielle, University of Sydney
Western, Mark, University of Queensland

OTHER IDENTIFICATIONS/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Holloway, Sophie Australian Social Science Data Archive
Graham, Rachelle Australian Social Science Data Archive

DATA COLLECTOR
Australian Social Science Data Archive (ASSDA)

FUNDING AGENCY
ACSPRI Centre for Social Research,
Research School of Social Sciences,
The Australian National University

ABSTRACT
The 2003 Australian Survey of Social Attitudes (AuSSA) is the first in a planned biennial 
series that studies social attitudes and behaviour of Australian citizens for the Australian 
and international research community. AuSSA provides cross-sectional data on the social 
attitudes and behaviour of Australians, repeating a core questionnaire for each cross-section 
and fielding specific modules relevant to the changing needs of the social research community. 
AuSSA is Australia's official survey in the International Social Survey Program and regularly 
includes ISSP modules. AuSSA 2003 includes the ISSP's National Identity module.

The 2003 Survey includes attitudes and behaviours that are organised into seven standard 
categories: Describing Australia; Community Life; The Law and Authority; Families and 
Relationships, Australia and the World; Taxes and Government Services; and Work, Education 
and Living Standards.

AuSSA 2003 also includes demographic and behavioural variables that survey: sex, year born, 
income, education, employment, home ownership, union membership, languages spoken, birthplace, 
ancestry, household composition and religion. Also included are questions about the partner 
of the respondent: employment, highest-level of education and income.

SUBJECT TERMS
Attitudes; Education; Elections; Employment; Family; Human relations; Homosexuality; Income; 
Law; Living standards; Nationalism; Occupations; Public administration; Shares; Social welfare; 
Taxation; Values; Working conditions.

KIND OF DATA
Survey

TIME DIMENSIONS
Cross-sectional (one-time) survey

UNIVERSE SAMPLED
Persons on the 2002 Australian electoral roll

SAMPLING PROCEDURES
Stratified systematic random sample.

The sample was selected to be proportional to population on a state by state basis.

METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
Self-completion (mail out, mail back)

ACTIONS TO MINIMISE LOSSES
Potential respondents received an introductory letter with the questionnaire. This contained 
basic information about survey objectives, the researchers responsible for the survey, how to 
complete the questionnaire and the processes used to ensure confidentiality. The letter also 
included contact information for survey administrators and for the Australian National University 
Ethics Committee, and the number of a toll-free telephone hotline run by trained archive staff, 
for any queries about completing the questionnaire or the survey in general.

Potential respondents who did not reply within 20 days were sent a reminder card encouraging 
them to complete the survey and reminding them that all responses are confidential. The reminder 
also included the number of the toll-free telephone hotline. Approximately 4 weeks after the 
reminder another copy of the questionnaire and a letter were sent out to those who had not 
responded, and then a final reminder card after another 4 weeks.

DATES OF DATA COLLECTION
First date of data collection: 3 August 2003
Last date of data colleciton: 24 December 2003

DIMENSIONS OF DATA SET
Number of cases: 4270
Number of variables: 377

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

REFERENCES TO RELATED STUDIES
ASSDA No 445: Australian Election Study, 1987
ASSDA No 570: Australian Election Study, 1990
ASSDA No 763: Australian Election Study, 1993
ASSDA No 943: Australian Election Study, 1996
ASSDA No 1001: Australian Election Study, 1998
ASSDA No 1048: Australian Election Study, 2001