ISSP 2020 – Environment IV

Source Questionnaire

(May 2019)
 ISSP 2020 – Environment IV
Final Source
Questionnaire

Members of the drafting group:

Austria (Convener):
Markus Hadler
Markus Schweighart

Chile:
Ricardo González

Spain:
Monica Mendez

Sweden:
Jonas Edlund
Ingemar Johansson

Taiwan:
Thunghong Lin
Pei-shan Liao

Experts:
Malcolm Fairbrother
Axel Franzen
 2

ISSP 2020 Module on Environment

Final source questionnaire May 2019

1 All notes which are not part of the questionnaire are enclosed in pointed
brackets,
e.g. <ISSP 1993 Q2, V5-6>.

2 For repeat items, the relevant question numbers from 1993/2000/2010 are
given in pointed brackets above the question text. New items are indicated by
<NEW>.

3 Where [COUNTRY] appears in the question text, members should insert the
name of their country.

4 The questionnaire is laid out for self-completion administration. Some of the

wording will need to be altered for interviewer administered interviewing.
e.g.3a. Looking at the list below, please tick a box next to the one thing …
For interviewer administered interviewing, please make sure that show cards
are used to list answer options, particularly at Q1 and Q7.

5 Translation notes for repeat questions are intended for those countries which
did not take part in the 1993, 2000 or 2010 ISSP. Others should repeat their
wording from the 1993/2000/2010 survey. ISSP policy on questions which you
have already translated for an earlier module is that members should not
tinker with wording to make slight improvements. Only real mistakes in
translation should be changed. These should be clearly documented in your
study monitoring report.
 3

< ISSP 2010, Q1a and 1b >

1a. Which of these issues is the most important for [COUNTRY] today?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

Health care (1)

Education (2)

Crime (3)

The environment (4)

Immigration (5)

The economy (6)

Terrorism (7)

Poverty (8)

None of these (9)

Can’t choose (-8)

b. Which is the next most important?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

Health care (1)

Education (2)

Crime (3)

The environment (4)

Immigration (5)

The economy (6)

Terrorism (7)

Poverty (8)

None of these (9)

Can’t choose (98) (-8)

<Q1 Answer option 6 “The economy” should capture all aspects of the economy rather than single issues
such as unemployment or inflation>
 4

<ISSP 2010 Q2a /2b/-/-/-, 2000 Q1a/1b/-/-/-, 1993 Q2a/2b/-/-/; ISSP 2013 / /Q5c/ /Q6e; New items / / /d/

2. How much do you agree or disagree with each of these statements?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ON EACH LINE

Neither
Agree agree nor Disagree Can't
strongly Agree disagree Disagree strongly choose

a. Private enterprise is the best way

to solve [COUNTRY’S] economic
problems

b. It is the responsibility of the government

to reduce the differences in income
between people with high incomes
and those with low incomes
<ISSP 2013>
c. [COUNTRY] should limit the import
of foreign products in order to protect
its national economy
<NEW>
d. [COUNTRY] should limit immigration
in order to protect our national
way of life
<ISSP 2013>
e. International organizations are taking
away too much power from the
[COUNTRY NATIONALITY]
government
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (-8)

<ISSP 2010 Q3a and 3b, 2000 Q2a and 2b, 1993 Q3a and 3b>
3a. Looking at the list below, please tick a box next to the one thing you think should be
[COUNTRY’S] highest priority, the most important thing it should do.
Highest
priority
PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY
()
[COUNTRY] should …
Maintain order in the nation (1)

Give people more say in government decisions (2)

Fight rising prices (3)

Protect freedom of speech (4)

Can’t choose (-8)

 5

b. And which one do you think should be [COUNTRY’S] next highest priority, the second most important thing
it should do?
Next highest priority
PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

[COUNTRY] should… ()

Maintain order in the nation (1)

Give people more say in government decisions (2)

Fight rising prices (3)

Protect freedom of speech (4)

Can’t choose (-8)

<ISSP 2010 Q4a>

4. Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted,
or that you can’t be too careful in dealing with people?
Please tick one box to show what you think, where 1 means you can’t be too
careful and 5 means most people can be trusted.

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

You can’t be too Most people Can't

careful can be trusted choose

1 2 3 4 5

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (-8)

<NEW>
5. On a scale of 0 to 10, how much do you personally trust each of the following institutions? 0 means you do not
trust an institution at all, and 10 means you trust it completely.

a. University research centres

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

No trust Complete Can't

at all trust choose

(0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (-8)

b. The news media

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

No trust Complete Can't

at all trust choose

(0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (-8)
 6

c. Business and industry

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

No trust Complete Can't

at all trust choose

(0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (-8)

d. The [COUNTRY NATIONALITY PARLIAMENT]

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

No trust Complete Can't

at all trust choose

(0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (-8)

<Q5. University research centres include organized groups of researchers in universities or other similar
scientific and higher education institutions. The news media consists of the organizations producing TV,
radio, magazines, and newspapers (including in their online forms), but not social media. Business and
industry refers to firms in all sectors of the economy. Parliament refers to the national legislature, such as
the German Bundestag, Israeli Knesset, U.S. Congress, Chinese National People's Congress, or British
Parliament.>

< ISSP 2010 Q6>

6. Generally speaking, how concerned are you about environmental issues?
Please tick one box below to indicate what you think, where 1 means you are not at all concerned
and 5 means you are very concerned.

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

Not at all Very Can't

concerned concerned choose

1 2 3 4 5

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (-8)

<Q6. By “concerned about” we mean being worried about environmental issues. “Concern” should not Imply
involvement with environmental pressure groups.>
 7

< ISSP 2010, Q7a>

7. Here is a list of some different environmental problems.
Which problem, if any, do you think is the most important for [COUNTRY] as a
whole?
PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

Air pollution (1)

Chemicals and pesticides (2)

Water shortage (3)

Water pollution (4)

Nuclear waste (5)

Domestic waste disposal (6)

Climate change (7)

Genetically modified foods (8)

Using up our natural resources (9)

None of these (98) (10)

Can’t choose (-8)

<Q7.6 domestic waste disposal means disposal of household waste/garbage: adjust wording to national
language>

<Q7.9 “Natural resources” can include both non-renewable sources such as coal or oil as well as other natural
resources such as wood or water.>

<NEW>
8. There has been a lot of discussion about the world’s climate and the idea it has been changing in recent
decades. Which of the following statements comes closest to your opinion?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

The world’s climate has not been changing (1)

If (1) please continue with Q10

The world’s climate has been changing mostly due to natural processes (2)

The world’s climate has been changing about equally due to natural processes and human activity (3)

The world’s climate has been changing mostly due to human activity (4)

Can't choose (-8)

<FILTER: if (1) then skip next two questions>

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<NEW>
9a. On a scale from 0 to 10, how bad or good do you think the impacts of climate change will be for the
world as a whole? 0 means extremely bad, 10 means extremely good.

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

Extremely Extremely Can't

bad good choose

(0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (-8)

9b. On a scale from 0 to 10, how bad or good do you think the impacts of climate change will be for
[COUNTRY]? 0 means extremely bad, 10 means extremely good.

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

Extremely Extremely Can't

bad good choose

(0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (-8)

<ISSP 2010 Q9c/Q10a-c/Q11a-b, 2000 Q3c/Q4a-c/Q5a,c, 1993 Q4d/Q5a-b/Q6a,c,f>

10. How much do you agree or disagree with each of these statements?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ON EACH LINE

Neither
Agree agree nor Disagree Can't
strongly Agree disagree Disagree strongly choose
a. Modern science will solve our
environmental problems with little
change to our way of life

b. We worry too much about the

future of the environment and
not enough about prices and
jobs today

c. Almost everything we do in
modern life harms the environ-
ment

d. People worry too much about

human progress harming the
environment

e. In order to protect the environ-

ment [COUNTRY] needs eco-
nomic growth

f. Economic growth always harms

the environment
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (-8)
 9

<ISSP 2010 Q12a-c/-, 2000 Q7a-c/-, 1993 Q8a-c/-, New item d>
11a. How willing would you be to pay much higher prices
in order to protect the environment?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

Very willing (1)

Fairly willing (2)

Neither willing nor unwilling (3)

Fairly unwilling (4)

Very unwilling (5)

Can't choose (-8)

b. And how willing would you be to pay much higher taxes

in order to protect the environment?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

Very willing (1)

Fairly willing (2)

Neither willing nor unwilling (3)

Fairly unwilling (4)

Very unwilling (5)

Can't choose (-8)

c. And how willing would you be to accept cuts in your

standard of living in order to protect the environment?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

Very willing (1)

Fairly willing (2)

Neither willing nor unwilling (3)

Fairly unwilling (4)

Very unwilling (5)

Can't choose (-8)

 10

<NEW>
d. How willing would you be to accept a reduction in
the size of [COUNTRY’s] protected nature areas,
in order to open them up for economic development?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

Very willing (1)

Fairly willing (2)

Neither willing nor unwilling (3)

Fairly unwilling (4)

Very unwilling (5)

Can't choose (-8)

<TN: Protected nature areas include parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Economic development refers to mining,
farming, forestry, other sorts of resource extraction, house-building, road construction, or any other form of
economic development that substantially transforms the land.>

<ISSP 2010, Q13a-g, 2000 Q8a-e/-/-, 1993 Q9a-b/-/-/-/-/->

12. How much do you agree or disagree with each of these statements?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ON EACH LINE

Neither
Agree agree nor Disagree Can't
strongly Agree disagree Disagree strongly choose
a. It is just too difficult for someone
like me to do much about the
environment

b. I do what is right for the

environment, even when it costs
more money or takes more time

c. There are more important things

to do in life than protect the
environment

d. There is no point in doing what I can

for the environment unless others
do the same

e. Many of the claims about

environmental threats are
exaggerated

f. I find it hard to know whether the

way I live is helpful or harmful to
the environment

g. Environmental problems have a

direct effect on my everyday life

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (-8)

<Q12c. This is an idiom which means in British English that the person has higher priorities in life than
environmentally friendly behaviour>
 11

<ISSP 2010, Q14a-g, 2000 Q10a/Q11a-c/Q12a-b/Q24, 1993 Q12a/Q14a/Q15a/Q16a/Q17a/-/Q13a>

13a. In general, do you think that air pollution caused by cars is …

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

… extremely dangerous for the environment, (1)

very dangerous, (2)

somewhat dangerous, (3)

not very dangerous, (4)

or, not dangerous at all for the environment? (5)

Can't choose (-8)

b. In general, do you think that air pollution caused by industry is …

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

… extremely dangerous for the environment, (1)

very dangerous, (2)

somewhat dangerous, (3)

not very dangerous, (4)

or, not dangerous at all for the environment? (5)

Can't choose (-8)

c. And do you think that pesticides and chemicals used in farming are …

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

… extremely dangerous for the environment, (1)

very dangerous, (2)

somewhat dangerous, (3)

not very dangerous, (4)

or, not dangerous at all for the environment? (5)

Can't choose (-8)

d. And do you think that pollution of COUNTRY’S rivers, lakes and streams is …

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

… extremely dangerous for the environment, (1)

very dangerous, (2)

somewhat dangerous, (3)

not very dangerous, (4)

or, not dangerous at all for the environment? (5)

Can't choose (-8)

 12

e. In general, do you think that a rise in the world’s temperature caused by

climate change is …

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

… extremely dangerous for the environment, (1)

very dangerous, (2)

somewhat dangerous, (3)

not very dangerous, (4)

or, not dangerous at all for the environment? (5)

Can't choose (-8)

f. And do you think that modifying the genes of certain crops is …

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

… extremely dangerous for the environment, (1)

very dangerous, (2)

somewhat dangerous, (3)

not very dangerous, (4)

or, not dangerous at all for the environment? (5)

Can't choose (-8)

g. And do you think that nuclear power stations are…

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

… extremely dangerous for the environment, (1)

very dangerous, (2)

somewhat dangerous, (3)

not very dangerous, (4)

or, not dangerous at all for the environment? (5)

Can't choose (-8)

<13b “Industry” refers to large-scale industry, but avoid using the adjective in the translation
13e In a change from 1993/2000 this question now talks about “climate change” rather than the greenhouse
effect/global warming. All countries should translate this question to refer to “climate change” (or the
nearest equivalent) even if they previously used a different term.
13f “Modifying the genes” refers to actual alteration of a crop’s genetic structure>
 13

<ISSP 2010, 17a-b>

14a. Which of these approaches do you think would be the best way of getting
business and industry in [COUNTRY] to protect the environment?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

Heavy fines for businesses that damage the environment (1)

Use the tax system to reward businesses that

protect the environment (2)

More information and education for businesses about

the advantages of protecting the environment (3)

Can’t choose (-8)

b. Which of these approaches do you think would be the best way of getting
people and their families in [COUNTRY] to protect the environment?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

Heavy fines for people who damage the environment (1)

Use the tax system to reward people who

protect the environment (2)

More information and education for people about

the advantages of protecting the environment (3)

Can’t choose (-8)

<Q14a “Business and industry” refers to large-scale business and industry, but avoid using the adjective in
the translation>

<NEW>
15. How much, if at all, do you enjoy being outside in nature?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

not at all (1)

to a small extent (2)

to some extent (3)

to a great extent (4)

to a very great extent (5)

Can't choose (-8)

 14

<NEW>
16. In the last twelve months how often, if at all, have you engaged in any leisure activities outside in nature,
such as hiking, bird watching, swimming, skiing, other outdoor activities or just relaxing?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY ()

daily (1)

several times a week (2)

several times a month (3)

several times a year (4)

never (5)

Can't choose (-8)

<NEW>
17a. In the last twelve months, how many trips did you make by plane? Count outward and return journeys,
including transfers, as one trip.
_________ trips
(-8) Don´t know
<NEW>
b. In a typical week, about how many hours do you spend in a car or another motor vehicle, including
motorcycles, trucks, and vans, but not counting public transport?
Do not include shared rides in buses, minibuses, and collective taxis.

_________ hours
(-8) Don´t know

<NEW>
c. In a typical week, on how many days do you eat beef, lamb, or products that contain them?

Can’t
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 choose

(0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (-8)

<NEW>
18. How many rooms are there in your home (apartment or house)? Do not count any separate kitchens,
bathrooms, garages, balconies, hallways or cupboards.

_________ rooms
(-8) Don´t know
 15

<ISSP 2010 Q20a/f, 2000 Q19a/-, 1993 Q19a/->

19a. How often do you make a special effort to sort glass or
tins or plastic or newspapers and so on for recycling?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

()

Always (1)

Often (2)

Sometimes (3)

Never (4)

(Recycling not available where I live) (-4)

b. And how often do you avoid buying certain products for environmental reasons?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

()

Always (1)

Often (2)

Sometimes (3)

Never (4)

<Q19b “Avoid buying” refers to taking a decision deliberately not to buy certain products for the sake of the
environment>

<ISSP 2010 Q21, 2000 Q20, 1993 Q20>

20. Are you a member of any group whose main aim is to preserve or protect the environment?

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

()

Yes (1)

No (2)

<ISSP 2010 Q22a-c, 2000 Q21a-c, 1993 Q21a-c>

21. In the last five years, have you ...
PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ON EACH LINE Yes No
I have I have not

a. … signed a petition about an environmental issue?

b. … given money to an environmental group?

c. … taken part in a protest or demonstration

about an environmental issue?
(1) (2)
<Q21b Environmental group includes NGOs and lobby groups>
 16

<NEW>
22. Thinking about your neighbourhood, to what extent, if at all, was it affected by the following things over the
last twelve months?

a. Air Pollution

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

()

not at all (1)

to a small extent (2)

to some extent (3)

to a great extent (4)

to a very great extent (5)

Can't choose (-8)

b. Water Pollution

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

()

not at all (1)

to a small extent (2)

to some extent (3)

to a great extent (4)

to a very great extent (5)

Can't choose (-8)

c. Extreme weather events (such as severe storms, droughts, floods, heat waves, cold
snaps, etc.)

PLEASE TICK ONE BOX ONLY

()

not at all (1)

to a small extent (2)

to some extent (3)

to a great extent (4)

to a very great extent (5)

Can't choose (-8)

<Q22. By "neighbourhood" we mean the part of the town/city the respondent live in. If he/she lives in a village,
this can be taken as his/her "neighbourhood. “Affected” refers to the impact on the neighbourhood>