STUDY DESCRIPTION

Title of Study
Australian Candidate Study, 2001

Local Archive Where Study is Stored
Social Science Data Archives
Research School of Social Sciences
The Australian National University
Canberra A.C.T. 0200

number of study (data set): 1049

Depositor
Rachel Gibson
ACSPRI Centre for Social Research (ACSR)
Research School of Social Sciences
The Australian National University
Canberra A.C.T. 0200

Date of Deposit
8 March 2002

Principal Investigator(s)
Gibson, Rachel
The Australian National University

Gow, David
University of Queensland

Bean, Clive
Queensland University of Technology

McAllister, Ian
The Australian National University

Funding Agency
Australian Research Council
Grant No. A79804144

Other Identifications/Acknowledgements
Social Science Data Archives

Research Topic (Abstract)
The 2001 Australian Candidate Study is the sixth in a series of election studies on federal election candidates. In 2001, candidates from the following parties were surveyed - Labor, Liberal, National, Democrat, the Greens and One Nation.

The study examined the prominent election issues, including attitudes to particular economic issues, and opinions on which are the most critical problems facing Australia. Opinions on other political issues such as security relations with other countries, assistance for Aborigines and women, and social issues such as abortion and pornography were also sought. A section on political and social institutions includes questions on the Australian democratic system, the role of the Monarchy, immigration and racism.

In addition, the survey asked questions relating to the political background, such as electoral history, party political involvement and membership of community organisations. A section on campaigning asked for the amount of time candidates spent on campaign activities and the amount of support received from various sources. ALP candidates were also asked a series of questions on ALP factions.

Background variables include age, country of birth, age when left school, number of years of tertiary study, religion, frequency of attending religious services, marital status, House contested and party affiliated with. Some of these variables have been grouped to ensure confidentiality for the candidates.

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

Kind of Data
survey

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

Definition of Total Universe
'Viable' parliamentary candidates for 10 November 2001 Federal election from the following political parties: Labor, Liberal, National, Democrat, the Greens and One Nation.

Sampling Procedures
no sampling

Number of Units (Cases)
number of units in original sample: 840
number of return-to-senders: 15
number of other losses: 348
number of replacements: 0
number of cases (unweighted): 477

Dates of Data Collection
first date of data collection: 21 November 2001 (mail-out date)
last date of data collection: 8 March 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 15 days after the original mail-out (6 December 2001). A second questionnaire was sent to remaining non-respondents six weeks after the original mail-out (3 January 2002).

Data Gathering Staff
Social Science Data Archive

number of cases: 477
number of variables per case: 221
number of cards per case: -

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

To maintain confidentiality, the background variables are not included in the public use data file and access to these variables is restricted. Researchers wanting to use these variables for their analysis should contact the SSDA.

References to related studies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aitkin, Donald. MacQuarie University Australian Political Attitudes Survey, 1979 [computer file]. Canberra: Social Science Data Archives, The Australian National University, 1979. (SSDA 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 et al. Australian National Political Attitudes Wave I, 1967 [computer file]. Michigan: Inter-University Consortium for Political Research, 1975 (ICPSR No. 7282)

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