Data · US survey
Codebook
Every variable in the US survey file: the question as asked and its answers
- variables
- 124
- topics
- 8
- in the public file
- 105
Each survey question as respondents saw it
The page lists every variable in the US survey file with its exact wording and answer options. {inparty} and {outparty} stand for the respondent’s own party and the other one. The workplace and business items are described here but left out of the public file.
About the survey
A nationally representative sample of American adults, interviewed by YouGov since September 2022. All results the lab publishes are weighted.
Each row of the survey file is one interview. Questions that mention a party are written for each respondent: {inparty} is the respondent’s own party and {outparty} the other one; independents are assigned one of the two parties for these questions (party_rand_cat). Answers are stored as the words of the option chosen, thermometers and percentages as numbers, and a blank cell means the question was not asked or not answered.
Who answered
Respondents by group in the March 2026 codebook (146,354 people), unweighted counts
| Partisanship | People | Share | Share as a bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 54,984 | 37.6% | |
| Independent/Other | 51,905 | 35.5% | |
| Republican | 39,465 | 27.0% |
Get the data
The responses are one file, with a row per interview.
Download the survey (all-data.zip) (sign in to download)More about the file
Methods, as the codebook states them
Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 162,000 American adults via YouGov. Data collection is ongoing, but we present results for between September 2022 and March 2026 for this report. All results are weighted.
Democratic norms
13 variables, all of them questions put to respondents.
Whether respondents agree that their own party should break a democratic norm, from ignoring court rulings to punishing companies, and (the _perception items) what share of the other party they think would agree.
norm_judges
Text answer
“Do you agree or disagree: {inparty} elected officials should sometimes consider ignoring court decisions when the judges who issued those decisions were appointed by {outparty} presidents.”
AnswersStrongly agree / Agree / Neither agree nor disagree / Disagree / Strongly disagree
norm_judges_perception
Number
“What percent of {outparty} voters do you think agree with the following: {outparty} elected officials should sometimes consider ignoring court decisions when the judges who issued those decisions were appointed by {inparty} presidents.”
Answers0–100
norm_polling
Text answer
“Do you agree or disagree: {inparty} should reduce the number of polling stations in areas that typically support {outparty}.”
AnswersStrongly agree / Agree / Neither agree nor disagree / Disagree / Strongly disagree
norm_polling_perception
Number
“What percent of {outparty} voters do you think agree with the following: {outparty} should reduce the number of polling stations in areas that typically support {inparty}.”
Answers0–100
norm_executive
Text answer
“Do you agree or disagree: If a {inparty} president can't get cooperation from {outparty} members of congress to pass new laws, the {inparty} president should circumvent Congress and issue executive orders on their own to accomplish their priorities.”
AnswersStrongly agree / Agree / Neither agree nor disagree / Disagree / Strongly disagree
Feelings and trust
8 variables, all of them questions put to respondents.
How warmly respondents feel toward Democrats and Republicans on a 0 to 100 thermometer, and whether they trust strangers, members of Congress and public services, value voting, feel proud to be American and expect fair treatment.
democrat_therm_1
Number
“We'd like you to rate how you feel towards some groups on a scale of 0 to 100. Zero means very unfavorable and 100 means very favorable. Fifty means you do not feel favorable or unfavorable. How would you rate your feeling toward Democrats?”
Answers0–100
republican_therm_1
Number
“We'd like you to rate how you feel towards some groups on a scale of 0 to 100. Zero means very unfavorable and 100 means very favorable. Fifty means you do not feel favorable or unfavorable. How would you rate your feeling toward Republicans?”
Answers0–100
general_trust
Text answer
“Do you think your wallet (or your valuables) would be returned to you if it were found by a stranger?”
AnswersYes / No
institutional_corruption
Text answer
“If a member of Congress were offered a bribe to influence the awarding of a government contract, do you think that the member of Congress would accept or refuse the bribe?”
AnswersExtremely likely to refuse / Likely to refuse / Equally likely to refuse or accept / Likely to accept / Extremely likely to accept
institutional_response
Text answer
“If you were to complain about the poor quality of a public service, how likely or unlikely is it that the problem would be easily resolved?”
AnswersExtremely unlikely / Unlikely / Equally likely or unlikely / Likely / Extremely likely
Political violence
8 variables, all of them questions put to respondents.
Six crimes committed against the other party, from protesting without a permit to murder. They are asked as a ladder: each harsher act is put only to people who supported the one before. The _perception items ask what share of the other party would support the act.
violence1
Text answer
“Please consider the following scenarios: {permuted name 1} was convicted of protesting without a permit. He was arrested by police after leading a protest against {outparty} on the grounds of the county courthouse. He made no effort to acquire the necessary permit for the protest and refused to leave when asked by police. Do you support or oppose {permuted name 1}'s actions?”
AnswersStrongly support / Support / Neither support nor oppose / Oppose / Strongly oppose
Permuted names: Allen Franklin, Josh Kalan, Brendan Carey, Nick Polan, Edgar Herman, Jack Kessol
violence2
Text answer
“{permuted name 2} was convicted of vandalism. He was arrested by police after he vandalized several large signs expressing support for candidates of the {outparty} party. Do you support or oppose {permuted name 2}'s actions?”
AnswersStrongly support / Support / Neither support nor oppose / Oppose / Strongly oppose
This question was asked only of respondents who selected "Support" or "Strongly support" for violence1.
violence3
Text answer
“{permuted name 3} was convicted of assault. He was arrested by police for throwing rocks at peaceful {outparty} protesters. Although no one was seriously injured, paramedics bandaged a man with a head wound. Do you support or oppose {permuted name 3}'s actions?”
AnswersStrongly support / Support / Neither support nor oppose / Oppose / Strongly oppose
This question was asked only of respondents who selected "Support" or "Strongly support" for violence2.
violence4
Text answer
“{permuted name 4} was convicted of arson. He was arrested by police as he attempted to run from a fire he started at the local {outparty} headquarters. Although he waited for the building to close for the night, several adjacent buildings were still occupied. Do you support or oppose {permuted name 4}'s actions?”
AnswersStrongly support / Support / Neither support nor oppose / Oppose / Strongly oppose
This question was asked only of respondents who selected "Support" or "Strongly support" for violence3.
violence5
Text answer
“{permuted name 5} was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon. He was arrested by police after driving his car into a crowd of {outparty} protesters. Although no one was killed, several individuals were seriously injured and one spent a month in the hospital. Do you support or oppose {permuted name 5}'s actions?”
AnswersStrongly support / Support / Neither support nor oppose / Oppose / Strongly oppose
This question was asked only of respondents who selected "Support" or "Strongly support" for violence4.
Policy positions
10 variables, all of them questions put to respondents. Each respondent was randomly assigned five of the ten policy questions.
Where respondents stand on ten issues, on a 1 to 7 scale between two positions, with 4 the middle of the road.
policy_graduated_taxes
Text answer
“Some believe that richer people should pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes, as compared to poorer people. Others believe that every person should pay the same percentage of their income in taxes, regardless of how much they earn. Still others fall somewhere between these two positions. Where do you stand on this issue?”
Answers1 (Tax richer people at a higher rate) — 4 (Middle of the road) — 7 (Tax everyone at the same rate)
policy_energy_ind
Text answer
“Some believe that the federal government should decrease U.S. production of natural gas and coal. Others believe that the federal government should increase U.S. production of natural gas and coal. Still others fall somewhere between these two positions. Where do you stand on this issue?”
Answers1 (Decrease U.S. production of natural gas and coal) — 4 (Middle of the road) — 7 (Increase U.S. production of natural gas and coal)
policy_labor_power
Text answer
“Some believe that the federal government should allow workers to unionize and bargain collectively without fear of backlash from employers. Others believe that the federal government should allow employers to discourage unionization and collective bargaining, including by firing employees. Still others fall somewhere between these two positions. Where do you stand on this issue?”
Answers1 (Allow workers to unionize and bargain collectively) — 4 (Middle of the road) — 7 (Allow employers to discourage unionization and collective bargaining)
policy_health_insur
Text answer
“Some believe that there should be a government insurance plan that covers all medical expenses for everyone. Others believe that medical expenses should be paid by individuals and through private insurance plans. Still others fall somewhere between these two positions. Where do you stand on this issue?”
Answers1 (Implement government health insurance for everyone) — 4 (Middle of the road) — 7 (Have individuals and private insurance pay medical expenses)
policy_free_trade
Text answer
“Some believe that the U.S. should limit imports from other countries to protect American industries and jobs. Others believe that the U.S. should allow free trade to keep prices low, no matter what country a product comes from. Still others fall somewhere between these two positions. Where do you stand on this issue?”
Answers1 (Limit free trade) — 4 (Middle of the road) — 7 (Allow free trade)
American values
32 variables, all of them questions put to respondents; 19 are not in the public file.
Views on immigration, the economy, tariffs and free trade, and free speech, and a module on politics at work and the role of business.
CPA1
Text answer
Not in the public file
“Have you ever avoided asking for help at work because you thought the person might disagree with your political views?”
AnswersNever / Rarely / Sometimes / Often / Always
CPA2
Text answer
Not in the public file
“To what extent does political disagreement at work affect your job satisfaction?”
AnswersNot at all / A little / Somewhat / Quite a bit / A great deal
CPA3
Text answer
Not in the public file
“Do you agree or disagree: Companies should take public positions on social issues.”
AnswersStrongly agree / Agree / Neither agree nor disagree / Disagree / Strongly disagree
CPA4_a
Text answer
Not in the public file
Should businesses take a public stance on...“Climate change”
AnswersYes / No / Don't know
CPA4_b
Text answer
Not in the public file
Should businesses take a public stance on...“Mental health”
AnswersYes / No / Don't know
Other questions
10 variables, all of them questions put to respondents.
Feelings toward six social groups, whether an election reflected voters’ preferences, how much living in a democracy matters, and the MAGA label among Republicans.
maga
Text answer
“Would you describe yourself as a...”
AnswersMAGA Republican / Never Trumper / Neither
This question was asked only of respondents who selected "Republican" or "Lean Republican" when asked about their party identification.
group_therms_black_1
Number
Group Feeling Thermometers“How would you rate your feelings toward Black Americans?”
Answers0–100
Each respondent was randomly assigned two of the six group thermometer questions. Scale: 0 (very unfavorable) to 100 (very favorable).
group_therms_white_1
Number
Group Feeling Thermometers“How would you rate your feelings toward White Americans?”
Answers0–100
Each respondent was randomly assigned two of the six group thermometer questions. Scale: 0 (very unfavorable) to 100 (very favorable).
group_therms_jewish_1
Number
Group Feeling Thermometers“How would you rate your feelings toward Jewish Americans?”
Answers0–100
Each respondent was randomly assigned two of the six group thermometer questions. Scale: 0 (very unfavorable) to 100 (very favorable).
group_therms_hispanic_1
Number
Group Feeling Thermometers“How would you rate your feelings toward Hispanic Americans?”
Answers0–100
Each respondent was randomly assigned two of the six group thermometer questions. Scale: 0 (very unfavorable) to 100 (very favorable).
Demographics
28 variables, 27 of them questions put to respondents.
Who respondents are: age, gender, race, education, family, income, religion, party and ideology, past votes and where they live.
matchup2024
Text answer
“If the 2024 election for president were held today between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, would you vote for Trump or Harris?”
AnswersAnother candidate / Donald Trump / Joe Biden / Kamala Harris / Not going to vote / Not sure
birthyr
Whole number
“In what year were you born?”
AnswersYear value
gender
Text answer
“Are you male or female?”
AnswersMale / Female
race
Text answer
“What racial or ethnic group best describes you?”
AnswersWhite / Black / Hispanic/Latino / Asian / Native American / Middle Eastern / Mixed Race / Other
hispanic
Text answer
“Are you of Spanish, Latino, or Hispanic origin or descent?”
AnswersYes / No
Survey metadata
15 variables, none of them asked directly.
Fields the survey adds rather than asks: the weight, start and end times, the attention check, the survey number, identifiers, geography codes, and derived measures such as each respondent’s party and affective polarization.
weight
Number
Survey weight. Weights are constructed using propensity scores.
AnswersNumeric
party_rand_cat
Text answer
Respondents who identified as "Independent" on pid3 were assigned to an outparty for questions where an outparty specification was necessary.
AnswersIndependent assigned Democrat / Independent assigned Republican
starttime
Text answer
Timestamp indicating when the respondent started the survey.
AnswersTimestamp
endtime
Text answer
Timestamp indicating when the respondent ended the survey.
AnswersTimestamp
engaged
Number
Indicates whether the respondent passed the attention check.
Answers0 = Failed / 1 = Passed