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Description & Citation--Study No. 4395

Bibliographic Description

ICPSR Study No.:4395
 
Persistent URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR04395
 
Title:Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, December 1997
 
Principal Investigator(s):University of Michigan. Survey Research Center. Economic Behavior Program
 
Series:Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior Series
 
Bibliographic Citation:University of Michigan, Survey Research Center, Economic Behavior Program. SURVEY OF CONSUMER ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR, DECEMBER 1997 [Computer file]. ICPSR04395-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan, Survey Research Center [producer], 1997. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2006-04-17. doi:10.3886/ICPSR04395
 

Scope of Study

Summary:This survey was undertaken to measure changes in consumer attitudes and expectations, to understand why such changes occur, and to evaluate how they relate to consumer decisions to save, borrow, or make discretionary purchases. This type of information is essential for forecasting changes in aggregate consumer behavior. Since the 1940s, these surveys have been produced quarterly through 1977 and monthly thereafter. Each monthly survey probes a different aspect of consumer confidence. Open-ended questions are asked concerning evaluations and expectations about personal finances, employment, price changes, and the national business situation. Additional questions inquired about buying intentions for automobiles and computers, and the respondents' appraisals of present market conditions for purchasing houses, automobiles, computers, and other durables. Also explored in this survey were respondents' types of savings and financial investments, family income, and sources of income. Other questions focused on respondents' use of personal computers at home and in the office, respondents' familiarity with and use of the Internet, and respondents' ownership, lease, and use of automobiles. Demographic information includes ethnic origin, sex, age, marital status, and education.
 
Subject Term(s):automobiles, computer use, consumer attitudes, consumer behavior, consumer expectations, consumer expenditures, disposable income, durable goods, economic conditions, employment, inflation, interest rates, Internet, national economy, personal finances, price fluctuations, purchasing, vehicles
 
Geographic Coverage:United States
 
Time Period:December 1997
 
Date(s) of Collection:December 1997
 
Universe:Population of the United States aged 18 and older in households.
 
Data Type:survey data
 

Methodology

Sample:National sample of dwelling units selected by area probability sampling.
 
Weight:This collection contains three weight variables: V95 "Adult Weight," V96 "Household Weight," and WT "Household Weight," that must be used in any analysis.
 
Mode of Data Collection:telephone interview
 

Access and Availability

Note:A list of the data formats available for this study can be found in the summary of holdings. Detailed file-level information (such as record length, case count, and variable count) is listed in the file manifest.
 
Original ICPSR Release:2006-04-17
 
Dataset(s):
  • DS1: Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, December 1997
 

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