This multipurpose survey measures a wide range of variables of interest in sociology, political science, and labor economics. It is similar to national social surveys conducted regularly in the United States, Britain, and West Germany, and much of the data are directly comparable. The questionnaire covers attitudes toward a broad range of topics, including government expenditures, taxation, inflation, crime, poverty, women and careers, migrants, political figures, and confidence in institutions such as banks and police. Other questions relate to the respondent's personal feelings about life, health, religion, moral issues, and family relationships. Political and economic data provided include party preference and voting history, income, and occupation. Additional background variables are available on education, birthplace, ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, location and size of town of residence, marital status, and union membership.

The Australian National Social Science Survey is a major multi-purpose survey measuring a wide range of variables of interest in sociology, political science and labour economics. It is similar to national social surveys conducted regularly in the U.S.A., Britain and West Germany. Much of the data in the Australian survey are directly comparable with these other surveys. The data are representative of the non-institutionalised population aged 18 years and over, capable of being interviewed in English, in all States and Territories of Australia. The questionnaire covers attitudes toward how much money is spent on foreign aid, defence, unemployment, medical and social services, education, roads, science, aborigines, and drug abuse; other issues such as taxation, inflation, crime and punishment, business affairs, uranium, poverty, women and careers, and migrants; feelings toward major Australian political figures, Mr Reagan, Mrs Thatcher, certain social and national groups, and certain countries; confidence in institutions such as banks, police, government, political parties, the military, universities and schools, the press, companies, trade unions and small business; and perceived economic and social priorities for Australia over the next ten years. Other questions relate to the respondent's personal feelings about life, such as loneliness, happiness, satisfaction, level of control, and identity; health, the need for medical services, and availability of trustworthy friends; religious beliefs and priorities; moral reactions to sex, abortion, pornography; facets of human nature; relationships with parents and children; and a sentence completion test. Political data includes party preference and voting history; spouse's party preference; willingness to act to change things; and perceptions of personal feelings of power. Economic data includes detailed information on income from various sources for both respondent and spouse; hours and weeks worked; occupations (coded into the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations: Working Draft); and spouse's education and occupation. Background variables include family history; employment history; education; birthplace; ethnic origin; places of residence; parental occupation and education; religion; age; sex; current state and size of town; place of upbringing; number of years in current area; home ownership; marital status; number, sex and age of children; and union membership.

From the codebook: This study is a major multi-purpose survey measuring a wide range of variables of interest in sociology, political science and labor economics. It is similar to national social surveys conducted regularly in other countries. Much of the data in the Australian survey are directly comparable with these other surveys. The data are representative of the non-institutionalized population aged 18 years and over, capable of being interviewed in English, in all states and territories of Australia. The questionnaire covers attitudes toward how much money is spent on foreign aid, defense, unemployment, medical and social services, education, roads, science, aborigines , and drug abuse; other issues such as taxation, inflation, inflation, crime and punishment, business affairs, uranium, poverty, women and careers, and migrants; feelings toward major Australian political figures, Mr. Reagan, Mrs. Thatcher, certain social and national groups, and certain countries; confidence in institutions such as banks, police, government, political parties, the military, universitie sand schools, the press, companies, trade unions and small business; and perceived economic and social priorities for Australia over the next ten years. other questions relate to the respondent's personal feelings about life, such a loneliness, happiness, satisfaction, level of control, and identity; health, the need for medical services, and availability of trustworthy friends; religious beliefs and priorities; moral reactions to sex, abortion, pornography; facets of human nature; relationships with parents and children; and a sentence completion test. Political data includes party preference and voting history; spouse's party preference; willingness to act to change things; and perceptions of personal feelings of power. Economic data includes detailed information on income from various sources for both respondent and spouse; hours and weeks worked; occupations and spouse's occupation and education. Data also include a full set of demographic and background variables. There are 3012 cases and 681 variables.

This study is a merged file containing the data from the 1984 and 1988 surveys. From the 1984 codebook: This study is a major multi-purpose survey measuring a wide range of variables of interest in sociology, political science and labor economics. It is similar to national social surveys conducted regularly in other countries. Much of the data in the Australian survey are directly comparable with these other surveys. The data are representative of the non-institutionalized population aged 18 years and over, capable of being interviewed in English, in all states and territories of Australia. The questionnaire covers attitudes toward how much money is spent on foreign aid, defense, unemployment, medical and social services, education, roads, science, aborigines , and drug abuse; other issues such as taxation, inflation, inflation, crime and punishment, business affairs, uranium, poverty, women and careers, and migrants; feelings toward major Australian political figures, Mr. Reagan, Mrs. Thatcher, certain social and national groups, and certain countries; confidence in institutions such as banks, police, government, political parties, the military, universitie sand schools, the press, companies, trade unions and small business; and perceived economic and social priorities for Australia over the next ten years. other questions relate to the respondent's personal feelings about life, such a loneliness, happiness, satisfaction, level of control, and identity; health, the need for medical services, and availability of trustworthy friends; religious beliefs and priorities; moral reactions to sex, abortion, pornography; facets of human nature; relationships with parents and children; and a sentence completion test. Political data includes party preference and voting history; spouse's party preference; willingness to act to change things; and perceptions of personal feelings of power. Economic data includes detailed information on income from various sources for both respondent and spouse; hours and weeks worked; occupations and spouse's occupation and education. Data also include a full set of demographic and background variables.