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Historical US Abortion Opinion Data
Data Science and Analytics
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About
This dataset illuminates the evolving perspectives on a woman's right to choose in America, spanning from 1975 to 2022. It presents official figures from Gallup, formerly known as the American Institute of Public Opinion, which have been compiled and structured to offer an objective view of how American opinions on abortion have shifted. The creation of this dataset was motivated by a desire to explore these changes in the decades preceding the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organisation decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. It aims to foster a more rational understanding of an issue that has become a central feature of American politics. Gallup, an analytics company renowned for its public opinion polls, is the primary data source, uniquely equipped to illustrate these shifting attitudes.
Columns
The dataset, typically found in CSV format, includes data from various Gallup surveys. For example, a file pertaining to the question "Should Abortions Be Legal?" contains the following columns:
- Date of the corresponding Gallup survey: Indicates when the survey was conducted.
- Percentage of Americans surveyed who believed that abortion should be legal under any circumstances: Shows the proportion of respondents supporting full legality.
- Percentage of Americans surveyed who believed that abortion should be legal only under certain circumstances: Represents the share of respondents favouring conditional legality.
- Percentage of Americans surveyed who believed that abortion should be illegal under all circumstances: Reflects the percentage of respondents advocating for complete prohibition.
Additional responses tracked within the broader dataset include views on being Pro-Choice or Pro-Life, opinions on overturning Roe v. Wade, preferred stages of pregnancy for abortion legality, the impact of a political candidate's abortion stance on voting, the moral acceptability of abortion, and satisfaction with national policies on abortion.
Distribution
The data files are usually in CSV format, with a sample file for "Q1 Should Abortions Be Legal.csv" being 1.92 kB and comprising 4 columns. The dataset's structure is tabular. While specific numbers for all rows/records across the entire dataset are not explicitly provided, the "Q1 Should Abortions Be Legal.csv" file contains 64 unique survey dates, with some columns showing 66 valid entries.
Usage
This dataset is ideal for academic research, policy analysis, and journalism focused on US social issues. It can be used to track and visualise public opinion trends on abortion over several decades, analyse the impact of significant legal decisions like Roe v. Wade and Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organisation on public sentiment, or explore the intersection of politics and public morality in the United States. Researchers can use it to conduct time series analyses to identify patterns and shifts in American perspectives.
Coverage
The dataset covers the United States geographically, with a time range from 4 April 1975 to 2 May 2022. The demographic scope pertains to Americans surveyed by Gallup. All data are official figures from Gallup, an organisation recognised for its extensive public opinion polls over decades.
License
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Who Can Use It
This dataset is suitable for:
- Researchers and academics: To study historical trends in public opinion on reproductive rights.
- Political analysts: To understand the evolution of a key political issue and its potential impact on elections.
- Journalists: For data-driven reporting on social issues and policy debates.
- Students: As a resource for projects on US history, sociology, and political science.
- Public policy makers: To inform discussions and decisions related to abortion legislation.
Dataset Name Suggestions
- US Abortion Opinion Trends (1975-2022)
- Gallup American Abortion Views
- Shifting US Perspectives on Abortion Rights
- Historical US Abortion Opinion Data
- American Public Opinion on Abortion (1975-2022)
Attributes
Original Data Source: Historical US Abortion Opinion Data
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