thnkself
Details
Question If you had to choose, which thing on this list would you pick as the most important for a child to learn to prepare him or her for life? (INTERVIEWER: READ CHOICES) A. Which comes next in importance? B. Which comes third? C. Which comes fourth? 3. To think for himself or herself
Values
[1]most important[2]2nd important[3]3rd important[4]4th important[5]least important[NA(d)]don't know[NA(i)]iap[NA(j)]I don't have a job[NA(m)]dk, na, iap[NA(n)]no answer[NA(p)]not imputable[NA(r)]refused[NA(s)]skipped on web[NA(u)]uncodeable[NA(x)]not available in this release[NA(y)]not available in this year[NA(z)]see codebook
Question Years and Ballots
| ballots | years |
| -/- | 1986, 1987 |
| B/C | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024 |
Overview
For further details see the GSS Data Explorer page for thnkself.
Counts by year:
| year | iap | most important | 2nd important | 3rd important | 4th important | least important | no answer | Total |
| 1986 | 730 | 379 | 128 | 101 | 83 | 41 | 8 | 1470 |
| 1987 | - | 929 | 336 | 209 | 208 | 118 | 19 | 1819 |
| 1988 | 484 | 482 | 178 | 126 | 127 | 64 | 20 | 1481 |
| 1989 | 502 | 529 | 183 | 101 | 129 | 58 | 35 | 1537 |
| 1990 | 473 | 440 | 171 | 90 | 110 | 60 | 28 | 1372 |
| 1991 | 500 | 510 | 161 | 130 | 135 | 46 | 35 | 1517 |
| 1993 | 549 | 551 | 154 | 125 | 140 | 61 | 26 | 1606 |
| 1994 | 981 | 1058 | 339 | 232 | 253 | 96 | 33 | 2992 |
| 1996 | 979 | 973 | 324 | 242 | 260 | 96 | 30 | 2904 |
| 1998 | 921 | 928 | 344 | 260 | 257 | 91 | 31 | 2832 |
| 2000 | 921 | 903 | 355 | 267 | 266 | 72 | 33 | 2817 |
| 2002 | 1853 | 447 | 183 | 118 | 110 | 41 | 13 | 2765 |
| 2004 | 1936 | 423 | 163 | 108 | 129 | 45 | 8 | 2812 |
| 2006 | 3508 | 459 | 193 | 154 | 157 | 32 | 7 | 4510 |
| 2008 | 658 | 615 | 285 | 191 | 197 | 63 | 14 | 2023 |
| 2010 | 667 | 576 | 250 | 216 | 237 | 70 | 28 | 2044 |
| 2012 | 636 | 594 | 243 | 223 | 197 | 66 | 15 | 1974 |
| 2014 | 851 | 726 | 310 | 283 | 279 | 72 | 17 | 2538 |
| 2016 | 911 | 817 | 348 | 345 | 335 | 89 | 22 | 2867 |
| 2018 | 785 | 643 | 308 | 269 | 243 | 79 | 21 | 2348 |
| 2021 | 1360 | 1268 | 581 | 411 | 262 | 51 | 99 | 4032 |
| 2022 | 1173 | 1083 | 499 | 389 | 269 | 54 | 77 | 3544 |
| 2024 | 1116 | 966 | 454 | 380 | 263 | 51 | 79 | 3309 |
| Total | 22494 | 16299 | 6490 | 4970 | 4646 | 1516 | 698 | 57113 |