FDU PublicMind - June 13, 2007 Release

Background Memo

The polls by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind were conducted by telephone from May 29 through June 3 using a national, randomly selected sample of 776 registered voters. The sampling error for 776 is +/- 3.5 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence. During the same timeframe, 602 randomly selected New Jersey registered voters were also interviewed. The sampling error for 602 is +/- 4 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling error. This kind of error, which cannot be measured, arises from a number of factors including, but not limited to, non-response (eligible individuals refusing to be interviewed), question wording, the order in which questions are asked, and variations among interviewers. PublicMind interviews are conducted by professionally trained interviewers use a CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) system. Random selection >is achieved by computerized random-digit dialing. This technique gives every person with a phone number (including those with unlisted numbers) an equal chance of being selected. Samples may be mathematically weighted to match known demographics. The wording of the questions and order are as follows below. This series of questions was preceded by a series of questions about the TV show, The Sopranos (see: http://publicmind.fdu.edu/intune/).

The questions included in this release are as follows:

Question (national sample only): In the last ten years, how often have you been in New Jersey… READ?

Four or five times a year
Once or twice a year
Once every few years
Only once of twice
Never

Question (national sample only): Do you have any close friends or relatives who now live in New Jersey?

Question (open ended, national sample only): What Comes to Mind When You Think of New Jersey?

Question (New Jersey sample only): As a New Jersey resident, how concerned are you about what people in other states think of New Jersey…READ?

Very concerned
Somewhat concerned
A little concerned
Not concerned at all

Question: Comparing New Jersey to other states, do you think New Jersey is a better of worse place to live?

Question: Comparing New Jersey to other states, do you think New Jersey has better or worse public schools than other states?

Question: Comparing New Jersey to other states, do you think New Jersey has more or fewer dishonest politicians than other states?

Question: Comparing New Jersey to other states, do you think New Jersey has more or less street crime than other states?

Question: Comparing New Jersey to other states, do you think New Jersey has more or less organized crime than other states?

Question: Comparing New Jersey to other states, do you think New Jersey has more or less pollution than other states?

Question: Comparing New Jersey to other states, do you think New Jerseyans pay more ore less in state and local taxes?