News and Personality
Instructions for participants
In this study, you will first be asked to read a short newspaper article. Next, you will be asked a
number of questions about the article as well as about your personality, views, and opinions
more generally.
Please complete the pages in the order in which they are presented and indicate your
responses by circling the appropriate number/option for each question.
We are interested in your personal views – there are no right or wrong answers! Try not to dwell
long on any single question but instead go with your gut reaction.
Please read the article and questions carefully and respond honestly to the best of your ability.
27 Dead in Explosion
An explosion occurred at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. this past Tuesday. The
Capitol Building houses the Senate and the House of Representatives. The explosion occurred
during an important meeting that was held to vote on a new tax policy. 27 people were killed and
an estimated 79 were severely injured from shrapnel and burns; many remain in critical condition.
The police confirmed that a gas leak was responsible for the mayhem.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation gained immediate access to surveillance videos, allowing
them to identify the cause of the explosion as an accident. The FBI has confirmed that the
explosion had been investigated as a possible case of negligence. However, a thorough
investigation has determined that no one is at fault for this tragic accident.
To what extent did you find this article interesting? Please circle the appropriate number.
1
Not at all
interesting
2
3
4
5
6
7
Extremely
interesting
Not at all
Extremely
Having read the article, to what extent are you feeling the following emotions right now,
at this moment? Please circle the appropriate number for each emotion.
1.
Interested
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2.
Afraid
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
3.
Angry
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
4.
Happy
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
5.
Threatened
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
6.
Sad
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
7.
Disgusted
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8.
Excited
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9.
Outraged
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
10.
Pity for others
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
There is a debate about whether there are some situations in which it is acceptable to violate a
person’s fundamental rights. This debate is ongoing and many different opinions have been
voiced about this issue, and about which rights are relevant in these situations. We’re interested
in your personal opinions about this issue in the context of arresting a criminal suspect.
Specifically, we would like you to read about a series of events that may occur during the arrest
and interrogation of a criminal suspect. Please imagine each of these events taking place,
and indicate the extent to which you find each of them acceptable or unacceptable.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Did not inform the suspect that s/he
had the right to remain silent
Denied the suspect the right to an
attorney and did not appoint a
lawyer to represent him/her
Denied the suspect the right to
make a phone call once s/he was
taken into custody
Used unnecessary force during the
arrest by throwing the suspect
violently on the ground to cuff
him/her
Used unnecessary force during the
arrest by repeatedly striking the
suspect with a baton even though
s/he was cooperating at the time
Used unnecessary force during the
arrest by non-fatally shooting the
suspect even though s/he was
known to be unarmed
Physically assaulted the suspect
during interrogation
Threatened violence with a deadly
weapon against the suspect during
interrogation
Choked the suspect during
interrogation to gain information
Did not allow the suspect access to
food and water for over 24 hours
This is
completely
acceptable
This is
completely
unacceptable
This is neither
acceptable nor
unacceptable
After taking a criminal suspect into custody, imagine that the law enforcement...
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Now, we would like you to imagine that when a suspect was taken into custody, there was
strong evidence that the suspect’s crime represented a continued threat. For example, although
the suspect was in custody, the suspect had set in motion other events that still threatened the
lives of the public. We would like you to re-read the series of events that may have occurred
during the arrest and interrogation of the suspect, while considering this additional information.
Please rate again how acceptable or unacceptable you find these events in this new
context of a continued threat after the arrest of the suspect.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Did not inform the suspect that s/he
had the right to remain silent
Denied the suspect the right to an
attorney and did not appoint a
lawyer to represent him/her
Denied the suspect the right to
make a phone call once s/he was
taken into custody
Used unnecessary force during the
arrest by throwing the suspect
violently on the ground to cuff
him/her
Used unnecessary force during the
arrest by repeatedly striking the
suspect with a baton even though
s/he was cooperating at the time
Used unnecessary force during the
arrest by non-fatally shooting the
suspect even though s/he was
known to be unarmed
Physically assaulted the suspect
during interrogation
Threatened violence with a deadly
weapon against the suspect during
interrogation
Choked the suspect during
interrogation to gain information
Did not allow the suspect access to
food and water for over 24 hours
This is
completely
acceptable
This is
completely
unacceptable
This is neither
acceptable nor
unacceptable
Imagine that the law enforcement...
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
The following is a list of possible goals for American foreign policy. We would like you to
rank these goals from most to least important.
Please write the number “1" by the goal you think is the most important, “2" by the
second most important, and so on up to “17”, the goal you think is the least important.
Making these choices may be difficult, but please give it your best effort. There are no
right or wrong answers; we are interested in your personal views. Please read through
the entire list first, and then start ranking the goals.
_____ Reducing America’s trade deficit with foreign countries
_____ Preventing the spread of nuclear weapons
_____ Helping to bring democracy to other nations
_____ Combating world hunger
_____ Protecting the jobs of American workers
_____ Strengthening the United Nations
_____ Combating international terrorism
_____ Maintaining superior military power
_____ Protecting the natural environment
_____ Controlling and reducing illegal immigration
_____ Defending America’s allies’ security
_____ Promoting and defending human rights worldwide
_____ Protecting weaker nations against aggression
_____ Preserving American independence from international law
_____ Helping to improve the standard of living in less developed nations
_____ Securing adequate supplies of energy
_____ Promoting the export of American products
Extremely
support
Extremely
oppose
Neither
oppose nor
support
There are many kinds of groups in the world – men and women, ethnic and racial groups,
religious groups, nationalities, political factions, and so on. How much do you support or
oppose the following ideas about groups in general?
1.
In setting priorities, we must
consider all groups.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2.
We should not push for group
equality.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
3.
Group equality should be our
ideal.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
4.
Superior groups should dominate
inferior groups.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Finally, please provide us with the following information about yourself. We use this information
to report the characteristics of people who helped with our research.
1. What is your age? ____________ years
2. What is your nationality? Please circle one (and specify, if applicable).
American
Other (please specify): __________________________
3. What is your native/first language? Please circle one (and specify, if applicable).
English
Other (please specify): __________________________
4. What is your gender? Please circle one.
Female
Male
Other
5. How would you describe your race/ethnicity? Please check all that apply.
_____ Caucasian/White
_____ African American/Black
_____ Hispanic/Latino/Latina
_____ Asian/Asian American
_____ Native American
_____ Pacific Islander
_____ Multiracial
_____ Other (please specify): __________________________
6. How would you describe your political orientation? Please circle one.
Very
conservative
Conservative
Slightly
conservative
Moderate
Slightly
liberal
Liberal
Very liberal
7. To what extent do you agree with the following statement: “I identify with the United States of
America.” Please circle the appropriate number.
1
Strongly
agree
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly
disagree
8. To what extent do you agree with the following statement: “It is very important to me that my
country is safe. I think the government must be on the watch to threats from within and without.”
Please circle the appropriate number.
1
Strongly
agree
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly
disagree
9. To what extent do you agree with the following statement: “Every person who is accused of a
crime should be considered innocent until proven guilty in a fair trial.” Please circle the
appropriate number.
1
Strongly
agree
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly
disagree