SUPRC Massachusetts Residents June 18 – June 21, 2020 Region: (N=500) n Worcester/West --------------------------------------------- 119 Northeastern ------------------------------------------------- 177 Suffolk--------------------------------------------------------- 43 SE Mass/Cape ----------------------------------------------- 161 % 23.80 35.40 8.60 32.20 Hello my name is __________ and I am conducting a survey for Suffolk University and I would like to get your opinions on the Coronavirus, the economy, and some state issues. This week we are calling Massachusetts households. Would you be willing to spend up to seven minutes answering some questions? (If YES, proceed. If NO/UNDECIDED, terminate) 1. Are you a resident of Massachusetts? (N=500) n Yes ------------------------------------------------------------ 500 % 100.00 2. Which do you most closely identify with – male, female, or something else? (N=500) n % Male ---------------------------------------------------------- 235 47.00 Female -------------------------------------------------------- 262 52.40 Other (transgender, gender variant, nonconforming) ------------------------------------------------- 3 0.60 3. What is your age category? (N=500) n 18-24 Years --------------------------------------------------- 43 25-34 Years --------------------------------------------------- 93 35-44 Years --------------------------------------------------- 88 45-54 Years --------------------------------------------------- 94 55-64 Years --------------------------------------------------- 88 65-74 Years --------------------------------------------------- 64 75 Years or older --------------------------------------------- 27 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 3 % 8.60 18.60 17.60 18.80 17.60 12.80 5.40 0.60 For statistical purposes only, do you consider yourself: (N=500) n White/Caucasian -------------------------------------------- 376 Black/African-American ------------------------------------ 44 American Indian/Alaska Native ----------------------------- 3 Asian----------------------------------------------------------- 25 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander -------------------- 1 Hispanic/Latino ---------------------------------------------- 48 Other ------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Don’t know ---------------------------------------------------- 1 % 75.20 8.80 0.60 5.00 0.20 9.60 0.40 0.20 4. 1 SUPRC 5. Massachusetts Residents June 18 – June 21, 2020 Would you say you live in a rural, suburban, or urban area? (N=500) n Rural ----------------------------------------------------------- 79 Suburban ----------------------------------------------------- 273 Urban --------------------------------------------------------- 143 Don’t Know ---------------------------------------------------- 5 % 15.80 54.60 28.60 1.00 Do you have children under the age of 19 in your household? (N=500) n Yes ------------------------------------------------------------ 179 No ------------------------------------------------------------- 319 Undecided------------------------------------------------------- 2 % 35.80 63.80 0.40 Are you currently a registered voter in Massachusetts? (N=500) n Yes ------------------------------------------------------------ 472 No -------------------------------------------------------------- 28 Undecided------------------------------------------------------- 0 % 94.40 5.60 0.00 8. Do you think of yourself as a Democrat, Republican, or Independent? (N=500) n Democrat ----------------------------------------------------- 236 Republican ---------------------------------------------------- 72 Independent -------------------------------------------------- 172 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 15 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 5 % 47.20 14.40 34.40 3.00 1.00 6. 7. {FOR 7.1} 9. Thinking about the upcoming elections this year, will you vote by mail, vote in person, or will you not vote at all? (N=472) n % Vote by mail ------------------------------------------------- 117 24.79 Vote in person ----------------------------------------------- 290 61.44 Not vote --------------------------------------------------------- 7 1.48 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 56 11.86 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 2 0.42 {ROTATE 10-11} 10. Do you think Massachusetts is heading in the right direction or is on the wrong track? (N=500) n % Right direction ---------------------------------------------- 355 71.00 Wrong track -------------------------------------------------- 90 18.00 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 54 10.80 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 1 0.20 11. Do you think the United States is heading in the right direction or is on the wrong track? (N=500) n % Right direction ----------------------------------------------- 99 19.80 Wrong track ------------------------------------------------- 345 69.00 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 53 10.60 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 3 0.60 2 SUPRC Massachusetts Residents June 18 – June 21, 2020 12. Compared to other major national crises that you’ve lived through, such as weather events and terrorist attacks, how would you rank your current level of fear or concern? Would you say… {ROTATE ASCENDING – DESCENDING .1-.6} (N=500) n % The highest level of fear I’ve ever lived through -------- 56 11.20 Extremely high level of fear -------------------------------- 81 16.20 Above average level of fear ------------------------------- 197 39.40 Below average level of fear -------------------------------- 70 14.00 Extremely low level of fear--------------------------------- 36 7.20 Not at all fearful or concerned ----------------------------- 51 10.20 Undecided------------------------------------------------------- 7 1.40 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 2 0.40 13. Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way Governor Charlie Baker is handling the coronavirus outbreak in Massachusetts? (N=500) n % Approve ------------------------------------------------------ 405 81.00 Disapprove ---------------------------------------------------- 72 14.40 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 23 4.60 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 0 0.00 14. Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way Governor Charlie Baker is handling the reopening in Massachusetts? (N=500) n % Approve ------------------------------------------------------ 372 74.40 Disapprove ---------------------------------------------------- 98 19.60 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 30 6.00 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 0 0.00 15. I’m going to read you a list of problems that people in Massachusetts are facing. Which of the following is the most serious problem? {RANDOMIZE} (N=500) n % Racism-------------------------------------------------------- 147 29.40 Unemployment/the economy ------------------------------ 127 25.40 Physical/mental health due to coronavirus -------------- 107 21.40 Opioid abuse -------------------------------------------------- 49 9.80 Climate change ----------------------------------------------- 27 5.40 Transportation ------------------------------------------------ 13 2.60 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 29 5.80 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 1 0.20 3 SUPRC 16. Massachusetts Residents June 18 – June 21, 2020 Currently how strict are you about social distancing – such as staying home as much as you can, not gathering in groups, and not shaking hands or hugging? Would you say you are {ROTATE ASCENDING – DESCENDING .1 - .4} very strict, pretty strict, not very strict, or not at all strict? (N=500) n % Very strict ---------------------------------------------------- 221 44.20 Pretty strict --------------------------------------------------- 192 38.40 Not very strict ------------------------------------------------ 57 11.40 Not at all strict ------------------------------------------------ 29 5.80 Undecided------------------------------------------------------- 1 0.20 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 0 0.00 I’m going to read you a list of activities. For each, please tell me if you would be comfortable doing these activities now or once they are allowed… {RANDOMIZE} (N=500) Yes No Undecided 17.1 Eating out 205 41.00 283 56.60 12 2.40 17.2 Attending a sporting event 117 23.40 365 73.00 18 3.60 17.3 Sending your child to daycare or school 166 33.20 254 50.80 80 16.00 17.4 Getting on a plane 114 22.80 374 74.80 12 2.40 17.5 Being back in person in an office at work or school 251 50.20 222 44.40 27 5.40 17.6 Seeing family members/relatives in person 389 77.80 95 19.00 16 3.20 17.7 Riding buses, subways, and commuter trains 96 19.20 391 78.20 13 2.60 18. Do you think K through 12 schools in Massachusetts will be able to reopen this fall in a way that keep most kids and adults safe from the coronavirus – yes or no? (N=500) n % Yes ------------------------------------------------------------ 218 43.60 No ------------------------------------------------------------- 230 46.00 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 52 10.40 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 0 0.00 4 SUPRC 19. Massachusetts Residents June 18 – June 21, 2020 Children going back to classrooms this fall could increase the risk of more people getting coronavirus, but keeping schools closed could damage their education and make it hard for many parents to return to work. Of the following three statements, which comes closest to your view? (N=500) n % It's not worth taking any risk of additional people getting coronavirus so that children can return to school; remote learning is working well enough ----- 191 38.20 Children returning to school is so important that it's worth taking the risk that a small number of people will get coronavirus as a result ------------- 203 40.60 Children should return to school even if a significant number of people get coronavirus; we can manage the virus in other ways such as social distancing ------------------------------------------ 72 14.40 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 33 6.60 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 1 0.20 These next questions are about how coronavirus has impacted you financially. 20. How concerned are you about your personal financial situation or employment? Would you say… {ROTATE ASCENDING – DESCENDING .1-.4} (N=500) n % Very concerned --------------------------------------------- 107 21.40 Somewhat concerned --------------------------------------- 133 26.60 Not very concerned ------------------------------------------ 89 17.80 Not at all concerned ---------------------------------------- 171 34.20 Undecided------------------------------------------------------- 0 0.00 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 0 0.00 21. Has the coronavirus situation diminished your regular income – yes or no? (N=500) n % Yes ------------------------------------------------------------ 182 36.40 No ------------------------------------------------------------- 314 62.80 Undecided------------------------------------------------------- 4 0.80 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 0 0.00 These next questions are about race relations. 22. Do you believe the color of your skin has ever helped you or hurt you in your life? Or hasn’t made a difference one way or the other? (N=500) n % Helped you in your life------------------------------------- 215 43.00 Hurt you in your life ----------------------------------------- 76 15.20 Hasn’t made a difference one way or the other --------- 193 38.60 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 13 2.60 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 3 0.60 5 SUPRC Massachusetts Residents June 18 – June 21, 2020 23. How would you characterize racism in Massachusetts? Would you say…{ROTATE ASCENDING – DESCENDING .1-.5}? (N=500) n % It’s the most serious problem facing the state ------------ 45 9.00 It’s one of the most serious problems facing the state --------------------------------------------------------- 149 29.80 It’s a problem ------------------------------------------------ 234 46.80 It used to be a problem here, but it’s not anymore ------ 36 7.20 It’s never been a problem in Massachusetts -------------- 25 5.00 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 10 2.00 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 1 0.20 24. In general, do you think police treat Black people the same as everyone else? (N=500) n % Yes ------------------------------------------------------------- 93 18.60 No ------------------------------------------------------------- 383 76.60 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 20 4.00 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 4 0.80 25. How about the police in your city or town. Do you think police in your city or town treat Black people the same as everyone else? (N=500) n % Yes ------------------------------------------------------------ 164 32.80 No ------------------------------------------------------------- 246 49.20 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 85 17.00 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 5 1.00 26. Do you support or oppose the Black Lives Matter movement – would you say…{ROTATE ASCENDING – DESCENDING .1-.4}? (N=500) n % Strongly support -------------------------------------------- 256 51.20 Support ------------------------------------------------------- 169 33.80 Oppose -------------------------------------------------------- 30 6.00 Strongly oppose ---------------------------------------------- 21 4.20 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 21 4.20 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 3 0.60 27. Some people say police budgets should be reduced, and the money transferred to social services. Other people say police budgets should remain as is to ensure proper public safety. Which comes closer to your view? (N=500) n % Police budgets should be reduced, and money transferred to social services ---------------------------- 252 50.40 Police budgets should remain as is to ensure proper public safety -------------------------------------- 204 40.80 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 41 8.20 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 3 0.60 6 SUPRC Massachusetts Residents June 18 – June 21, 2020 28. What about in your city or town? Do you think the police budget should be reduced and the money transferred to social services or do you think the current police budget should remain as is … {READ AGAIN} (N=500) n % The police budget should be reduced, and money transferred to social services ---------------------------- 224 44.80 The current police budget should remain as is to ensure proper public safety------------------------------ 226 45.20 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 48 9.60 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 2 0.40 29. In Massachusetts, do you think police officer’s body camera footage, if available, should be public from all incidents where officers use force – yes or no? (N=500) n % Yes ------------------------------------------------------------ 444 88.80 No -------------------------------------------------------------- 46 9.20 Undecided------------------------------------------------------- 8 1.60 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 2 0.40 30. I’m going to read you a list of some tools and tactics used by police. Please tell me if you think they should be allowed or prohibited in Massachusetts. {RANDOMIZE} (N=500) Allowed Prohibited Undecided 30.1 Tear gas 183 36.60 279 55.80 38 7.60 30.2 Rubber bullets 205 41.00 262 52.40 33 6.60 30.3 Chokeholds 36 7.20 438 87.60 26 5.20 30.4 Military style vehicles 150 30.00 314 62.80 36 7.20 31. Currently in Massachusetts a person can sue a police department in instances of wrongdoing. Do you think a person should be able to sue police officers INDIVIDUALLY based on their actions while on duty – yes or no? (N=500) n % Yes ------------------------------------------------------------ 375 75.00 No -------------------------------------------------------------- 91 18.20 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 27 5.40 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 7 1.40 7 SUPRC Massachusetts Residents June 18 – June 21, 2020 32. Currently the state government licenses doctors, nurses, and other professionals. Do you support or oppose a proposal that would also license police officers, with the power to revoke their licenses for a violation of statewide rules of conduct? (N=500) n % Support ------------------------------------------------------- 411 82.20 Oppose -------------------------------------------------------- 59 11.80 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 28 5.60 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 2 0.40 33. Do you think the recent death of George Floyd in Minneapolis was an isolated incident or a sign of broader problems in the treatment of black people by police? (N=500) n % Isolated incident ---------------------------------------------- 72 14.40 A sign of broader problems-------------------------------- 396 79.20 Undecided----------------------------------------------------- 24 4.80 Refused ---------------------------------------------------------- 8 1.60 {THE FINAL QUESTIONS WILL HELP US CLASSIFY YOUR RESPONSES WITH OTHERS TAKING THE SURVEY} 34. 35. What is the highest level of education you have completed? (N=500) n Some high school -------------------------------------------- 23 High school graduate --------------------------------------- 133 Some college ------------------------------------------------ 108 Trade/technical/vocational training ----------------------- 22 College graduate -------------------------------------------- 128 Masters or PhD ----------------------------------------------- 84 Undecided------------------------------------------------------- 2 % 4.60 26.60 21.60 4.40 25.60 16.80 0.40 What is your annual household income? (N=500) Under $20,000 per year ------------------------------------Under $50,000 per year ------------------------------------Under $75,000 per year ------------------------------------Under $100,000 per year-----------------------------------Under $140,000 per year-----------------------------------$140,000 per year or more ---------------------------------Undecided----------------------------------------------------- % 7.80 16.40 16.00 15.20 16.20 18.20 10.20 n 39 82 80 76 81 91 51 [THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HAVE A NICE DAY/EVENING.] 8