 |
USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL AMERICANS AND THE Y2K MILLENNIUM COMPUTER BUG |
 |
In cooperation with USAToday, the National Science Foundation has sponsored a number of initiatives designed to increase public awareness of important science, technology and education issues. A recent poll, conducted for USAToday by the Gallup Organization, was directed at learning more about public understanding of issues related to the so called Year 2000 problem.
-- FINAL TOPLINE RESULTS --
TIMBERLINE: 125318
PRINCETON JOB # 98-12-047
FINAL RESULTS ARE BASED ON TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH -- 1,032 -- NATIONAL ADULTS, AGED 18+, CONDUCTED DECEMBER 9-13, 1998.FOR RESULTS BASED ON THE TOTAL SAMPLE OF NATIONAL ADULTS, ONE CAN SAY WITH 95% CONFIDENCE THAT THE MARGIN OF SAMPLING ERROR IS ± 3 PERCENTAGE POINTS.
1. As you may know, most computer systems around the world have to be reprogrammed so that they can accurately recognize the date once we reach the Year 2000. Do you think that computer mistakes due to the Year-2000 issue will cause major problems, minor problems, or no problems at all?
34 Major problems 51 Minor problems 10 No problems at all 5 No opinion 100
a. Obtain special confirmation or documentation of your bank account
balances, retirement funds, or other financial records
a. Air traffic control systems will fail, putting air travel in
jeopardy
a. The U.S. government, including all federal offices and agencies
BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH –630 – ADULTS WITH HOME COMPUTER; ± 4 PCT
PTS
BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH –418– UNSURE ABOUT HOME COMPUTER; ± 5 PCT
PTS
BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH –706 – EMPLOYED ADULTS; ± 4 PCT PTS
2. Do you think that computer mistakes due to the Year-2000 issue will cause major
problems, minor problems or no problems at all for you personally?
14 Major problems
53 Minor problems
30 No problems at all
3 No opinion
100
3. How much have you seen or heard about the Year 2000 computer bug problem,
sometimes called the Millennium Bug or the Y-2-K bug, before now -- a great deal, some,
not much, or nothing at all?
39 A great deal
40 Some
13 Not much
8 Nothing at all
* No opinion
100
The rest of the questions on this survey will deal with Year 2000 computer issue. For
convenience we will refer to it throughout the survey as the "Y2K" computer bug.
4. Overall, how concerned are you about the Y2K computer bug problem -- [READ 1-4]?
16 Very concerned
40 Somewhat concerned
31 Not too concerned
13 Not at all concerned
* No opinion
100
5. To the extent Y2K computer problems occur, how long do you think they will last --
[ROTATE 1-4/4-1]?
15 For only a few days around January 1, 2000
30 For several weeks (or)
38 For several months to a year (or)
11 For more than a year
6 No opinion
100
6. For each of the following, please say whether that is something you probably will or will
not do in order to protect yourself against problems associated with the Y2K computer
bug. How about... [RANDOM ORDER]
65 Yes
33 No
2 No opinion
100
b. Stockpile food and water
26 Yes
72 No
2 No opinion
100
c. Buy a generator or wood stove
17 Yes
81 No
2 No opinion
100
d. Withdraw all your money from the bank
16 Yes
82 No
2 No opinion
100
e. Withdraw and set aside a large amount of cash
31 Yes
66 No
3 No opinion
100
f. Avoid travelling on airplanes on or around January 1, 2000
47 Yes
50 No
3 No opinion
100
7. Thinking about the U.S. economy, which of the following statements best describes the
possible effect you think the Y2K bug will have on the economy -- [FORM A: READ 1-4;
FORM B: READ 4-1]?
4 It will cause a total economic breakdown or catastrophe
25 It will cause serious problems in the economy such as slowing
production or creating a recession (or)
55 It will cause only minor problems in the economy (or)
14 It will have no negative impact on the economy
* OTHER (vol.)
2 No opinion
100
8. Thinking more generally about the kind of problems which could possibly be created by
the Y2K computer bug, which of the following best describes how serious these problems
will be in the United States -- [ROTATE 1-4/4-1]?
6 Y2K will result in disasters which could cause the loss of human
life
28 Y2K will cause economic and social disruptions, but will not be
life threatening (or)
54 Y2K will cause only minor disruptions and inconveniences (or)
9 Y2K will have no negative impact on people's lives
* OTHER (vol.)
3 No opinion
100
9. Next I'm going to read some specific problems. As I read each one, please say whether
you think it likely or unlikely to occur as a result of Y2K. First, ... Next, ...
46 Likely
52 Unlikely
2 No opinion
100
b. Banking and accounting systems will fail, possibly causing errors
In employee paychecks, government payments, and other automated
financial transactions
63 Likely
36 Unlikely
1 No opinion
100
c. Food and retail distribution systems will fail, possibly causing
grocery and other store shortages
37 Likely
61 Unlikely
2 No opinion
100
d. Household appliances such as VCR's, video cameras and air
conditioning systems will fail to turn on or work properly
33 Likely
64 Unlikely
3 No opinion
100
e. Hospital equipment and services will fail, putting patients at risk
33 Likely
65 Unlikely
2 No opinion
100
f. City or county emergency "911" communication systems will fail,
putting citizens at risk
36 Likely
62 Unlikely
2 No opinion
100
g. Passenger cars and trucks will fail to work properly, possibly
causing social and economic disruption
17 Likely
81 Unlikely
2 No opinion
100
h. Nuclear power or defense systems could fail, causing a major
accident
30 Likely
67 Unlikely
3 No opinion
100
10. As you may know, efforts are currently underway throughout the country to upgrade
computer systems in order to correct the Y2K computer problem. We'd like to know
whether you are generally confident or NOT confident that each of the following levels of
government and business will have upgraded their computer systems before any Y2K
problems can occur. How about... [RANDOM ORDER]
68 Yes, confident they will have upgraded
29 No, not confident
3 No opinion
100
b. Your state government
73 Yes, confident they will have upgraded
25 No, not confident
2 No opinion
100
c. Your local government
68 Yes, confident they will have upgraded
30 No, not confident
2 No opinion
100
d. U.S. corporations and large businesses
82 Yes, confident they will have upgraded
16 No, not confident
2 No opinion
100
e. Small U.S. businesses
56 Yes, confident they will have upgraded
41 No, not confident
3 No opinion
100
f. Foreign governments of other developed and industrialized
countries
48 Yes, confident they will have upgraded
46 No, not confident
6 No opinion
100
g. Foreign governments of Third World and other less developed
countries
18 Yes, confident they will have upgraded
76 No, not confident
6 No opinion
100
11. Do you have a personal computer in your household, or not?
56 Yes continue
44 No skip to q. 13
* No opinion
100
12. If have computer in household (Q. 11 '1'): Do you, personally, use your home
computer to connect to the Internet or an online service such as Prodigy or American
Online?
BASED ON –630—NATIONAL ADULTS WITH PC IN HOUSEHOLD; ± 4 PCT PTS
66 Yes
33 No
1 No opinion
100
13. Do you use a computer at work or school?
59 Yes continue
38 No
3 DON'T WORK/GO TO SCHOOL skip to note before q. 15
* No opinion
100
14. If use computer at work or school (Q. 13 '1'): Do you, personally, use the Internet or
other computer on-line service at your place of work or school?
BASED ON –630—NATIONAL ADULTS WITH PC AT WORK; ± 4 PCT PTS
63 Yes
37 No
0 No opinion
100
Q.11-Q.14 SUMMARY:
Computer Internet
Access Access
56 37 Total in household
59 37 Total at work
15 16 Only in household
18 16 Only at work
74 53 Either in household or at work
41 21 Both in household and at work
26 47 Neither location
IF HAVE HOME COMPUTER (Q. 11 '1') CONTINUE; ALL OTHERS SKIP TO Q. 17
15. Do you know for sure whether your home computer or computers are programmed to
comprehend the Year 2000 date field correctly, or are you unsure?
31 Yes, programmed correctly skip to q. 17
67 No, unsure continue
2 No opinion
100
16. If not sure about home computer (Q. 15 '2,3'): Do
you plan to take steps to make sure your computer is programmed correctly or
are you going to wait and see what happens?
49 Yes, going to take steps
49 No, wait and see what happens
2 No opinion
100
17. Which of the following currently applies to you -- Are you READ 1-5:
65 Employed for pay continue
2 Unemployed
18 Retired
6 A Homemaker, or skip to demographics
6 A Student
2 NONE/OTHER (vol.)
1 No opinion
100
18. Is your employer or place of business taking sufficient steps to correct any problems it
might face because of Y2K problems, is it NOT taking sufficient steps, or are you unsure?
56 Yes, taking sufficient steps
9 No, not taking sufficient steps
3 DOES NOT APPLY (vol.)
32 Unsure
100
USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL: AMERICANS AND THE Y2K MILLENNIUM COMPUTER BUG,
DECEMBER 9-13, 1998
