NSF and USA Today / Y2K POLL

USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
Y2K POLL - UPDATE #2
Conducted In Partnership With The National Science Foundation

In cooperation with USA Today, 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 ARE BASED ON TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH -- 1,010 -- NATIONAL ADULTS, AGED 18+, CONDUCTED NOVEMBER 18-21, 1999.

FOR RESULTS BASED ON THE TOTAL SAMPLE OF NATIONAL ADULTS, ONE CAN SAY WITH 95% CONFIDENCE THAT THE MARGIN OF SAMPLING ERROR IS ą 3 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

NOTE: THIS REPRESENTS THE 4TH WAVE OF Y2K TRACKING IN THIS SERIES. NOT ALL QUESTIONS WERE ASKED IN ALL FOUR SURVEYS. DASHES ARE USED TO INDICATE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL QUESTION WAS NOT ASKED FOR A GIVEN TIME PERIOD.

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?

Major
problems
Minor
problems No
problems
at all
No
opinion

1999 Nov 18-21 12 71 14 3

1999 Aug 25-29 11 71 15 3

1999 Mar 5-7 21 65 12 2

1998 Dec 9-13 34 51 10 5

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?

Major
problems
Minor
problems No
problems
at all
No
opinion

1999 Nov 18-21 3 50 45 2

1999 Aug 25-29 7 52 40 1

1999 Mar 5-7 9 56 32 3

1998 Dec 9-13 14 53 30 3

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?

A great
deal
Some Not
much Nothing
at all No
Opinion

1999 Nov 18-21 70 20 6 4 *

1999 Aug 25-29 64 24 9 3 *

1999 Mar 5-7 56 30 11 3 *

1998 Dec 9-13 39 40 13 8 *

The rest of the questions on this survey will deal with the 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 - very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not at all concerned?
(not asked in November 18-21 update)

Very
concerned
Somewhat
concerned
Not too
concerned
Not at all
concerned
No
opinion

1999 Nov 18-21 -- -- -- -- --

1999 Aug 25-29 6 30 45 19 *

1999 Mar 5-7 -- -- -- -- --

1998 Dec 9-13 16 40 31 13 *

5. To the extent Y2K computer problems occur, how long do you think they will last - for only a few days around January 1, 2000, for several weeks, for several months to a year, or for more than a year?

A few days Several weeks Several months
a year More than
a year No
Opinion

1999 Nov 18-21 41 32 19 5 3

1999 Aug 25-29 37 34 22 5 2

1999 Mar 5-7 23 30 37 7 3

1998 Dec 9-13 15 30 38 11 6

6A/6B SPLIT SAMPLE
6.A Do you or your household plan to take any steps to prepare or protect yourself from problems that might result from the Y2K computer problem? IF YES: What specific actions or precautions are you planning to take as January 1, 2000 approaches? [OPEN-ENDED]
BASED ON - 499 - ASKED FORM A; ± 5 PCT PTS

7. 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, ... ROTATE A-F:

Likely Unlikely No opinion

a. Air traffic control systems will fail, putting air travel in jeopardy

99 Mar 5-7 43 55 2

98 Dec 9-13 46 52 2

b. Banking and accounting systems will fail, possibly causing errors in employee paychecks, government payments, and other automated financial transactions

99 Mar 5-7 55 43 2

98 Dec 9-13 63 36 1

c. Food and retail distribution systems will fail, possibly causing grocery and other store shortages

99 Mar 5-7 40 58 2

98 Dec 9-13 37 61 2

d. Hospital equipment and services will fail, putting patients at risk

99 Mar 5-7 32 66 2

98 Dec 9-13 33 65 2

e. City or county emergency "911" communication systems will fail, putting citizens at risk

99 Mar 5-7 32 66 2

98 Dec 9-13 36 62 2

f. Nuclear power or defense systems could fail, causing a major accident

99 Mar 5-7 27 69 4

98 Dec 9-13 30 67 3

8. 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 government and business will have upgraded their computer systems before any Y2K problems can occur. ROTATE A-G

Yes,
confident No,
not confident No opinion

a. The U.S. government, including all federal offices and agencies

99 Mar 5-7 73 26 1

98 Dec 9-13 68 29 3

b. Your state government

99 Mar 5-7 77 21 2

98 Dec 9-13 73 25 2

c. Your local government

99 Mar 5-7 71 27 2

98 Dec 9-13 68 30 2

d. U.S. corporations and large businesses

99 Mar 5-7 85 13 2

98 Dec 9-13 82 16 2

e. Small U.S. businesses

99 Mar 5-7 54 43 3

98 Dec 9-13 56 41 3

f. Foreign governments of other developed and industrialized countries

99 Mar 5-7 44 51 5

98 Dec 9-13 48 46 6

g. Foreign governments of Third World and other less developed countries

99 Mar 5-7 15 81 4

98 Dec 9-13 18 76 6

USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL: Y2K - UPDATE #2, MARCH 5-7, 1999