Leaders, Heroes, and Role Models Survey

Columnist : Lincoln Institute

Leaders, Heroes, and Role Models:
Who do we look up to and why?

Final Top Line Results
Lincoln Institute- PA Statewide Survey

Conducted September 16 – 19 Sample Size of 750

INTRODUCTION: We are conducting a survey of attitudes and opinions concerning some important issues facing Pennsylvania today. May we have a few minutes of your time to complete the survey?

Great, thank you .

Q1. What would you say is the single most important personal characteristic or quality you look for in a role model? (DO NOT READ CHOICES – ONE ANSWER ONLY)

1. Honesty 380 51%
2. Strong Morals 41 06%
3. Integrity/Ethical 137 18%
4. Intelligent/Smart 14 02%
5. Confident/Self assured 11 01%
6. Hard working 8 01%
7. Respectful 9 01%
8. Leadership quality 65 09%
9. Religion/Spiritual 8 01%
10. Creative/Innovative 5 01%
11. Risk taker/Entrepreneur 0 00%
12. Challenges Authority 0 00%
13. Plays by the rules 3 00%
14. Undecided/None 23 03%
15. Other 46 06%

Q2. Please rank each of the following qualities as very important, somewhat important, not very important or not at all important in terms of the ones you believe are important in a role model.

Honesty

1. Very 736 98% Total very/somewhat: 100%
2. Somewhat 13 02% Total not very/not at all: 00%
3. Not very 1 00%
4. Not at all 0 00%
5. Undecided 0 00%
6. Refuse 0 00%

A. Having a strong moral character

1. Very 628 84%
2. Somewhat 108 14%
3. Not very 10 01%
4. Not at all 3 01%
5. Undecided 1 00%
6. Refuse 0 00%
Total very/somewhat: 98%
Total not very/not at all: 02%

B. Integrity or Ethics

1. Very 694 93% Total very/somewhat: 99%
2. Somewhat 48 06% Total not very/not at all: 01%
3. Not very 3 01%
4. Not at all 2 00%
5. Undecided 2 00%
6. Refuse 1 00%

C. Being intelligent or knowledgeable

1. Very 547 73% Total very/somewhat: 99%
2. Somewhat 192 26% Total not very/not at all: 01%
3. Not very 11 01%
4. Not at all 0 00%
5. Undecided 0 00%
6. Refuse 0 00%

D. Being confident or self-assured

1. Very 445 59% Total very/somewhat: 97%
2. Somewhat 284 38% Total not very/not at all: 03%
3. Not very 19 03%
4. Not at all 2 00%
5. Undecided 0 00%
6. Refuse 0 00%

E. Being respectful of others

1. Very 644 86% Total very/somewhat: 99%
2. Somewhat 101 13% Total not very/not at all: 01%
3. Not very 5 01%
4. Not at all 0 00%
5. Undecided 0 00%
6. Refuse 0 00%

F. Having leadership qualities

1. Very 588 78% Total very/somewhat: 99%
2. Somewhat 155 21% Total not very/not at all: 01%
3. Not very 7 01%
4. Not at all 0 00%
5. Undecided 0 00%
6. Refuse 0 00%

G. Being a religious or spiritual individual

1. Very 279 37% Total very/somewhat: 76%
2. Somewhat 290 39% Total not very/not at all: 23%
3. Not very 109 14%
4. Not at all 64 09%
5. Undecided 8 01%
6. Refuse 0 00%

H. Being creative or innovative

1. Very 349 46% Total very/somewhat: 94%
2. Somewhat 357 48% Total not very/not at all: 06%
3. Not very 38 05%
4. Not at all 4 01%
5. Undecided 2 00%
6. Refuse 0 00%

I. Having an entrepreneurial spirit on such things as risk-taking

1. Very 164 22% Total very/somewhat: 78%
2. Somewhat 418 56% Total not very/not at all: 19%
3. Not very 117 15%
4. Not at all 29 04%
5. Undecided 20 03%
6. Refuse 2 00%

J. Being outspoken on things like challenging authority

1. Very 244 33% Total very/somewhat: 81%
2. Somewhat 362 48% Total not very/not at all: 17%
3. Not very 102 14%
4. Not at all 23 03%
5. Undecided 17 02%
6. Refuse 2 00%

K. Playing by the rules

1. Very 541 72% Total very/somewhat: 96%
2. Somewhat 177 24% Total not very/not at all: 03%
3. Not very 23 03%
4. Not at all 2 00%
5. Undecided 6 01%
6. Refuse 1 00%

Q2b. Please name for us a person, living or dead, who you consider to be a role model.

Father 99 13%
Mother 46 06%
Other family 60 08%
Friend/Acquaintance 18 02%
Clergy/Pastor 73 10%
Politician/Elected official 273 37%
Armed Forces 10 01%
Athlete 4 01%
Actor/Musician 17 02%
Teacher 11 01%
Undecided/None 78 11%
Other 61 08%

Q3. What would you say is the single most important quality or trait that you look for in a hero? (DO NOT READ CHOICES – ONE ANSWER ONLY)

1. Honesty 169 23%
2. Strong Morals 31 04%
3. Integrity/Ethical 111 15%
4. Intelligent/Smart 5 01%
5. Confident/Self-assured 30 04%
6. Hard working 11 01%
7. Respectful 12 02%
8. Leadership quality 38 05%
9. Religion/Spiritual 7 01%
10. Creative/Innovative 3 00%
11. Risk-taker/Entrepreneur 10 01%
12. Challenges Authority 4 01%
13. Plays by the rules 2 00%
14. Good looking 2 00%
15. Occupation/Job type 2 00%
16. Popular/Well-liked 1 00%
17. Ability to inspire 10 01%
18. Ability to communicate 4 01%
19. Undecided/None 76 10%
20. Other 81 11%
(New categories added from verbatim responses)
21. Bravery/courage 95 13%
22. Loyalty 7 01%
23. Compassion/caring 39 05%

Q4. Please name for us a person, living or dead, who you consider to be a hero. (DO NOT READ CHOICES – ONE ANSWER ONLY)

Politician 183 24%
Actor/Musician 14 02%
Athlete 6 01%
Scientist/Doctor 6 01%
Artist 0 00%
Clergy/Pastor 50 07%
Businessman/woman 0 00%
Family member 118 16%
Armed forces 58 08%
Friend/Acquaintance 6 01%
Teacher 7 01%
Undecided/None 169 23%
Other 68 09%
(New categories added from verbatim responses)
9/11 victims 30 04%
Firemen/women 30 04%
Policemen/women 5 01%

Q5. In your opinion, what job title or occupation represents the one that you believe is most heroic? (DO NOT READ CHOICES – ONE ANSWER ONLY)

Professional athlete 2 00%
Teacher 43 06%
Business person 2 00%
Pastor/Clergy 18 02%
Parent/Relative 15 02%
Firefighter 172 23%
Member of Armed Forces 159 21%
Elected official 64 09%
Policeman/woman 89 12%
Movie star 1 00%
Doctor 43 06%
Astronaut 2 00%
Social service volunteer 8 01%
Organ Donor 0 00%
Blue collar worker/union 3 01%
Homemaker 6 01%
Undecided 83 11%
Other 40 05%

Q6. What would you say is the single most important personal characteristic or quality that you look for in a leader? (DO NOT READ CHOICES – ONE ANSWER ONLY)

1. Honesty 290 39%
2. Strong Morals 32 04%
3. Integrity/Ethical 156 21%
4. Intelligent/Smart 34 04%
5. Confident/Self-assured 38 05%
6. Hard working 7 01%
7. Respectful 9 01%
8. Leadership quality 48 06%
9. Religion/Spiritual 6 01%
10. Creative/Innovative 4 01%
11. Risk-taker/Entrepreneur 10 01%
12. Challenges Authority 1 00%
13. Plays by the rules 4 01%
14. Vision 20 03%
15. Inspiration 9 01%
16. Undecided/None 14 02%
17. Other 68 09%

Q7. Please name for us a person living today who you consider to be a great leader? (DO NOT READ CHOICES – ONE ANSWER ONLY)

1. President George W. Bush 186 25%
2. Bill Clinton 78 10%
3. John Kerry 23 03%
4. The Pope 17 02%
5. Colin Powell 33 04%
6. Jesse Jackson 2 00%
7. Rudy Giuliani 17 02%
8. Undecided/None 180 24%
9. Other 139 19%
(New categories added from verbatim responses)
10. Jimmy Carter 15 02%
11. Norman Schwarzkopf 13 02%
12. Donald Trump 1 00%
13. Nelson Mandela 7 01%
14. John McCain 13 02%
15. Billy Graham 11 02%
16. John Edwards 4 01%
17. Tony Blair 11 02%

Q8. Looking back through history, name for us a person no longer living who you would consider to have been a great leader? (DO NOT READ CHOICES – ONE ANSWER ONLY)

1. George Washington 43 06%
2. Abraham Lincoln 80 11%
3. Franklin Delano Roosevelt 63 08%
4. John F. Kennedy 86 11%
5. Ronald Reagan 128 17%
6. Napoleon 1 00%
7. Jesus Christ 13 02%
8. Martin Luther King, Jr. 38 05%
9. Mother Theresa 10 01%
10. Undecided/None 68 09%
11. Other 88 12%
(New categories added from verbatim responses)
12. Gandhi 16 02%
13. Teddy Roosevelt 13 02%
14. Dwight Eisenhower 29 04%
15. Thomas Jefferson 7 01%
16. Harry Truman 32 04%
17. Helen Keller 1 00%
18. Malcolm X 5 01%
19. Winston Churchill 25 03%
20. Richard Nixon 4 01%

Please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following statements.

Q9. The most important measure of success is how much money a person makes

Strongly agree 12 02% Total Agree: 04%
Somewhat agree 18 02% Total Disagree: 95%
Strongly disagree 609 81%
Somewhat disagree 108 14%
Undecided 0 00%
Refuse 3 01%

Q10. The most important measure of success is how others think of you.

Strongly agree 131 17% Total Agree: 38%
Somewhat agree 157 21% Total Disagree: 60%
Strongly disagree 266 35%
Somewhat disagree 189 25%
Undecided 4 01%
Refuse 3 01%

Q11. The most important measure of success is what a person does to help others.

Strongly agree 520 69% Total Agree: 94%
Somewhat agree 184 25% Total Disagree: 04%
Strongly disagree 11 01%
Somewhat disagree 26 03%
Undecided 5 01%
Refuse 4 01%

Q12. America’s leaders today do not live up to the standards of the great leaders from our nation’s past.

Strongly agree 315 42% Total Agree: 65%
Somewhat agree 173 23% Total Disagree: 31%
Strongly disagree 112 15%
Somewhat disagree 124 16%
Undecided 22 03%
Refuse 4 01%

Q13. We currently live in an age without heroes.

1. Strongly agree 128 17% Total Agree: 36%
Somewhat agree 140 19% Total Disagree: 63%
Strongly disagree 315 42%
Somewhat disagree 160 21%
Undecided 4 01%
Refuse 3 00%

Now, I have a few more questions for demographic purposes and then we’ll be through …

Q14. Are you registered to vote as a Republican, Democrat, Independent or something else?

1. Republican 315 42%
2. Democrat 346 46%
3. Independent/Other 69 09%
4. Refuse 20 03%

Q15. What is your approximate age according to the following brackets: 18-29, 30-44, 45-59 or 60 and over?

1. 18-29 38 05%
2. 30-44 166 22%
3. 45-59 321 43%
4. 60+ 220 29%
5. Refuse 5 01%

Q16. Do you consider yourself to be conservative or liberal when thinking about politics?

1. Conservative 383 51%
2. Liberal 216 29%
3. Moderate 112 15%
4. Undecided 23 03%
5. Refuse 16 02%

Q17. What was the last grade you completed in school? (DO NOT READ CATEGORIES)

1. K1-K8 7 01%
2. Some high school but did not graduate 16 02%
3. Graduated high school 242 32%
4. Technical or vocational school 27 04%
5. Some college 125 17%
6. Graduated college 183 24%
7. Graduate school/Professional school 141 19%
8. Undecided 0 00%
9. Refuse 9 01%

Q18. Is your main religious background Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish or something else?

1. Catholic 245 33%
2. Protestant 292 39%
3. Jewish 18 02%
4. Baptist 23 03%
5. Agnostic/Atheist 8 01%
6. Methodist 9 01%
7. Lutheran 17 02%
8. Mormon 3 00%
9. Christian 20 03%
10. Evangelical 3 00%
11. Fundamentalist 1 00%
12. Other 92 12%
13. Refuse 19 03%

Q19. Is your main racial heritage of Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic, or another background? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

1. White/Caucasian 653 87%
2. African American 60 08%
3. Hispanic 9 01%
4. Asian or Pacific Islander 1 00%
5. Native American 5 01%
6. Other 14 02%
7. Refuse 15 02%

Q20. What was your total household income in 2003 according to the following income brackets – less than $15,000, $15 – $30,000, $31 – $50,000, $51 – $75,000, $76 – $99,000, $100,000 – $200,000 or more than $200,000?

1. Less than $15,000 36 05%
2. $15,000 – $30,000 114 15%
3. $31,000 – $50,000 166 22%
4. $51,000 – $75,000 156 21%
5. $76,000 – $99,000 81 11%
6. $100,000 – $200,000 71 09%
7. Over $200,000 19 03%
8. Undecided 10 01%
9. Refuse 97 13%

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE SURVEY. HAVE A GOOD DAY/NIGHT.

Gender [by observation]:

1. Male 346 46%
2. Female 404 54%

Area:

38 05% 1. North West [Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Warren, Forest]
83 11% 2. Southwest [Lawrence, Beaver, Washington, Greene, Fayette, Westmoreland, Indiana, Armstrong, Butler]
90 12% 3. The “T”/Central PA [Jefferson, Elk, McKean, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Centre, Cambria, Somerset, Bedford, Fulton, Franklin, Huntingdon, Blair, Potter, Tioga, Bradford, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Sullivan, Lycoming, Clinton, Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Montour, Columbia, Mifflin, Juniata]
92 12% 4. The Northeast/Lehigh Valley [Luzerne, Carbon, Monroe, Schuylkill, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Northampton, Pike, Wayne]
110 15% 5. South Central [Perry, Cumberland, Adams, York, Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, Berks]
174 23% 6. Southeast [Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Bucks]
81 11% 7. Allegheny County
82 11% 8. Philadelphia