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A P P E N D I X C Survey of Million Mom March Participants SURVEY 1: PARTICIPANTS IN THE MILLION MOM MARCH The first survey was distributed throughout the day by a team of seventeen people. The two-page survey took anywhere from four to fifteen minutes to complete. Respondents were assured anonymity and confidentiality, instructed to skip any questions they felt uncomfortable answering, and provided with the principal investigator’s contact information. We obtained 793 completed surveys, a 90% response rate. The nature of the event—an all-day “march,” or gathering, on the Mall in Washington, D.C.—made it difficult to obtain a perfectly random sample . However, we took numerous steps to make the sample as random as possible, and we are confident that the sample was representative of the larger population of marchers. To maximize randomness, we collected surveys throughout the day and at all areas of the Mall (e.g., the front, the sidelines, the back); we surveyed only one representative in groups of people attending together; we attempted to survey everyone coming through one of the main points of entry; we surveyed everyone in line for refreshments at different points in the day; we distributed the surveys to every third “picnic blanket” at different places on the Mall; and in cases of two-gender couples, we alternated between the male and female partner . We detected no obvious patterns among the nonresponders that would give us cause for concern about nonresponse bias (that is, the nonresponders were diverse by gender, race, and age). Contrary to the image of the “oversurveyed American,” most respondents appeared to take the survey very seriously, taking time to answer the questions accurately and thoughtfully. SURVEY 2: THE FOLLOW-UP Although the initial survey was anonymous, respondents were asked whether they would be willing to be contacted over the summer to discuss their experiences. Fully 64% of them provided contact information (a first name, plus a phone number or e-mail address or both). This yielded a potential panel of 505 respondents (out of 793 total). Of those 505, Survey of Million Mom March • 209 428 (85%) have been successfully contacted, either by e-mail, phone, or mail. Completed surveys have been received from 220 respondents (51% of those successfully reached; 44% of those who provided contact information ; and 28% of all marchers surveyed). The survey was conducted in September 2000, with follow-up surveys sent in November and December 2000; there is no systematic difference in terms of number of follow-up activities between those who responded in September and those who responded two to three months later. Table C-1 summarizes the results. VARIABLES OF INTEREST IN THIS STUDY The cognitive-frame variables were constructed from answers to the following question on the original survey: Following is a list of statements that we often hear from people who advocate gun control. Please read all eight, then indicate the TOP 3 reasons you are at the march today. Rank your reasons by putting 1, 2, and 3 in the space provided. RANK (1, 2, AND 3) ___I am here because I think gun control is necessary to reduce our nation’s high crime rate ___I am here to speak out on behalf of someone close to me who was a victim of gun violence ___I am here because I fear for the safety of my children and/or other children close to me ___I am here because I fear for my own safety and/or the safety of my neighborhood ___I am here because I think it’s time to send Congress and the gun lobby a message ___I am here because gun control is an important part of my religious belief that all life is sacred ___I am here because I want to do something to protect the safety of children at home or school ___I am here to express my long-standing concern about the easy availability of guns in this country The following five frame variables were created from the combination of answers to that question. In all cases, respondents were coded as 1 if the frame applied, and 0 if it did not. Child Frame: Respondents were coded as having a “child frame” if they mentioned either “fear for the safety of my children” or “protect the safety of children” (or both) among their top three and did not mention “reduce our [18.189.2.122] Project MUSE (2024-04-24 14...

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