Survey year | There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | Right or wrong depends on the situation | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 31% | 66% | 1% | 2% | 10,584 |
Learn More: There are clear standards for what is right and wrong, Right or wrong depends on the situation
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among adults with an education level of high school or less by religious group
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who say…
Religious tradition | There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | Right or wrong depends on the situation | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 26% | 71% | 1% | 2% | 2,431 |
Evangelical Protestant | 43% | 54% | 1% | 2% | 2,977 |
Historically Black Protestant | 26% | 72% | 1% | 1% | 823 |
Jehovah's Witness | 62% | 36% | 1% | 1% | 130 |
Mainline Protestant | 31% | 66% | 1% | 2% | 1,536 |
Mormon | 47% | 51% | 2% | < 1% | 127 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 24% | 73% | 1% | 1% | 2,129 |
Learn More: There are clear standards for what is right and wrong, Right or wrong depends on the situation
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who are ages…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 16% | 31% | 30% | 23% | 3,330 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 26% | 29% | 25% | 20% | 6,810 |
Neither/both equally | 18% | 25% | 35% | 22% | 137 |
Don't know | 14% | 25% | 21% | 40% | 184 |
Generational cohort among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who are…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 10% | 10% | 27% | 36% | 16% | 2% | 3,330 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 19% | 12% | 24% | 30% | 13% | 2% | 6,810 |
Neither/both equally | 12% | 9% | 22% | 38% | 18% | 1% | 137 |
Don't know | 11% | 4% | 24% | 26% | 28% | 7% | 184 |
Gender composition among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who are…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 53% | 47% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 49% | 51% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 61% | 39% | 139 |
Don't know | 42% | 58% | 187 |
Racial and ethnic composition among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who identify as…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 67% | 11% | 1% | 17% | 3% | 3,326 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 56% | 15% | 2% | 23% | 4% | 6,834 |
Neither/both equally | 58% | 8% | < 1% | 30% | 4% | 131 |
Don't know | 44% | 11% | 1% | 40% | 5% | 182 |
Immigrant status among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who are…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 15% | 7% | 78% | 3,326 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 19% | 10% | 70% | 6,751 |
Neither/both equally | 27% | 5% | 67% | 134 |
Don't know | 35% | 9% | 56% | 181 |
Income distribution among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who have a household income of…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Less than $30,000 | $30,000-$49,999 | $50,000-$99,999 | $100,000 or more | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 46% | 22% | 23% | 9% | 2,882 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 55% | 22% | 16% | 7% | 5,860 |
Don't know | 69% | 18% | 9% | 4% | 122 |
Marital status among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who are…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 53% | 6% | 12% | 8% | 21% | 3,358 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 37% | 9% | 15% | 9% | 30% | 6,859 |
Neither/both equally | 34% | 5% | 20% | 10% | 31% | 138 |
Don't know | 35% | 5% | 15% | 24% | 21% | 184 |
Parent of children under 18 among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who are…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 26% | 74% | 3,362 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 26% | 74% | 6,869 |
Neither/both equally | 21% | 79% | 139 |
Don't know | 25% | 75% | 185 |
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Belief in God among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who say they…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Believe in God; absolutely certain | Believe in God; fairly certain | Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | Believe in God; don't know | Do not believe in God | Other/don't know if they believe in God | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 74% | 16% | 4% | 1% | 4% | 1% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 62% | 22% | 6% | 1% | 8% | 2% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 72% | 18% | 2% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 139 |
Don't know | 66% | 21% | 3% | 5% | 2% | 1% | 187 |
Importance of religion in one's life among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who say religion is…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 67% | 20% | 6% | 6% | 1% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 53% | 27% | 10% | 10% | 1% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 75% | 14% | 8% | 2% | 1% | 139 |
Don't know | 77% | 15% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 187 |
Attendance at religious services among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who attend religious services…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | At least once a week | Once or twice a month/a few times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 46% | 30% | 24% | 1% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 32% | 34% | 34% | 1% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 38% | 28% | 32% | 2% | 139 |
Don't know | 50% | 24% | 24% | 3% | 187 |
Frequency of prayer among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who pray…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 67% | 14% | 5% | 13% | 1% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 52% | 17% | 6% | 23% | 1% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 71% | 11% | 5% | 10% | 3% | 139 |
Don't know | 68% | 14% | 2% | 12% | 4% | 187 |
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who attend prayer group…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 34% | 10% | 8% | 47% | 1% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 23% | 10% | 8% | 59% | 1% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 30% | 6% | 7% | 55% | 2% | 139 |
Don't know | 37% | 10% | 5% | 45% | 3% | 187 |
Frequency of meditation among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who meditate…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 45% | 7% | 3% | 43% | 2% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 37% | 8% | 4% | 48% | 2% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 50% | 5% | 4% | 38% | 4% | 139 |
Don't know | 59% | 6% | 4% | 22% | 9% | 187 |
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 65% | 12% | 7% | 14% | 1% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 54% | 15% | 10% | 20% | 1% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 65% | 9% | 3% | 16% | 6% | 139 |
Don't know | 60% | 11% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 187 |
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 45% | 14% | 10% | 29% | 2% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 42% | 14% | 12% | 30% | 2% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 53% | 12% | 10% | 20% | 4% | 139 |
Don't know | 44% | 11% | 10% | 20% | 16% | 187 |
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Religion | Philosophy/reason | Common sense | Science | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 49% | 5% | 39% | 5% | 2% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 29% | 9% | 52% | 9% | 2% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 35% | 7% | 41% | 6% | 10% | 139 |
Don't know | 41% | 5% | 33% | 9% | 13% | 187 |
Frequency of reading scripture among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who read scripture…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 48% | 11% | 7% | 33% | 1% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 32% | 11% | 8% | 48% | 1% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 49% | 7% | 9% | 33% | 3% | 139 |
Don't know | 49% | 10% | 4% | 33% | 4% | 187 |
Interpreting scripture among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who say the holy scripture is…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 50% | 24% | 3% | 18% | 5% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 37% | 25% | 2% | 29% | 7% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 46% | 14% | 11% | 13% | 15% | 139 |
Don't know | 56% | 13% | 10% | 13% | 8% | 187 |
Belief in Heaven among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who …in heaven
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 81% | 12% | 6% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 77% | 17% | 6% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 76% | 7% | 17% | 139 |
Don't know | 82% | 10% | 8% | 187 |
Belief in Hell among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who …in hell
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 72% | 22% | 7% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 61% | 31% | 8% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 69% | 14% | 18% | 139 |
Don't know | 62% | 23% | 15% | 187 |
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who identify as…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 48% | 20% | 32% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 29% | 24% | 47% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 31% | 38% | 30% | 139 |
Don't know | 25% | 34% | 41% | 187 |
Political ideology among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who are…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 52% | 24% | 16% | 9% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 33% | 34% | 24% | 9% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 47% | 22% | 11% | 20% | 139 |
Don't know | 37% | 14% | 25% | 24% | 187 |
Views about size of government among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who would rather have…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Smaller government; fewer services | Bigger government; more services | Depends | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 58% | 37% | 2% | 4% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 40% | 53% | 3% | 4% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 42% | 36% | 14% | 9% | 139 |
Don't know | 38% | 50% | 6% | 6% | 187 |
Views about government aid to the poor among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who say government aid to the poor…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Does more harm than good | Does more good than harm | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 57% | 38% | 3% | 2% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 39% | 54% | 4% | 3% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 40% | 41% | 16% | 4% | 139 |
Don't know | 38% | 40% | 4% | 18% | 187 |
Views about abortion among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who say abortion should be…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 37% | 59% | 4% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 50% | 45% | 5% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 34% | 54% | 12% | 139 |
Don't know | 25% | 54% | 21% | 187 |
Views about homosexuality among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who say homosexuality…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Should be accepted | Should be discouraged | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 42% | 50% | 4% | 4% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 62% | 30% | 4% | 4% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 41% | 35% | 16% | 8% | 139 |
Don't know | 35% | 42% | 5% | 19% | 187 |
Views about same-sex marriage among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who …same-sex marriage
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 32% | 59% | 8% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 51% | 40% | 9% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 32% | 42% | 26% | 139 |
Don't know | 27% | 51% | 23% | 187 |
Views about environmental regulation among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who say…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy | Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 51% | 44% | 2% | 3% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 40% | 53% | 2% | 4% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 37% | 37% | 13% | 13% | 139 |
Don't know | 30% | 29% | 4% | 38% | 187 |
Views about human evolution among adults with an education level of high school or less by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong
% of adults with an education level of high school or less who say humans…
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong | Evolved; due to natural processes | Evolved; due to God's design | Evolved; don't know how | Always existed in present form | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | 19% | 23% | 2% | 51% | 5% | 3,368 |
Right or wrong depends on the situation | 31% | 24% | 4% | 36% | 6% | 6,890 |
Neither/both equally | 16% | 15% | 6% | 46% | 18% | 139 |
Don't know | 12% | 13% | 10% | 31% | 35% | 187 |