Skip to Content
Skip to Main Navigation
Skip to Search

Home
Resources
Hoosier Life Survey
Hoosier Life Survey Questions

Hoosier Life Survey Questions

Hoosier Life Survey Questions

This page contains a few of the questions posed to survey respondents in the Hoosier Life Survey.

Beliefs and attitudes
Question	Response options
“Climate change” is a term sometimes used to describe warming temperatures, greater extremes of drought and precipitation, or other large changes in our climate. Which comes closest to your own view about scientific understandings of climate change?	Most scientists think climate change is happening There is a lot of disagreement among scientists about whether or not climate change is happening Most scientists think climate change is not happening Don't know enough to say
Do you believe climate change is happening (whether caused by human activity or not) to any degree?	No Yes Don’t know
Do you think climate change is caused...	Entirely or mostly by human activities Equally by natural and human activities Entirely or mostly by natural causes I am uncertain what is causing climate to change
Please select your level of agreement with the following statements: Simple things that I do at home can reduce the risks that extreme weather events (e.g., flood, severe storm, drought, heat wave, etc.) pose to my household Humans can do little to prepare for the impact of future extreme weather events Government policy and programs can reduce the risks that future extreme weather events pose to my community Advances in science and technology will solve almost every problem humans face	Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Strongly agree

Risks and Concerns
Question	Response options
When do you think climate change will start to harm people in the United States?	They are being harmed right now In 10 years In 25 years In 50 years In 100 years Never
How much do you think climate change will harm people in Indiana?	Not at all Only a little A moderate amount A great deal Don't know
How much do you think climate change will harm you personally?	Not at all Only a little A moderate amount A great deal Don't know
How much do you think climate change will harm plants and animal species in Indiana?	Not at all Only a little A moderate amount A great deal

Experiences with and expectations for environmental change
Question	Response options
Below are some of the impacts of extreme weather events or climate change. Have they affected you or people that you know? Please select all that apply for each row. Destructive flood (caused property damage) Health impacts from heat waves (dehydration, heat stroke, etc.) Health impacts from cold temperatures (frost bite, etc.) Disease caused by ticks or mosquitos (Lyme, West Nile, Zika, etc.) Damaging winds (caused property damage or injuries) Destructive droughts An event not listed (please describe)	Affected me Affected people that I know Not affected in anyway Don’t know
Have there been less, about the same, or more of each of the following in your community since you moved there? Heavy rain Floods Tornadoes Droughts Heat waves Extremely cold temperatures Severe wind Ticks Mosquitoes	Less About the same More Don’t know
Over the next few decades, how do you think that the number or severity of the following will change in your community? Destructive floods Dangerous heat waves Dangerously cold temperatures Diseases caused by ticks or mosquitoes (Lyme, Zika, West Nile, etc.) Destructive droughts Damaging winds or tornadoes	Will decrease Will stay about the same Will increase Don’t know

The home and household activities
Questions	Response options
Which, if any, of the following activities does your household take part in at your current residence? Compost food waste Replace incandescent bulbs with more efficient bulbs Set temperature on my water heater to 120° or below Have flood insurance coverage Use air conditioning to cool my home Use fans (ceiling, box, etc.) to cool my home Grow food (fruit trees, vegetable garden, etc.)	Never did, don’t want to Used to, but no longer do Not currently doing, but considering Currently do this Don’t know
If you own your own home, have the following been used/installed at your home to any extent? Shade trees to cool my home in summer Improved insulation (windows, attic, etc.) to reduce energy use Gardens to hold and soak in rain water (a "rain garden") A programmable thermostat to reduce energy use Solar panels to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (usehome5) Prairie grasses/wildflowers in my yard to reduce lawn size Pavement that absorbs water on my driveway or sidewalk ("water-permeable pavement") Rainwater barrels to collect water runoff Tree removal to reduce my home's risks from high winds/tornadoes A sprinkler system to maintain my lawn during droughts	No, don’t want to No, but would like to Yes Don’t know

Information, trust and community norms
Question	Response options
How many people that live in your community are… Taking steps to protect their homes from future extreme weather events Supportive of using tax money on policies or projects that protect the community from future extreme weather events Concerned about the risks extreme weather events pose to the community	None Some Most All Don’t know
In your opinion, how would you say the following is changing in your community? The number of people supportive of using tax money on policies or projects that protect the community from future extreme weather events is… The number of people taking steps to protect their homes from future extreme weather events is… The number of people concerned about the risks extreme weather events pose to the community is…	Decreasing Staying about the same Increasing
Generally speaking, how often do you hear about climate change in the media, including the newspaper, television, radio, or internet?	Never Several times a year or less, but not never At least once a month, but less than once a week Weekly Daily Not answered
How much do you trust each of the following sources to provide you with information about how to prepare for the future impact of extreme weather events (e.g., flood, drought, severe storms, etc.) on your community? My family, friends, and neighbors Media sources (TV, radio, newspaper, internet, etc.) Local public officials (mayor, city managers, etc.) State public officials (governor, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, etc.) Indiana-based scientists Nationally or internationally based scientists My own judgment Other, please list:	Don’t trust at all Trust some Trust a lot Don’t know
How informed do you feel about the following? Extreme weather events (e.g., flooding, drought, heat waves, etc.) that may affect me or my family’s well-being Household practices that can reduce the risks future extreme weather events pose to me or my family Programs or policies that can reduce the risks future extreme weather events pose to my community	Not at all informed Slightly informed Moderately informed Very informed

Policy and taxes
Question	Response options
If Indiana were to seek tax money to reduce the risk of extreme weather, how would you like to see that money used in your community? Please state your support or opposition for each project, program, or policy proposed. Use public funding so all residents can afford air conditioning for their home to reduce the effects of heat waves Replace some paved areas with water-absorbent landscape (grasses, gardens, water-permeable pavement) to hold rain runoff Build stronger and higher flood walls where necessary Require residents to use less water during droughts Expand local reservoirs or extend more pipelines to other water sources to increase water access Plant more trees on town streets to reduce impacts of flooding and heat waves Mandate that key services, such as classes in schools, be scheduled for cooler evening hours to reduce effects of heat waves Implement a buyout program for flood-prone properties Provide vulnerable populations with free health services that reduce health risks during heat waves Construct new transportation routes to reduce the impact of flooding on travel Adopt a mobile phone text-based early warning system to reduce health risks from heat waves Construct more bike lanes/routes to reduce carbon dioxide emissions Offer public funding to help residents install solar panels on their homes to reduce carbon dioxide emissions Increase pesticide treatments to problem-areas to reduce health risks from ticks and mosquitoes Provide free insect repellent and prevention education sessions to reduce health risks from ticks and mosquitoes Use public funding to help residents plant shade trees around their homes to reduce the effects of heat waves Use public funding to help residents place water-absorbent landscaping around homes (rain gardens, rain barrels, water-permeable pavement) to hold rain runoff Install more electric vehicle charging stations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions Increase the funding for emergency management services to help deal with storms and extreme weather Expand access to public transportation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions	Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Unsure
Suppose Indiana proposed the following taxes to fund policies and projects that address extreme weather events facing the state. How much would you support or oppose each? A less than 1% income tax increase on all state residents A 1% income tax increase only on state residents who earn over $165,000 a year A tax increase on corporations and companies, where those that pollute more in the state pay more	Feel neutral Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Not answered