Economic insecurity is measured using a 3-item index combining the questions: How concerned are you with the following issues, with 1 indicating not at all concerned and 10 indicating extremely concerned: the chance of losing your job because of the current economic situation; the chance of advancing in your career because of the current economic situation; and the effect that the decline in the value of stock will have on your retirement? All items loaded on the same component and produced a Cronbach’s a reliability coefficient of .70.
Finally, three questions on the survey assessed whether respondents felt there were fundamental fairness issues with the way the death penalty is carried out in the United States. Concern over these justice issues (JUSTICE) was measured using 3 items: On a 5-point scale, where 1 equals strongly and 5 equals strongly disagree, how much do you agree with the following statements. The poor are more likely to receive the death penalty than the middle class or rich. Minorities are more likely to receive the death penalty than Whites. Scientific evidence, such as DNA tests, should be required before a jury sentences someone to the death penalty (reverse coded for consistency). Each item loaded on the same component and produced a Cronbach’s a reliability coefficient of .70.