Continuous items for most waves watching tv / reading papers / taking part in discussions on political issues / political knowledge / political participation / party preference / questions concerning importance of different political issues / left and right in politics. Wave 18: Mass-media interest / elections for broadcasting time / most important problem for the government / ranking of problems in importance / specific problem, what can be done / why problem is least important / categorizing problems / definition and self-description in terms of left, right / agreement with politicians / problems only to be solved by experts / attitude to abortion. Background variables: basic characteristics/ place of birth/ residence/ household characteristics/ occupation/employment/ income/capital assets/ education/ politics/ readership, mass media, and 'cultural' exposure/ organizational membership