Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong by state (2014) Switch to: State by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong

% of adults who say…

StateThere are clear standards for what is right and wrongRight or wrong depends on the situationNeither/both equallyDon't knowSample size
Alabama43%55%1%1%511
Alaska35%61%2%2%310
Arizona38%57%2%3%653
Arkansas39%59%1%< 1%311
California29%68%1%2%3,697
Colorado37%59%2%3%504
Connecticut31%68%1%1%377
Delaware30%68%< 1%1%301
District of Columbia22%75%2%1%303
Florida32%66%1%1%2,020
Georgia38%60%1%1%968
Hawaii27%71%1%1%312
Idaho42%57%1%< 1%320
Illinois30%68%1%1%1,326
Indiana35%63%1%1%654
Iowa32%67%1%< 1%330
Kansas37%63%< 1%< 1%307
Kentucky37%59%2%1%439
Louisiana38%59%1%2%465
Maine28%69%2%1%303
Maryland30%68%1%1%644
Massachusetts24%72%2%1%704
Michigan36%62%2%1%982
Minnesota32%67%1%1%563
Mississippi38%60%1%2%309
Missouri36%62%1%< 1%642
Montana42%56%2%< 1%312
Nebraska39%60%< 1%1%312
Nevada30%68%1%1%314
New Hampshire32%66%2%1%303
New Jersey28%70%1%1%886
New Mexico34%60%3%2%312
New York26%72%1%1%1,966
North Carolina36%62%1%1%1,022
North Dakota37%62%< 1%1%338
Ohio32%66%1%1%1,132
Oklahoma32%65%2%1%391
Oregon35%63%1%1%419
Pennsylvania36%62%1%1%1,366
Rhode Island34%62%3%1%305
South Carolina38%59%2%1%495
South Dakota39%60%1%< 1%305
Tennessee40%57%2%1%661
Texas34%62%2%1%2,535
Utah39%59%2%< 1%315
Vermont27%69%1%2%306
Virginia36%61%1%1%882
Washington34%65%1%1%714
West Virginia43%53%2%1%309
Wisconsin30%68%2%< 1%600
Wyoming42%56%1%1%316
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: There are clear standards for what is right and wrong, Right or wrong depends on the situation