Sources of guidance on right and wrong among adults who would rather have a smaller government with fewer services by state (2014) Switch to: State among adults who would rather have a smaller government with fewer services by sources of guidance on right and wrong

% of adults who would rather have a smaller government with fewer services who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong

StateReligionPhilosophy/reasonCommon senseScienceDon't knowSample size
Alabama53%5%36%3%3%314
Alaska34%7%45%7%6%183
Arizona38%8%46%7%1%410
Arkansas48%4%41%4%1%172
California29%13%45%10%2%1,784
Colorado38%9%44%7%1%278
Connecticut21%11%60%8%1%196
Delaware27%7%60%5%1%146
Florida34%10%47%7%2%1,035
Georgia47%8%38%5%2%528
Hawaii20%11%60%8%1%160
Idaho38%3%52%5%2%209
Illinois31%10%48%9%2%721
Indiana38%7%45%7%3%383
Iowa41%8%46%1%3%201
Kansas46%8%40%4%2%204
Kentucky46%7%43%4%1%245
Louisiana44%10%39%4%3%262
Maine19%12%60%8%1%180
Maryland35%6%51%4%2%298
Massachusetts15%13%59%11%2%325
Michigan37%8%47%6%2%545
Minnesota31%11%48%7%3%331
Mississippi55%7%30%7%1%178
Missouri44%9%38%6%3%402
Montana33%10%48%6%3%215
Nebraska41%6%46%5%2%202
Nevada27%11%53%7%2%194
New Hampshire15%11%63%8%3%180
New Jersey29%12%50%7%2%437
New Mexico48%6%30%13%3%153
New York24%11%55%8%3%882
North Carolina46%8%40%5%2%559
North Dakota34%6%50%9%1%233
Ohio37%11%44%6%2%682
Oklahoma38%10%47%3%1%240
Oregon36%9%44%10%1%228
Pennsylvania37%7%46%8%1%793
Rhode Island32%11%47%6%4%155
South Carolina51%6%35%5%3%271
South Dakota38%13%43%6%< 1%212
Tennessee49%6%39%3%3%407
Texas44%9%37%7%2%1,330
Utah50%9%34%5%1%222
Vermont23%17%52%7%2%143
Virginia40%10%43%6%1%516
Washington32%12%47%7%2%386
West Virginia55%4%37%2%1%188
Wisconsin38%8%46%6%2%369
Wyoming37%12%42%6%3%230
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: Religion, Philosophy/reason, Common sense, Science