The focal point of this study was an application of the generalization that older people are more conservative than younger people with regard to opinions on controversial issues such as race, law enforcement and patriotism. Variables explored include age, size of childhood community, father's education and occupation, and respondent's education. Interviews were administered to over 100 subjects aged 23 to 66 years. Three general findings were noted. First, there was a significant positive correlation between age and conservative opinions even when social class, education, father's SES, and the size of the respondent's childhood community were controlled. Second, only education was more important than age as a correlate of conservatism among the variables studied. Third, a polarization of opinions on the basis of age did not exist. Of three suggested explanations for the relationship between age and conservative opinions, the social and cultural were seen as the most fruitful.