Methodological Research

A study using a novel research method raises questions.

This posting links to a FactTank article about how to obtain census data even though federal websites are closed because of the government shutdown.

We’ve found that there are still several ways to access government data.

A talk with Pew Research Center senior demographer Jeffrey S. Passel on the challenges of counting the nation's unauthorized immigrants.

Overview In the wake of leaked information about the government’s telephone and digital surveillance programs last month, public opinion surveys reported a wide range of reactions. For example, a Pew Research Center/Washington Post survey conducted immediately after the revelations found broad support for the program, while a Gallup survey conducted just days later found more […]

Research with minors presents some unique challenges, ranging from getting the necessary legal permissions to reaching interviewees at a time that use of mobile phones is growing.

When the results of the 2011 German census were announced recently, they included an embarrassing error – at least in the demographics world. It showed the German population was 1.5 million people short of what the government had expected. The news dealt a blow to Germany’s reputation for efficient record-keeping, and it’s also relevant to […]

Why did Pew Research decide to conduct an LGBT-specific survey? We know from our surveys of the general public that there’s been a sharp increase in support for same-sex marriage and in societal acceptance of homosexuality over the past decade. Of course, we’re on the cusp of an important historical and cultural moment with the […]

Different outcomes in different polls about the subpoenas served on the Associated Press in a Justice Department leak investigation were a case study in the challenges pollsters face in a breaking news environment when public attention and information is relatively limited.