Survey Methods

Question 1: Measuring religious identity How does Pew Research Center measure the religious identity of survey respondents and the religious composition of the U.S.? Answer: Generally, we rely on respondents’ self-identification.  A key question we ask in many surveys is: “What is your present religion, if any? Are you Protestant, Roman Catholic, Mormon, Orthodox such […]

Migration, racial or ethnic self-identity, and marriage were among the many topics explored at the Population Association of America’s annual meeting last month.

Recent events – including the 2016 presidential election and Brexit – have rattled public confidence in polls. But this video explains why well-designed polls can still be trusted and remain an important way to measure public opinion.

Donald Trump's victory in 2016 and the U.K. "Brexit" decision rattled public confidence in polls. Our new video explains why well-designed polls can be trusted.

The second video in Pew Research Center's Methods 101 series helps explain question wording – a concept at the center of sound public opinion survey research – and why it’s important.

In the second video from our Methods 101 series, we’re tackling why question wording is so important in public opinion surveys.

The second video in Pew Research Center’s “Methods 101” series helps explain question wording – a concept at the center of sound public opinion survey research – and why it’s important.

A new analysis demystifies voter files, the widely-used and comprehensive digital databases used to better understand the U.S. electorate.

Read a Q&A with Pew Research Center’s Ruth Igielnik and Scott Keeter about a recent study about voter files.

Probability forecasts have gained prominence in recent years. But these forecasts may confuse potential voters and may even lower the likelihood that they vote.