Index to Pew Research Center Key Data Points Sheets
Economy
Strengthening the nation’s economy and improving the job situation have remained the public’s two top priorities for the White House and Congress.
Debt and Deficit
The public now is much more likely than four years ago to say that reducing the federal budget deficit should be a top priority in 2013 for President Obama and Congress.
Public confidence in government has fallen in recent years, and many Americans favor a smaller government providing fewer services, according to Pew Research Center surveys.
Immigration
A solid majority of Americans say there should be a way for people in the U.S. illegally to remain, but the public is more divided on the issue of citizenship.
Gun Control
The Dec. 14, 2012, tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., brought a sharp national focus to gun control, but our Feb. 13-18 survey found only a modest shift in the percentage of Americans saying it is more important to control gun ownership than to protect the right of Americans to own guns.
Gay Marriage
The rise in support for same-sex marriage over the past decade is among the largest changes in opinion on any policy issue over this time period. There is slightly more support for same-sex marriage than opposition to it, with 48% in favor and 43% opposed, according to our March 2013 survey.
Climate Change
The American public routinely ranks dealing with global warming low on its list of priorities for the president and Congress. This year, it ranks at the bottom of the 21 tested.
Energy
Dealing with the nation’s energy problems has slipped down the list of the public’s 2013 agenda, with less than half saying it was a top priority for the president and Congress.
Middle Class
The years between 2000 and 2010 were a “lost decade” for the middle class in terms of economic well-being.
U.S. Foreign Policy
Despite the difficult foreign policy problems facing the United States, most Americans agree that the nation should focus more on problems here at home. At the same time, the public expresses robust support for an active approach to world affairs.
Iran
There is almost universal opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons among 21 nations surveyed in March-April 2012.
U.S. – Middle East Relations
The U.S. public is pessimistic about changes in political leadership after the Arab Spring.
U.S. – China Relations
American public opinion has shifted in favor of getting tougher with China when it comes to economic and trade policy.
U.S. Catholics
Data points on the Catholic population in the U.S., its views on the church, political views and views on key issues.
Highlights of the Pew Internet Project’s research related to social networking. As of December 2012, 67% of online adults use social networking sites.
Highlights of the Pew Internet Project’s research related to mobile technology, including the percentages of American adults who own cellphones, smartphones, tablets and e-readers.
Highlights of the Pew Internet Project’s research related to broadband. As of April 2012, 66% of Americans have broadband connections at home.
Highlights of the Pew Internet Project’s research related to health and health care. As of September 2012, 72% of internet users say they looked online for health information within the past year.
Highlights of the Pew Internet Project’s research on teens. Fully 95% of all teens ages 12-17 are now online and 80% of those online teens are users of social media sites.
Highlights of the Pew Internet Project’s research related to politics. Two-thirds of social media users (39% of American adults) have engaged in one of eight civic or political activities with social media.
