The Digital Revolution and Higher Education
As online college courses are becoming more prevalent, the public is skeptical about their educational value. Only 29% of Americans say online classes are equal in value to classes taken in person. College presidents have a more positive view of online learning and they foresee dramatic growth in this area.
65% of Online Adults Use Social Networking Sites
Two-thirds of adult internet users (65%) now say they use a social networking site like MySpace, Facebook or LinkedIn. That’s more than double the percentage that reported social networking site usage in 2008.
Hispanic College Enrollment Spikes, Narrowing Gaps with Other Groups
The number of 18-to-24 year old Hispanics attending college in the United States hit an all-time high of 12.2 million in October 2010, driven by a single-year surge of 24% in Hispanic enrollment. Rising educational attainment was a dominant driver of the enrollment trends for young Hispanic adults, with the share of those completing high school and attending college on the rise.
How Accurate Are Counts of Same-Sex Couples?
Two decades after the Census Bureau began offering people the option to describe themselves as a same-sex “unmarried partner,” producing accurate numbers on same-sex couples remains a challenge.
Obama Leadership Image Takes a Hit, GOP Ratings Decline
For the first time in his presidency, significantly more Americans disapprove than approve of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president and and the margin of strong disapproval over strong approval has widened. But the public is also profoundly discontented with the political leadership of both parties, angry at the federal government and dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country.
Americans Want More Pressure On Students, the Chinese Want Less
With U.S. students underperforming in international assessments, it may not be surprising that almost two-thirds (64%) of Americans say that parents do not put enough pressure on their children to do well in school. That contrasts with the Chinese who feel their students are pushed too hard.
Women See Value and Benefits of College; Men Lag on Both Fronts, Survey Finds
At a time when women surpass men by record numbers in college enrollment and completion, they also have a more positive view than men about the value higher education provides.
Americans and Their Cell Phones
Mobile phones have become a near-ubiquitous tool for information-seeking and communicating: 83% of American adults own some kind of cell phone. While cellphones are useful for a wide variety of tasks, owners say they also come with some disadvantages.
Ask the Expert
Senior research staff answers questions from readers relating to all the areas covered by our seven projects ranging from polling techniques and findings, to media, technology, religious, demographic and global attitudes trends.
Democrats Not Eager for an Obama Challenger
Just 32% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say they would like other Democrats to take on Obama for the nomination, while 59% say they would not.
