Pew Research Center’s survey methodologists manage the Center’s American Trends Panel and provide guidance for all of the Center’s domestic public opinion research to ensure it meets the highest standards. We search for ways to expand and strengthen the Center’s survey practices, explore alternative methods of measuring public opinion and conduct experimental research with the goal of improving survey quality.

Major reports have examined the state of U.S. polling, data quality of online surveys, the use of voter files in public opinion research and the consequences of low response rates in polls. The Methods team also tries to act as a leader in the wider polling industry, and educates the public and journalists about polling best practices through our Methods 101 video series, our #MethodsMondays series on Instagram and our behind-the-scenes methodology blog, Decoded, and our email mini-course about polling. We are proud that the Center is a charter member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research’s Transparency Initiative.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND OUR WORK