How a glitch in an online survey replaced the word ‘yes’ with ‘forks’
Dating back to at least early 2023, a bizarre and alarming technical glitch started popping up in some organizations’ online surveys and forms.
A behind-the-scenes blog about research methods at Pew Research Center.
For our latest findings, visit pewresearch.org.
Latest from Decoded
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Improving the way we categorize family income
We’ve made adjustments to account for differences in purchasing power by survey respondents’ household size and geography.
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Examining how survey mode affects Americans’ views of international affairs
Responses to survey questions asked online can differ from those asked on the phone.
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The impact of survey mode on measuring public opinion in Italy
Using a “bridge survey,” we simultaneously fielded identical questions and response options via both in-person and telephone interviews.
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What different survey modes and question types can tell us about Americans’ views of China
Regardless of mode or measure, most Americans have a negative view of China – and opinions have become more unfavorable in recent years.
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Contending with the 80/20 rule when studying online behavior
The Pareto principle, or “80/20 rule,” holds that in many systems, a minority of cases produce the majority of outcomes.
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Assessing the consistency of online opt-in polls
In this post, we examine whether online opt-in or “nonprobability” surveys are consistent in the same ways as probability-based surveys.
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How quantitative methods can supplement a qualitative approach when working with focus groups
In a recent project involving focus groups, we tested out quantitative as well as qualitative research methods.
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Building our first video series, ‘Methods 101’
Our Methods 101 videos aim to make survey research accessible to a non-specialist audience. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look.
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Urban, suburban or rural? Americans’ perceptions of their own community type differ by party
Even when they live in similar areas, Democrats and Republicans differ over whether those areas are urban, suburban or rural.
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Testing survey questions ahead of time can help sharpen a poll’s focus
Testing questions in advance can help ensure they are as clear as possible — and that they measure what researchers set out to measure.
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To search or browse all of Pew Research Center findings and data by topic, visit pewresearch.org