Quarterly Update
A message from Pew Research Center President Michael Dimock · Subscribe ↗
Understanding everyday life
Why is Pew Research Center studying tattoos, pets, friends, sports and tipping? These everyday experiences and choices may be disconnected from the major policy debates of the day, but they still tell us a lot about what’s affecting people’s well-being, social ties, and ability to adapt to a fast-changing world.
The Center has always tried to understand the breadth of peoples’ lives. We research topics including faith and spirituality, family structures and dynamics, and how people form communities in person and online. We explore these issues with the same focus that we bring to pressing policy debates.
Some of this emphasis on everyday life is about balance. Events in the world are weighty these days, and it can be stressful to discuss international affairs, race and ethnicity, immigration, economic opportunity, education or climate change. We hear regularly – from both our survey respondents and our readers – that their real lives are about a whole lot more than that.
Taking this broader view also helps us examine important issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. Recognizing the full spectrum of lived experiences lets people see themselves in the data and better understand the experiences of others. As one commenter on Instagram remarked about some of our recent findings on speaking Spanish: “It’s so validating to see what we know to be true, and what we feel, substantiated by data!”
Another thing many of these topics have in common is that they often don’t exhibit the partisan divides we typically see in our more policy-oriented research. Partisanship feels both ubiquitous and insurmountable these days. Recognizing where we share common ground might help bridge some gaps and inject color and complexity into our understanding of the world.
As we continue to study these topics, we’re eager for your suggestions. Which everyday experiences or choices would you like to see us explore?
Reply here to let me know, and thanks as always for your interest in our work.
Michael Dimock
President, Pew Research Center
Tipping culture in America: Public sees a changed landscape
Most U.S. adults say tipping is expected in more places these days, but for many the rules are unclear. Only about a third say it’s extremely or very easy to know whether (34%) or how much (33%) to tip for different types of services. Nor is there consensus on whether tipping is more of a choice or an obligation for consumers.
32% of Americans have a tattoo, including 22% who have more than one
A large majority of Americans say society has become more accepting of people with tattoos in recent decades. Amid this perceived shift, 32% of U.S. adults now report having a tattoo themselves, including 22% who have more than one. Most tattooed Americans (69%) say a reason for their body art is to remember or honor someone or something.
About half of U.S. pet owners say their pets are as much a part of their family as a human member
The majority of Americans (62%) own a pet, and nearly all pet owners think of their pets as part of their family. This includes 51% of pet owners who say their pets are as much a part of their family as a human member. Pet owners who are women, have lower family incomes or live in urban areas are particularly likely to see their pets this way.
