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Short-form data and analysis from Pew Research Center writers and social scientists. To view all our reports and publications, visit our main Publications page.

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  • short reads

    For Millennials, Parenthood Trumps Marriage

    Today’s 18-to-29 year olds value parenthood more than marriage. Slightly more than half (52%) say being a good parent is one of the most important things in life; just 30% who say having a successful marriage is one the most important.

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    Obama Motivates Supporters, Opponents in Early 2012 Matchups

    Barack Obama is a leading driver of voter preferences in possible 2012 matchups, among both his supporters and opponents. A third of Obama supporters considered their choice a vote for him, while 33% of Mitt Romney backers saw it as a vote against Obama.

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    War and Sacrifice in the Post-9/11 Era

    Veterans of the post-9/11 wars found extra rewards as well as greater hardships stemming from their deployments. Six-in-ten said the experience of being deployed had a positive impact on their financial situation and nearly half (48%) said it put a strain on their marriages.

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    A Third in GOP Have Seen a Presidential Debate

    More than four-in-ten (43%) Republicans who watched at least one of the GOP presidential debates say it led them to change their mind about which candidate to support. Slightly more than half of Tea Party Republicans (51%) said the debates had prompted them to change their mind.

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    Public Shows Wariness About Wall Street

    Nearly half of Americans (47%) say that Wall Street hurts the U.S. economy more than it helps, while 38% say it helps more than hurts; 15% offer no opinion.

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    In a Down Economy, Fewer Births

    A sharp decline in fertility rates in the United States that started in 2008 is closely linked to the souring of the economy that began about the same time. Births fell from a record high of 4,316,233 in 2007 to an estimated 4,007,000 in 2010.

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    The Role of the U.S. in the World

    Nearly six in ten Americans (58%) say we should pay less attention to problems overseas and instead concentrate on problems here at home, while 33% say it is best for the future of our country to be active in world affairs.