Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Read our research on:

Home Research Topics

Short Reads

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.

Icon for promotion number 1

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Fresh data delivered Saturday mornings

Thank you for subscribing!

  • short reads

    Making Pot Legal

    Four-in-ten Americans support the full legalization of marijuana.

  • short reads

    Favor Legalizing Medical Marijuana

    A strong majority of Americans say they favor allowing the sale and use of marijuana for medical purposes if it is prescribed by a doctor.

  • short reads

    Smoked Marijuana

    Four-in-ten American adults say they have tried marijuana.

  • short reads

    Few Census Dodgers

    Nearly all Americans (87%) say they will participate in the 2010 census.

  • short reads

    Crossfire

    Americans split on gun control, with the public evenly divided over whether it is more important to protect the rights of gun owners or to control gun ownership.

  • short reads

    Clergy Sexual Abuse and the Catholic Church

    Roughly a quarter of former Catholics who are now religiously unaffiliated say the clergy sexual abuse scandals were a reason for their leaving the Church.

  • short reads

    Want Tougher Financial Regulation

    Six-in-ten Americans support the idea of the government imposing tighter controls on the financial sector.