Becka A. Alper

Research Associate

U.S. Religious Beliefs and Practices Religion

Becka A. Alper is a research associate at Pew Research Center. She contributes to the Center’s domestic religion polls. Before joining the Center, Alper was a postdoctoral research associate working on the Youth Activism Project at the University of Arizona. Alper received doctorate and master’s degrees in sociology from Purdue University. Alper is a contributing author of Pew Research Center reports such as “America’s Changing Religious Landscape,” “U.S. Catholics Open to Non-Traditional Families,” Choosing a New Church or House of Worship,” “Israel’s Religiously Divided Society” and “A Portrait of American Orthodox Jews.”

Publications

ReligionAugust 29, 2018

Most American adults identify with a religion, describing themselves as Protestants, Catholics or Jews, to name just a few examples. But a new Pew Research Center analysis looks at beliefs and behaviors that cut across many religious identities, producing a new and revealing classification, or typology, of religion in America that sorts U.S. adults into seven cohesive groups.

ReligionAugust 8, 2018

Six-in-ten religious "nones" in the U.S. say the questioning of religious teachings is a very important reason for their lack of affiliation. The second-most-common reason is opposition to the positions taken by churches on social and political issues.

ReligionMay 31, 2018

Pope Francis’ additions to the College of Cardinals since his election in 2013 have tilted the leadership structure of the Roman Catholic Church away from its historic European base and toward the “global south” – that is, developing nations mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.

Evangelical Millennials' views on some issues differ from those of their elders

ReligionMay 4, 2017

The generation gap between millennials and older adults on social and political issues exists even among evangelical Protestants.

Fact TankDecember 1, 2016

See a profile of American religious beliefs and practices if the country were made up of exactly 100 adults.

Fact TankNovember 14, 2016

Imagining the U.S. as a town of 100 people can help illuminate the nation's religious diversity.

LIfe goals among Mormons and the general public

Fact TankSeptember 30, 2016

Mormons place a very high value on good parenting and a successful marriage, and they are among the most involved in their congregations of any Christian faith.

ReligionMay 10, 2016

A Pew Research Center survey of Israel provides a rare window into the religious beliefs and practices of this close-knit group.

Fact TankNovember 23, 2015

Only about half of Millennials say they believe in God with absolute certainty, and four-in-ten say religion is very important in their lives.

1 2

Becka A. Alper

Research Areas

Follow Us