Pew Research Center Staff

The National Archives released individual-level records from the 1940 Census for the first time on April 2. The waiting period is mandated by a federal law that protects the data for 72 years after the head count is completed.

Nearly six-in-ten (58%) Americans believe it is more important to have the freedom to pursue life’s goals without state interference than it is for the state to guarantee that no one is in need. Western European publics disagree.

Nearly nine-in-ten (89%) Republicans favor allowing more oil and gas drilling in U.S. waters compared to about half of Democrats — a gap of 39 points.

Nearly four-in-ten (38%) users of social networking sites discovered through a friend’s posts that his or her political beliefs were different than the user thought.

By a 59% to 32% margin, most Americans think Barack Obama will win the 2012 presidential election if Mitt Romney is the Republican nominee. This margin expands significantly if Rick Santorum is the GOP nominee.

About half (49%) the public now has a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party, up from 43% in January. Impressions of the Republican Party remain negative.

Employment for men increased by 2.6 million jobs between the fourth quarter of 2009 and the fourth quarter of 2011. The gain in jobs was four times that of women, but was still not enough to bring male employment back to its pre-recession level.

About three-quarters of state prison chaplains (77%) say that a lot or some religious switching occurs among inmates in the prisons where they work.