Reaction Mixed on Obama's Support of Gay Marriage
Interactive: How views shifted over a decade by race, religion, age, politics
14 May 2012 Roughly half of Americans (52%) say President Obama's public support for gay marriage did not affect their opinion of him. The president said he came to his decision after a long consideration. The public's view of gay marriage has evolved, with growing support.View an interactive graphic that illustrates the trend in public opinion.
• Listen: NPR's interview with Pew Research Center's Andrew Kohut, May 11
• Strong Support for Gay Marriage Now Equals Strong Opposition
• Pew Research Center's Michael Dimock on "The Diane Rehm Show"
• Andrew Kohut: The Electorate and Gay Marriage
One Year Later
Egyptians Want Democracy
And Religion in Political Life
8 May 2012 A year after the ouster of Hosni Mubarak and a few weeks ahead of historic presidential elections, Egyptians remain upbeat about the course of the nation and prospects for progress. Most Egyptians continue to want democracy, with two-in-three saying it is the best form of government. Egyptians also want Islam to play a major role in society, and most believe the Quran should shape the country’s laws.
Net Migration from Mexico Falls to Zero, Perhaps Less
23 April 2012 The largest wave of immigration in history from a single country to the United States has come to a standstill. After four decades that brought 12 million current immigrants -- more than half of whom came illegally -- the net migration flow from Mexico to the United States has stopped and may have reversed.
The GOP Primaries
Romney's Turning Point
In the Media Narrative
23 April 2012 While it took him almost four months to secure his grip on the GOP presidential nomination, Mitt Romney established himself as the clear winner in the media narrative by the end of February. The shift in coverage followed his narrow Feb. 28 win in his native state of Michigan, after which the news media began to view his nomination as inevitable.
Obama Lead Narrows;
Voters Focused on Economy
17 April 2012 As voters continue to focus on the economy and jobs as top issues, Barack Obama's lead over Mitt Romney has narrowed from a 12 points last month to a slim 49% to 45% advantage. Neither candidate has a clear advantage on the economy or jobs issues, which more than eight-in-ten voters cited as "very important" to their choice. Some of the hot-button social issues, like gay marriage and birth control, are at the bottom of the electorate's agenda.
The News IQ Quiz
11 April 2012 Most Americans can correctly identify the relative positions of the Republican and Democratic parties on the major issues of the day. But a review of what Americans know about the political parties shows that the public is better informed about the partisan affiliations of two popular recent presidents -- Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton -- than it is about the positions of the parties on key issues. Take the NewsIQ quiz and see how your score compares to others.
Un-Mirrored Self-Images
Nine-in-ten U.S. adults say most of their fellow Americans are overweight. But only 39% say they themselves are overweight.
Upbeat Brazil
President Obama made his first Latin America stop in a country where self-confidence and hope runs high.
Does Google Make Us Stupid?
Most experts say the internet will enhance--not degrade--our intelligence. It will also change the way we read and write and be rebuilt by new gadgetry and applications.
Tiger Moms
Most Americans agree with Amy Chua that U.S. parents aren't tough enough, but most Asians think parents put too much pressure on children.
Public Opinion Surveys:
Still Representative?
15 May 2012 Polls conducted by telephone have struggled with lower response rates in recent years, but they continue to provide accurate data on most political, social and economic measures.
Mobile 'Check-ins' on the Rise;
Users Tap Location-Based Services
11 May 2012 Nearly three-fourths (74%) of smartphone users use their phones to obtain real-time, location-based information and almost one-in-five use geosocial services such as Foursquare. The overall portion of adults who get location-based information has almost doubled in less than a one-year period.
Smartphone Owners Use Phones
For Just-In-Time Information
7 May 2012 Nearly 9-in-10 (86%) smartphone owners used their phone in the past month to make real-time queries in their daily lives. Men are more likely than women to use their phones to find information to settle an argument. Parents with kids are more likely to use their phone to decide whether to visit a local business, such as a restaurant.
How Teens Use Online Video:
Shooting, Sharing, Streaming, Chatting
3 May 2012 Online teens use video most to chat with others using applications such as Skype, Google Talk or iChat. Recording and uploading videos to the internet is the second most popular activity. Fewer teens stream live video for others to watch. Social media users are much more likely to engage in all three video behaviors.
Divorce and the Great Recession
2 May 2012 There’s been a recent surge of interest in the topic of whether and how the poor economy has an impact on divorce rates. As with marriage rates and the economic downturn, the evidence is not clear-cut. One complication is that the quality of data about divorce is uneven.
Supreme Court Favorability Rating Reaches New Low with Public
1 May 2012 Public assessments of the Supreme Court have reached a quarter-century low. Unlike past years in which opinion was divided along partisan lines, The court now receives relatively low favorable ratings from Republicans, Democrats and independents alike.
On Anniversary of bin Laden's Death, Little Muslim Support for al Qaeda
30 April 2012 A year after the death of its leader, al Qaeda is widely unpopular among Muslim publics. Majorities in Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey and Lebanon expressed negative views of the terrorist group.
Growing Gap in the Public's Views
Of Federal, State Governments
26 April 2012 The favorable rating for the federal government has fallen to just 33%, its lowest positive mark in 15 years. By contrast, ratings of state governments remain in positive territory, with 52% offering a favorable rating, and local governments are viewed positively by 61%.
Census Bureau to Offer Households Option of Taking Survey Online
26 April 2012 The Census Bureau plans to take a big step into the world of digital data collection starting in January, offering more than 3 million households that receive the American Community Survey each year the option to respond online for the first time.
Young Women Now Surpass Men
In Importance They Place on Career
19 April 2012 In a reversal of traditional gender roles, young women now surpass young men in the importance they place on having a high-paying career or profession. The past 15 years have also seen an increase in the share of middle-aged and older women who say being successful in a high-paying career or profession is important in their lives.
Most Swing Voters Favor Quick Exit For U.S. Troops in Afghanistan
17 April 2012 Public support for maintaining U.S. forces in Afghanistan has reached a new low. And as the general election campaign begins, swing voters, by nearly two-to-one, favor removing U.S. troops from Afghanistan as soon as possible.
The Future of Money: Buying
By Smart-Device in the Mobile Age
17 April 2012 Tech experts believe that by 2020 many consumers will have embraced smart-device swiping for purchases, but some suspect financial companies will slow down the trend. The experts also think credit cards and cash will survive among older adults and among those who have security concerns and a desire for anonymity.
Women, Work and Motherhood:
A Sampler of Recent Survey Findings
13 April 2012 Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen's comment this week about Ann Romney's lack of work experience has put the "mommy wars" back in the news. The Pew Research Center has done many surveys in recent years that provide background on public attitudes about issues related to women, work and motherhood.
Digital Differences: For Some Groups Disparities in Internet Use Remain
13 April 2012 While the number of Americans who go online has increased substantially over the years, about one-in-five adults still do not use the internet. Differences in internet access exist among different demographic groups, especially when it comes to access to high-speed broadband at home. Age (being 65 or older), a lack of a high school education, and having a low household income are the strongest negative predictors for internet use.
Most Americans Follow Local News Closely and Many Rely on Newspapers
12 April 2012 Nearly three quarters of Americans say they follow local news closely most of the time, whether or not something important is happening. These news enthusiasts are more wedded to their local newspapers than others. Younger local news followers differ in some important ways, including less reliance on local papers -- a potential sign of changes to come in the local news environment.
Hispanics in America:
Their Views of Identity
4 April 2012 Federal agencies have been using the terms "Hispanic" or "Latino" since the 1970s to describe Americans whose roots are in Spanish-speaking countries, but Hispanics have not fully embraced these terms. About half say they identify themselves most often by their family’s country or place of origin; just 24% say they prefer a pan-ethnic label.
The Rise of E-Books: An Increase
In Readers and the Amount They Read
4 April 2012 One-fifth of American adults report that they have read an e-book in the past year. This number increased following a gift-giving season which saw a spike in ownership rates of both tablet computers and e-book reading devices, such as Kindles and Nooks. The increasing availability of e-content is prompting some to read more than they have in the past and to show a preference for buying books rather than borrowing them.
National Archives Makes Available
Records of the 1940 Census
2 April 2012 After a 72-year wait required by law, the National Archives has released individual records from the 1940 Census, opening a gold mine for people researching their family histories. In addition to traditional methods, this census was the first to use a sample of randomly selected respondents in order to add more questions without burdening the entire population.
See also: The 1940 Census: A Few FAQS
News Interest: Obama on Gay Marriage Top Story
15 May 2012 President Obama’s expression of support for same-sex marriage proved to be the public’s top news story last week. Obama’s comments -- and their possible impact on the presidential race -- also were among the week’s most-covered stories.
New Media: Barack Obama's Dating Life
10 May 2012 Barack Obama's relationships with two former girlfriends became a hot topic for blogs last week after Vanity Fair published an excerpt of a new book exploring the period in his life in New York City where he attended Columbia University. The wide range of reaction from bloggers included positive and negative assessments of Obama and evaluations of his letter-writing style.
Updated 16 April 2012 Pew Research staff discuss major findings of surveys and studies. Newest question: Pew surveys often show results based on "non-Hispanic whites" and "non-Hispanic blacks". Why aren't Hispanics counted in these categories?
Family Trends Test
Compare your views on the changing structure of U.S. families with those of Americans generally. Are you an Accepter? Skeptic? Rejecter? on pewsocialtrends.org
Test Your Religion IQ
How much do you know about the world's major religions? And how do you score compared with the average American? Take our quiz and find out. on pewforum.org
Test Your News IQ
Take our latest quiz about prominent people and major events in the news. Then see how you did in comparison with 1,000 randomly sampled adults.
How Millennial Are You?
Take our quiz and we'll tell you how "Millennial" you are, on a scale from 0 to 100, by comparing your answers with those of respondents to a scientific nationwide survey.
The Media Tech Quiz
Test your knowledge of how the media cover technology. Which companies get the most press? What tech topics are trending on Twitter? on journalism.org
Check Your Science IQ
Take a 12-item quiz, a mix of contemporary knowledge and text-book style questions, to find out.
How Does Your Community Stack Up?
Rate your community as a place to live, then compare your responses to those from our national survey. on pewsocialtrends.org
Internet Typology: 
R U Mobile?
Users of communication technology range from "Digital Collaborators" and "Media Movers" to "Tech Indifferents" and "Off the Network." Take the quiz to find out which group you're in. on pewinternet.org
Couples Quiz
Who calls the shots in your home? Nowadays, it's often the woman who wears the pantsuit. Take our quiz to find out where you fit. on pewsocialtrends.org
Visit Interactive for other features.
Beyond Red vs. Blue
Analyze the 8 politically engaged 2011 Typology groups--from Staunch Conservatives to Solid Liberals--to compare their characteristics and positions on major issues.
Tracking Family Trends
Explore five decades of economic and demographic change in the structure of American families with an interactive database.
on pewsocialtrends.org
Mapping Mosque Controversies
An interactive map shows the locations -- with click-through details -- of 35 proposed mosques and Islamic centers that have encountered community resistance in the last two years. on pewforum.org
How Religious Is Your State?
Which of the 50 states has the most religious population? See how your state ranks on importance of religion in people's lives, attendance at worship services, frequency of prayer and certainty of belief in God. on pewforum.org
Marriage & Divorce: A 50-State Tour
Explore state-by-state marriage, divorce and remarriage patterns across the country to see how your state measures up. on pewsocialtrends.org
Who Owns the Media?
An interactive database of firms that own news properties in the U.S. lets you explore each media sector. Also, Year in the News answers questions about media coverage in 2010.
on journalism.org
Mapping Muslims Globally
Interactive maps covering 232 countries and territories show the size and distribution of the 1.6 billion worldwide Muslim population. on pewforum.org
Pew Global Attitudes Project
Key Indicators Database
Explore public opinion trends in 55 countries on topics ranging from attitudes toward the U.S. to views about globalization, democratization, an extremism. Results can be displayed in map, table or chart format. on pewglobal.org
Latinos by Geography
Interactive maps and data bases provide details about the changing Latino population in each of the nation's 50 states and 3,141 counties. on pewhispanic.org
U.S. Religious Landscape Survey
An extensive survey details the religious makeup, beliefs and practices of the American public. This online feature includes maps, graphs and charts. on pewforum.org