Last Updated: November 8, 2009
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Does Technology Enhance Social Connections?

4 Nov 09 A new study challenges previous research that suggested that new digital technologies such as the internet were increasing social isolation.


Two Decades After the Berlin Wall's Fall

End of Communism Cheered But With More Reservations

2 Nov 09 Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, publics of former Iron Curtain countries generally look back approvingly at the collapse of communism. However, enthusiasm has dimmed in most of the countries surveyed, and many say that most people were better off under communism.

Also explore an interactive map showing European responses to key survey questions and a slideshow of the key findings with audio commentary by Andrew Kohut.


Lots of Ex's Live in Texas

States of Marriage & Divorce

15 Oct 09 Marriage, divorce and remarriage rates vary significantly among states as do average education and income levels. Analysis of new Census data -- including an interactive map -- reveals some interesting patterns.


Pew Research News IQ Quiz

What Does the Public Know?

14 Oct 09 There is a lot to keep up with in the news right now. Many Americans know key facts about health care and the economy, but questions about Afghanistan and environmental legislation in Congress stump the public.

Before reading the report, see how much you know by taking the quiz.


What Divides Us?

24 Sept 09 Most Americans see differences between immigrants and the native born and between rich and poor rather than black/white divisions as the strongest sources of social conflict.

Archives
The Pew Research Center recommends the following items from the deep archive:

America's Moderate Muslims

A pathbreaking survey finds most Muslims living in the U.S. are assimilated and happy with their lives with moderate views on globally divisive issues.

Gambling: More Take, More Worry

A survey finds a modest backlash in attitudes toward legalized gambling, even as the public spends more money on more forms of wagering.

Reluctant Suffragettes

An 86-year-old poll sheds light on why female Americans were slow to appreciate the hard-fought battle for access to the ballot box.

Recent Findings and Releases

Paradoxical Relationship of Religion and Science

6 Nov 09 While most embrace science and its benefits, strong religious convictions can affect some Americans' willingness to accept certain theories and discoveries.

Public Divided Over Afghan Troop Requests, But Sees Rationale for War

5 Nov 09 As Obama weighs difficult choices in Afghanistan, the public also appears to be finding it difficult to judge the merits of different options for expanding, maintaining or contracting the U.S. effort on that front.

Partisanship and Cable News

30 Oct 09 Republican viewers have migrated increasingly to Fox News but Democrats comprise a larger share of the Fox News audience than Republicans do of CNN's audience.

College Enrollment Hits All-Time High

29 Oct 09 Driven by a recession-era surge in enrollments at community colleges, the number of young Americans attending college hits a new high, while the high school dropout rate falls to a record low.

Is the 'Zeal of the Convert' for Real?

29 Oct 09 People who have switched religions exhibit higher levels of religious commitment than those who still belong to their childhood faith, but the differences are relatively modest.

Searching For Clues in the Global Warming Puzzle

27 Oct 09 Why do fewer Americans believe the earth is warming? A range of possibilities, including a sour economy and, perhaps, a cooler than normal summer in parts of the U.S., may provide an explanation.

Fewer See Solid Evidence of Global Warming; Half Support Cap and Trade

22 Oct 09 Substantially more Republicans and independents now doubt that global temperatures are rising. Still, by 50% to 39%, the public supports capping carbon emissions even if energy prices rise.

RT: More Americans Tweet

21 Oct 09 One-in-five online Americans are now on Twitter; social networkers, mobile internet users and young adults are most numerous among their ranks.

But What Do the Polls Show?

14 Oct 09 Perhaps the best way to think about public opinion and its relationship to politics and policymaking is that the public is typically short on facts, but long on judgment.

Updated Hispanic-American Profiles

15 Oct 09 Five additional countries of origin -- Guatemala, Colombia, Honduras, Ecuador and Peru -- are now included in the Pew Hispanic Center's analytical database.

Mapping Muslims Globally

8 Oct 09 A comprehensive study of over 200 countries finds 1.57 billion Muslims in the world today, representing 23% of the world population. A collection of interactive maps show the size and distribution of the worldwide Muslim population.

Gay Marriage Remains Unpopular, but Support for Civil Unions Ticks Up

9 Oct 09 Support for civil unions has edged up to 57%; but a majority still opposes same-sex marriage with sharp divisions among religious and political groups.

Obama's Nobel Prize 

9 Oct 09 News that the president has won the Nobel Peace Prize is another sign of his international appeal; his election turned around America's negative image in many countries.

A Look at America's Hispanic Youth

Changing Pathways into Adulthood

7 Oct 09 Young Latino adults in the United States are more likely to be in school or the work force now than their counterparts were in previous generations.

Explaining the Education Gap

7 Oct 09 Latino youth are more likely than all American youth to see the importance of a college education to success. But, they are less likely to say they plan to get a college degree -- primarily because of financial reasons.

Americans Support War with Iran if Talks and Sanctions Fail

6 Oct 09 Fully 61% of the public feel it is more important to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons than to avoid conflict. But most also approve of direct negotiations.

Health Care: Politics in the Pews

2 Oct 09 Many religious organizations have taken on the look of political campaigns, as advocates for and against health care reform preach their politics.

A Pat on the Head for the Watchdog

2 Oct 09 Nearly as many Americans say that press criticism of political leaders keeps them honest as said so in the 1980s, when overall views of the media were far less negative.

The Harried Life of the Working Mother

1 Oct 09 A solid majority of Americans (75%) reject the idea that women should return to their traditional roles in society, but many women remain conflicted about their competing roles.

Support for Abortion Slips

1 Oct 09 Obama's election may have moved the needle on abortion opinion. The importance of the issue has declined among liberals, while conservative opposition is firmer.

Where the News Comes From -- and Why It Matters

25 Sept 09 Newspapers remain the main newsgatherers and watchdogs on the powerful; their challenge is not loss of audience but revenue.

Take This Job and Love It!

17 Sept 09 The self-employed are far more likely to like their jobs and work because they want to. But if you strike out on your own, don't count on financial security.

Interactive Features

Test Your News IQ

Quiz 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.

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, extremism and other important issues. Search by question, topic or country. Results can be displayed in map, table or chart formats.
on pewglobal.org

Check Your Science IQ

Quiz Take a 12-item quiz, a mix of contemporary knowledge and text-book style questions, to find out.

How Does Your Community Stack Up?

Quiz Rate your community as a place to live, then compare your responses to those from our national survey. on pewsocialtrends.org

Internet Typology: How Mobile R U?

Quiz 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        

American Mobility

Map Texas is the nation's "stickiest" state and Nevada is the most "magnetic," according to a Pew Social & Demographic Trends mapping analysis. Explore migration flows within the U.S through interactive maps featuring detailed regional and state data.
on pewsocialtrends.org

RemoteCouples Quiz

Quiz Who calls the shots in your household? Many people still say it's a man's world, but in many typical American families, it's the woman who wears the pantsuit. Take our Couples Quiz to find out where you fit.
on pewsocialtrends.org

Latinos by Geography

Map A series of interactive maps and data bases at pewhispanic.org provide details about the changing Latino population and demographic information about the 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 dynamic tools -- maps, graphs and charts.
on pewforum.org

Visit Interactive for other features.