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Frequently Asked Questions about the American Trends Survey

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To learn more about the survey you have been invited to take, watch this 90-second video or read the answers to frequently asked questions below. If you still have questions, feel free to call us at 1-844-564-0294, or email us at study@PewResearch.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

To read answers to these frequently asked questions, click an item below or scroll down.

Why are you contacting me again?

Thank you for participating in our previous survey! Your input was incredibly valuable. Your participation helps our surveys reflect the whole country. We’d like to hear from you again, but this time, on a different set of topics.

Why should I help?

Your voice matters. We listen to people of different ages, races, and backgrounds from all over the United States. We sum up what we hear and share it with leaders and the public to inform decisions. You will also get $10 as a thank-you.

What are my answers used for?

We provide information that leaders and others use to make decisions and form opinions. Information we publish is often used by students for learning, by the government to make laws, on the news to keep people up-to-date, and by local groups to help communities.

What is the survey about?

The survey asks about your everyday life, interests, and outlook on national issues.

How was I selected?

You were randomly selected from a list of individuals who have completed a Pew Research Center survey in the past.

Who is eligible to participate?

All adults (18 years old or older) who received an invitation letter or email are eligible to participate. Click here to get started.

How long is the survey?

It takes most people about 10 minutes to complete.

How do I get my $10?

At the end of the survey, you will have a choice between a $10 check or a $10 online gift code that can be used for purchases at Amazon.com, Target.com, or Walmart.com. Online gift codes are provided within 24 hours. Checks are mailed within 4 weeks.

Who is Pew Research Center?

We are a staff of about 170 people. We give Americans a chance to share how they feel about what’s going on near them and across the U.S. Learn more about us at www.PewResearch.org/about.

Are you a Democratic or Republican group?

Neither. We do not side with any political party, and we don’t take any positions on issues. We work hard to write neutral, fair questions. We collect and provide facts that all people and parties can trust.

Are you trying to sell me something?

No, we will never try to sell you anything. We will also never sell or give your identifying information to anyone outside our research team.

Will people see my answers?

We collect answers from thousands of people and summarize them. Only a few research team members will ever know which person said what. This includes some people who work at Pew Research Center and a data collection contractor, SSRS, that helps us manage the survey process.

We will never publish your name, email, phone number, or address.

How will you protect my privacy?

We follow a variety of security measures to make sure your answers stay private. Specifically:

  • Any information you provide is saved on secure computers or in locked drawers. Only a small number of members on the project team have access to your answers.
  • We limit the amount of personally identifiable information* or PII we collect to the minimum we need to accurately conduct surveys and send you your thank-you payment.  In other words, if we don’t need it, we won’t ask.
  • When we ask for PII, we store your survey answers separately from this information. This means research team members who have your name can’t see how you answered the questions and vice versa.
  • Once we no longer need your PII, it is permanently deleted.
  • We never make your PII such as your name or address public. But, we do publish de-identified datasets on our website. This means that we will publish the answers you gave, but they will be anonymous. No one will know who said what.

In addition to the specific policies above, we are a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research’s Transparency Initiative. As such, we follow their Code of Ethics, including the code to protect survey participants’ privacy.

* By “personally identifiable information” (PII), we mean information that could personally identify you, such as your name, address, email address, geographic location, or the names of members of your household. 

Who is sponsoring this study?

Pew Research Center. We are sponsoring this study through a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts.

I typed in the study website and got redirected. Is that OK?

Yes, you’re still in the right place. The study website in your letter or email is www.pewresearch.org/study. It will redirect you to https://survey.us.confirmit.com/wix/p160540356818.aspx?l=9.

Can my family or friends participate too?

Unfortunately, no. Only people who are randomly selected and contacted by Pew Research Center can participate. Random selection is important to make sure the results are accurate. Learn more about random sampling in this video.

For questions about the American Trends Survey or if you have technical questions or difficulty accessing the survey, please email study@PewResearch.org or call toll-free 1-844-564-0294 between 9 a.m. and midnight Eastern Time on weekdays, and between noon and 8 p.m. Eastern Time on weekends.