{"id":88003,"date":"2020-01-24T11:06:54","date_gmt":"2020-01-24T16:06:54","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2024-08-06T14:07:21","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T18:07:21","slug":"how-to-use-pew-research-centers-election-news-pathways-data-tool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/01\/24\/how-to-use-pew-research-centers-election-news-pathways-data-tool\/","title":{"rendered":"How to use Pew Research Center\u2019s American News Pathways data tool"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pew Research Center\u2019s yearlong American News Pathways project<\/a> examined how Americans\u2019 news habits and attitudes related to what they heard, perceived and knew about the 2020 U.S. presidential election, the COVID-19 pandemic<\/a> and protests against racial inequality following the killing of George Floyd.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the project\u2019s core is an interactive tool<\/a> that lets users create custom tables so they can explore the Center\u2019s survey questions.(Note: data in the tool were collected from November 2019-December 2020). Here\u2019s a step-by-step guide for how to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Select a survey question. <\/strong>You can explore topics by typing a key phrase into the search bar or by browsing the featured survey questions on the left. Browse 500+ survey questions<\/a> and filter the list by topic or by survey field dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Step 2: Select a media trait or demographic group.<\/strong> You can explore results among all U.S. adults, by news consumption habits or attitudes, or by demographic group, such as gender or age. Note: If you select a survey question before choosing a trait, a chart will appear showing responses among all U.S. adults by default.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once a media trait or demographic group is selected, a definition of it will appear directly under the dropdown menu in gray text.<\/strong> For example, choosing the variable \u201cDigital savviness\u201d gives the names and definitions for each of the three subgroups within that variable: \u201cThe digitally savvy,\u201d \u201cDigital dabblers\u201d and \u201cThe digitally disengaged.\u201d The text also links to FAQs with more details, as well as instructions about how to read the data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A bar chart will then appear. The full question wording, survey dates and other details about the question are displayed below the chart. For example, selecting the question \u201cTrust info from social media\u201d displays the response options for that question, the share of respondents who chose each option, the full question wording, survey dates and other details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same data can also be viewed in a table of numbers. <\/strong>Under \u201cDisplay as\u201d at far right, click the \u201cBars\u201d and \u201cTable\u201d buttons to toggle between views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3 (optional): Filter the data by political party.<\/strong> Use the dropdown menu labeled \u201cShow among\u201d to show the data for all U.S. adults, Democrat\/Lean Dem or Republican\/Lean Rep. (\u201cLean Dem\u201d and \u201cLean Rep\u201d are short for those who lean toward, but do not identify as, the Democratic or Republican Party, respectively.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, the screenshot shows responses only among Republicans and Republican leaners to the question about trust in information from social media by the media trait digital savviness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Step 4: To see the full length of some wider charts, be sure to minimize the featured survey questions. You\u2019ll find a minus symbol in the upper left corner of the tool to widen the chart. You\u2019ll know you\u2019ve reached the end of the chart when scrolling, if the last column shows the share of respondents who refused to answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s an example of what the tool can tell you: <\/strong>Among Republicans and Republican leaners, 39% of digital dabblers say they trust the information they get from social media sites not at all, according to a November 2019 Pew Research Center survey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 6. Explore <\/strong>the tool<\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong>You can also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n