Americans continue to prioritize public health over economy

New Public Agenda/USA Today/Ipsos Hidden Common Ground survey finds threat of COVID-19 subsiding compared to March

The author(s)
  • Chris Jackson Senior Vice President, US, Public Affairs
  • Mallory Newall Vice President, US, Public Affairs
  • Sara Machi Research Analyst, Public Affairs
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Washington, DC, May 29, 2020 – According to a new Public Agenda/USA Today/Ipsos Hidden Common Ground Survey, although the sense of threat from COVID-19 is subsiding, most Americans continue to prioritize public health and express broad agreement on what the next steps should be.

Detailed findings

  • Most Americans (62%) think the government's priority should be preventing the virus from spreading and keeping people from getting sick or dying, compared to 29% who believe the main priority should be keeping the economy strong in order to avoid a recession. This is narrower than was observed in March (72% public health vs. 21% economy). 
Threat

 

  • More Americans report that they continue to support local businesses since the coronavirus began (75% in May vs. 69% in March).
  • Most Americans (69%) agree that people who are protesting to reopen states are endangering the lives of others, including a narrow majority of Republicans (53%). 
  • Most Americans support self-quarantines, face coverings in public, and social distancing in stores as states move toward reopening the country. Limits on the size of social gatherings is more divisive.
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About the Study   

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between May 22-26, 2020, on behalf of Public Agenda and USA Today. For this survey, a sample of roughly 1,004 adults age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. The sample includes 379 Republicans, 445 Democrats, and 107 Independents. The first wave was conducted between March 27-30, 2020, among roughly 1,002 American adults.

The sample for this study was randomly drawn from Ipsos’ online panel (see link below for more info on “Access Panels and Recruitment”), partner online panel sources, and “river” sampling (see link below for more info on the Ipsos “Ampario Overview” sample method) and does not rely on a population frame in the traditional sense. Ipsos uses fixed sample targets, unique to each study, in drawing a sample. After a sample has been obtained from the Ipsos panel, Ipsos calibrates respondent characteristics to be representative of the U.S. Population using standard procedures such as raking-ratio adjustments. The source of these population targets is U.S. Census 2016 American Community Survey data. The sample drawn for this study reflects fixed sample targets on demographics. Posthoc weights were made to the population characteristics on gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, and education.

Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online non-probability polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for all respondents. Ipsos calculates a design effect (DEFF) for each study based on the variation of the weights, following the formula of Kish (1965). This study had a credibility interval adjusted for design effect of the following (n=1,004, DEFF=1.5, adjusted Confidence Interval=+/-5.0 percentage points).

The poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 5.7 percentage points for Republicans, plus or minus 5.3 percentage points for Democrats, and plus or minus 10.8 percentage points for Independents. Additionally, the first wave has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

 

For more information on this news release, please contact: 

Chris Jackson
Senior Vice President, US
Public Affairs
+1 202 420-2025
[email protected]

Kate Silverstein
Media Relations Specialist, US
Public Affairs
+1 718 755-8829
[email protected]

 

About Ipsos 

Ipsos is the world’s third largest market research company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.

Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).    ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP www.ipsos.com

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The author(s)
  • Chris Jackson Senior Vice President, US, Public Affairs
  • Mallory Newall Vice President, US, Public Affairs
  • Sara Machi Research Analyst, Public Affairs

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