Understanding Society

Timely, relevant data, trends, and insights are a must in a changing world. Every week, we will highlight a selection of our data on the issues and questions influencing contemporary American society.

Most recent edition:

December 14, 2021

• Omicron worries America, but not enough to precipitate change- Americans are concerned about the Omicron variant but aren’t willing to change their lives at this point in time. This translates to majority saying they’re likely to wear masks indoors, but few plan to put a stop to socializing, seeing friends and family or going out to eat. Few say they plan to cancel holiday travel, but most support a proof of vaccination requirement in order to fly.

Past editions:

December 8, 2021

• How the holidays shape Americans' diets- Heading into the holidays, most say they feel good about what and how much they eat during the festive season. However, fewer feel they can stick to a diet during the holidays, although older generations say they are better at staying on track than younger generations.Looking ahead to the next year, most believe that inflation is here to stay. At the same time, most believe that their standard of living won’t change one way or the other.

November 23, 2021

• A nation of job hunters- A deep dive on the foment within the labor market, looking at what proportion of the currently employed are looking for a new job. Beyond that, we evaluate  how job seekers feel about their benefits and salary relative to people who feel more settled in their roles, as well as how connected and supported they feel at work.

November 16, 2021

• On Thanksgiving, Americans plan to stick to the classics- We investigate what pies and sides are most likely to make an appearance at the Thanksgiving table, as well as America's views on holidays more generally, and who sleeps best at night.

November 9, 2021

• Most Americans observe Veterans Day- Investigating how America feels about Veterans Day, how Americans are adapting their behavior due to concerns about climate change, and whether Americans want to keep or jettison daylight savings time.

November 2, 2021

• Who knows the most about COVID?- This week, we investigate vaccine and COVID knowledge, schools and the pandemic, climate change, the Build Back Better bill, personal finances, and gun ownership.

October 26, 2021

• Americans get ready to celebrate Halloween- Most Americans are planning to celebrate Halloween, and approximately one in ten plan to celebrate Día de los Muertos. When it comes to specific Halloween activities, Americans are most likely to say they typically decorate their homes, carve pumpkins or watch scary movies. Speaking of scary movies, approximately two in five Americans say they believe in the supernatural or extraterrestrial activity, such as ghosts and UFOs. However, belief breaks down across genders, with men more likely to believe in the existence of unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, and women in ghosts.

October 19, 2021

• Concern about COVID casts a shadow over holiday planning- Even as cases continue to fall following the Delta surge, concern about COVID colors everything from how optimistic Americans are about returning to their pre-COVID lives to what people are gifting their friends and family this holiday season. Beyond the pandemic, we explore who moved away from where they grew up.

October 12, 2021

• Among MLB fans, the Dodgers are slightly favored to win the World Series- As fall gets underway, we look at which baseball teams fans of the MLB feel will win the World Series. Beyond baseball, we explore the relationship and experience Americans have with sports more generally. Then, we get into who Americans feel the next James Bond should be (if they have an opinion at all on the topic).

October 5, 2021

• The pandemic inspired one in five Americans to reevaluate their lives- Leading up to World Mental Health Day on October 10^th, around half of Americans report that they are currently reevaluating their life priorities and prioritizing a better work/life balance. For approximately one in five overall, these changes were driven by the pandemic.

September 28, 2021

• Americans are getting into the fall mood- As fall officially gets underway, many Americans are looking forward to decorating their home for Halloween, among other autumnal activities on the docket for the season. Meanwhile, on the economic front, many aren’t feeling optimistic about their financial prospects.

September 21, 2021

• Americans of color more likely to experience poor environmental conditions- Regardless of where they live, Americans of color are more likely to suffer from worse environmental conditions. These findings underline the pervasiveness of environmental racism in the United States today.

September 14, 2021

• Back to school brings new worries- Following Labor Day, back to school is in full force, and we explore some of the fault lines permeating schools this year: mask and vaccine mandates. We also reflect on what children missed out on and struggled with last year and analyze how vaccine hesitancy among parents has declined.

September 8, 2021

• Twenty years later, Americans still feel the personal impact of 9/11- Two decades on, Americans see September 11^th as one of the most influential and personally impactful events of the 21^st century.

August 31, 2021

• Most parents feel it's tougher to be a parent now than it was 20 years ago- As summer winds down, we look at people's experiences and perceptions of parenthood. Additionally, we unpack Americans' views on the gender pay gap and equality in the workplace.

August 24, 2021

• Delta is changing Americans' behavior-As Delta surges, both the vaccinated and unvaccinated roll back their out of home behavior. At the same time, many Americans support their employers requiring COVID-19 vaccines for their workers. Even with the resurgence of the pandemic, Americans are still planning on spending more than last year this holiday season. Plus, we get into what it means to be an adult, views on student loan forgiveness, and how people’s relationship to personal hygiene has changed.

August 17, 2021

• Most Americans back four-day work week but won't take a pay cut for it-Many Americans want a four-day work week but aren’t willing to take a pay cut. At the same time, Americans value flexibility over length in their vacation policies. Beyond work and vacation, we explore how people get around in a typical week and the changes to transportation they’d like to see in their day-to-day lives.

August 10, 2021

• For Americans, extreme weather is heating up-The American West is grappling with extreme heat, drought and wildfires, a reality that many Westerners are attuned to. At the same time, Americans in a more tenuous financial situation express greater uncertainty about their ability to save and invest even as the pandemic enters into a new phase of intensity. Financial insecurity is particularly prevalent among renters, lower income and younger people.

August 3, 2021

• Who do unvaccinated Americans trust on COVID?- With COVID cases ticking up due to the Delta variant, the vaccinated feel things like mass transit and plane travel are increasingly risky, while unvaccinated Americans don’t. Additionally, we look at who unvaccinated Americans trust to provide them with accurate information about the pandemic. Plus, your mother was probably right: TV watching and mental health are connected.

July 27, 2021

• Prices pick up as Americans worry over household spending- Americans feel the inflation pressures just as many families across the country receive their child tax credits from the American Rescue Plan. Meanwhile, students reflect on a year (and then some) of online learning.

July 20, 2021

• Americans show signs of ambivalence about the Olympics- With the Olympic Games set to begin this Friday, the global public shows some signs of diffidence about their taking place. Few in Japan believe the games should proceed, while Americans are split on whether they’re interested in watching them at all. Meanwhile, American workers are restless. Particularly, younger workers are thinking about seeking out new opportunities, driven by the prospect of higher pay and a sense of burnout.

July 13, 2021

• Personal experience with crime and news source drive opinion on police reform- Following the growing importance of crime and gun violence for the country, we examine how personal experience and news source drive how Americans feel about law and order and police reform. At the same time, many of America’s remote workers are beginning to think about other pre-pandemic worries (namely, the office).

July 7, 2021

• American greatness gets mixed reviews- On America’s 245^th birthday, the country is split on how great the United States really is. And while the country has turned the corner on the COVID crisis, the Delta variant and vaccine hesitancy threatens the full recovery.

Special Edition
July 1, 2021

• Americans proud and looking to celebrate this July 4th- The July 4th weekend is here, and while Americans have mixed feeling about their country, they will be celebrating, COVID or not.

June 29, 2021

• Examining the past and present of American identity- As July 4^th approaches, we look at how Americans see themselves and the legacy of immigration in the country. Plus, we check back with what parents are planning on doing with their kids, and we look at what pandemic services people want to see stick around.

June 22, 2021

• Americans are conflicted on what LGBTQ+ Pride represents-Younger Americans and people in cities feel positive about Pride, a month dedicated to celebrating self-acceptance, history, and the legal struggle LGBTQ+ people face. Meanwhile, as summer gets underway, some Americans want to unplug for their summer vacation.

June 15, 2021

• Americans hold complicated views around race and equality- Ahead of Juneteenth, Americans express complex and often opposing views about race and equality.

June 8, 2021

• Americans head into summer confident in their finances as the rally slows- Americans are better able to manage their bills, but uncertainty around back to the office remains. Meanwhile, parents who are hesitant about the vaccine for themselves are still wary of allowing their children to get one, pointing to barriers along the path towards herd immunity.

June 2, 2021

• Americans plan to hit the road this summer- This summer is set to be a busy one as more Americans begin to make plans to travel and enjoy the great outdoors.

May 25, 2021

• How the past year shaped perspectives on race in America- On the anniversary of George Floyd’s death, the nation reflects back on a year of renewed focus on race in America.

May 18, 2021

• Americans have a sunnier outlook heading into the summer- Some Americans report improving mental health as fears about returning to “normal” pre-COVID life recede. Meanwhile, Americans are feeling more secure about their purchasing power.

May 11, 2021

• America dips its toes into the re-opening waters- Americans are venturing out little by little and growing more confident, but barriers to fully vaccinating the nation remain.

May 04, 2021

• As the country opens, families are doing better- Ahead of Mother’s Day, it’s clear the toll the pandemic has had on families, particularly mothers, and how that’s making all eager (but cautious) to leave the home this summer.

April 27, 2021

• How the past 100 days transformed America- From the gloom of a COVID winter to a new reemergence and optimism, the contrast between January and April 2021 could not be starker.

April 20, 2021

• Change is in the air- Americans are making plans to travel and socialize in summer 2021; but have mixed views on vaccine passports and needing to know employees’ vaccination status before patronizing businesses.

April 14, 2021

• Expectations have never been higher- Confidence in the future of the economy soars to the highest point in 19 years, but is the nation approaching a “vaccine wall?”

April 7, 2021

• Americans begin to test drive a "new normal"- Some people are leaving their homes as Americans grow increasingly optimistic about the state of the pandemic. But, the effects of the past year still loom large for many.