Public Opinion Surveys
- Question databases
- Collections of poll
data
- Arab & Islamic
World
- Global
|
- Anti-Semitism
- Iraq War and
attitudes toward the U.S.
- Terrorism
|
For a guide to
understanding polling results, see “Understanding Polling Methods” (M.
Mendelsohn 2001, http://www.queensu.ca/cora/_files/mendlesohn_e.pdf). All
sources listed are not equal, and polls taken in states with different
worldviews and under authoritarian governments may not compare directly with
domestic polls. Shibley Telhami, 1993, p. 183
Multiple-Topic Sources (^)
Question
databases:
Each
of these sources provides a compilation of polling information, accessible
through an interactive search interface.
- Polling the Nations
http://tripod.brynmawr.edu/record=b2535449
- More than 14,000
surveys conducted by over 1000 polling organizations in the United States and 100 other countries. Offers good topic/category search.
- Polls from: US polling
organizations, universities, newspapers, television news organizations,
international polling organizations, special interest groups
- 1986-present.
- Domestic and
international.
- Inter-University
Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/ICPSR/access/index.html
- Searchable repository
of datasets for use with statistical software (e.g. Stata and
SPSS). Includes variety of social science studies and surveys,
including but not limited to public opinion research.
- Terrorism and
Preparedness Survey Archive
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/TPDRC/surveys.html
- Presents a subset of
broader ICPSR results. Results can be counter-productively limited,
so full search is usually better.
- Domestic and
international.
The
next two sources are also major public opinion question databases, but they are
not as useful. The Odum institute polls are very domestic and focus on
national, state, and local issues. The Roper center does not release its
data without a subscription.
- Public Opinion Poll
Question Database. Odum Institute, University of North Carolina.
1960s-present.
http://www.irss.unc.edu/odum/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=7
- Could be useful for U.S. domestic polls on standard political and social questions. Not useful for
international results.
- "Particular
strengths include Harris Poll questions, 1958-present, questions from
National Network of State Polls covering 22 states, 1991-present, and
Southern Focus Polls, 1988-present.
- Mostly state-specific
and regional domestic polls, plus older national polls.
- Includes ICPSR and
Roper studies in data search, but original sources are easier to use.
- Domestic. All polls
conducted in the United States.
- Roper Center at University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT)
http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/
- Oldest and largest
archive of public opinion data in the world.
- Subscribers only. Full datasets available by
subscription. Database search and study documentation available
free.
Collections
of poll data:
- WorldPublicOpinion.org
& the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA)
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/
- Very useful
source. Articles present major public opinion survey results
worldwide.
- Generally provides
comprehensive reports, few full datasets.
- Selected polls:
- Dec. 2006:
U.S.-Iranian attitudes taken in both countries
- Middle
East and North Africa polls
- Global
and multi-regional polls
- Polls taken in Iraq
- Pew Research Center
Covers diverse survey topics and
provides good access to datasets and questionnaires. The Pew Center includes several projects with more specific foci (listed below).
- People and the Press
Project
http://people-press.org/dataarchive/
- Data sets from Pew
polls taken in the United States. Mostly political, some religion-
or social-based
- Includes the following
polls: The People, The Press & Politics, The News Interest Index, America's Place in the World, Media Use
- Selected polls:
- Full datasets
available on US & Iraq war attitudes, war on terror, Iran, more
http://people-press.org/dataarchive/
- Global Attitudes
Project
http://pewglobal.org/datasets/
- Data sets from
international polls 2001-2005
- Detailed reports on
findings from other and more recent polls
- Selected Global
Attitudes Project polls:
- 2005: 17-nation
survey on attitudes toward Islamic extremism
Questionnaire available – topline only
http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=248
- 2005: 16-nation
survey on attitudes toward US and other leading countries
Questionnaire available – topline only
http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=247
- Forum on Religion &
Public Life
http://pewforum.org/datasets/
- Data set from U.S. survey of American Muslims
Polls by Country or Region Surveyed (^)
Afghanistan:
Iraq:
- Oxford Research
International (Oxford, England) for ABC News, ARD, BBC, NHK
http://abcnews.go.com
- Opinion Research
Business (UK)
- WorldPublicOpinion.org–
Iraq Polls
- Good source with many
relevant surveys:
- Jan 2006: “What the
Iraqi Public Wants”
- Sept 2006: Views on Government, U.S. Troops, Al-Qaeda
- July 2008: Attitude Towards U.S. Troops
Pakistan:
Israel:
- Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research, Tel Aviv University
- Israeli Public Opinion
Database – Institute for National Security Studies (Tel Aviv)
http://www.inss.org.il/ipo.php
Arab
world:
- Anwar Sadat Chair at University of Maryland
- Information
International (Lebanon)
http://www.information-international.com/opinionpolls.php
- Provides reports with
percentage results for a variety of surveys conducted in the Arab world.
- Most polls conducted in
Lebanon. Others in Saudi Arabia, Palestinian Territories.
- Arab Barometer
http://arabbarometer.org/
- Full results from 2006
survey of Jordan, Palestine, Morocco, Algeria, and Kuwait.
- Youth, Emotional Energy,
and Political Violence – U. of Michigan and Eastern Michigan U.
http://www.thearda.com/Archive/Files/Descriptions/ARABYTH.asp
- Survey explores the
sociopolitical and cultural attitudes of young Egyptians and Saudis.
- Data focus on sources
of epistemic authorities, awareness of development ideas, attitudes
toward political and social issues, and religiosity.
- Data format: SPSS,
ASCII, online custom table maker (two variables only)
- Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
- 2005.
Muslim world:
Global:
The
World Values Survey and Gallup’s Voice of the People are the two major
international surveys, each covering a wide array of countries and
topics. The World Public Opinion Survey is another project with similar
aims. Finally, WorldPublicOpinion.org provides access to a number of
smaller global and multi-regional polls.
- World Values Survey
http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/
- Poll focusing on
cultural values. This comprehensive source is commonly cited in
social science literature.
- 73 countries (includes Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Indonesia)
- Survey conducted
2000-2004, with less complete results available for 1985, 1994, 1999
- Dataset available for
download.
- Voice of the People –
Gallup International Association (ICPSR 21441)
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/21441.xml
- Poll of social and
political issues, including democracy, electoral freedom, attitudes
toward society, personal political leaning, environment, global influence
of major powers, and demographic information.
- Data format: Stata,
SPSS, SAS, ASCII tab-delimited
- 60 countries (includes
Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia)
- 2007.
- Public Opinion Surveys –
the Chicago Council on Global Affairs
http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/dynamic_page.php?id=61
- The Chicago Council
supports regular public opinion studies focusing on global affairs and
international relations. Most polling is done in the U.S., but
represents Americans’ views on global issues. The Council has
recently increased its support for polling conducted outside the U.S.
- 2007: World Public
Opinion - Global Issues 2007
- In 2007, the Council
conducted a global poll (in conjunction with WorldPublicOpinion.org)
- Polls conducted by
local organizations in 19 countries (includes Iran, Indonesia,
Palestinian territories, Israel)
- 23 countries (includes
Lebanon, UAE, Turkey, Israel, Indonesia).
- 1 April 2008.
Polls by Topic (^)
Anti-Semitism:
- Anti-Defamation League
http://www.adl.org
- May 2007:
"Attitudes Toward Jews and the Middle East in Five European
Countries" Report;
Data
- 2002: “Anti-Semitism in
America” Report
- 2007: “Survey of
American Attitudes Toward Israel, the Palestinians and Prospects for
Peace in the Middle East” Report
Iraq
War and attitudes toward the U.S.
- German Marshall Fund and
Chicago Council on Foreign Relations
http://www.gmfus.org/template/index.cfm
- Goot.
"Introduction: World Opinion Surveys and the War in Iraq."
International Journal of Public Opinion Research. 2004 (16.3) pp. 239-268.
- Provides an overview of
public opinion surveys on the War in Iraq through early 2004
- Norris, 2002, pp.
225-30, for definitions and lists of surveys conducted about the Iraq War
Terrorism
- PollingReport.com –
Terrorism
http://www.pollingreport.com/terror.htm
- War on Terrorism
domestic poll aggregate selected from major polling sources.
- Provides only basic
results. Domestic only.
- Gallup – Terrorism
http://www.gallup.com/poll/4909/Terrorism-United-States.aspx
- Selected poll results
regarding American public’s attitude toward terrorism.
- Data format: Charts and
tables embedded in poll reports. No access to full datasets .
- Angus Reid Global
Monitor – Terrorism Topic Page
http://www.angus-reid.com/issue/C30/
- Concise articles
describing the latest polling results related to terrorism from throughout
the world.
- Data access
varies. Many reports have only one or a small number of
accompanying charts. A few have a link to a full survey report.
<< Back to main
Contact:
nlotito(at)haverford.edu, kdrooyan(at)haverford.edu
Last updated: August 1,
2009.