Pew Research Center: About Our Work & Methodology
- For decades, the Pew Research Center has served as a trusted resource for understanding the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the United States and the world.
- Founded in 1948, Pew Research Center operates as a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, which provides its primary funding.
- The Center’s work encompasses a wide range of research methodologies, including public opinion polling, demographic research, and computational social science.
Pew Research Center: A Nonpartisan Source of Data and Insights
For decades, the Pew Research Center has served as a trusted resource for understanding the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the United States and the world. Established as a nonpartisan, nonadvocacy fact tank, the Center provides data-driven research without taking policy positions or aligning with any political ideology.
Founded in 1948, Pew Research Center operates as a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, which provides its primary funding. This structure ensures independence and allows the Center to focus solely on its mission: to generate a foundation of facts that enriches public dialogue and supports sound decision-making.
The Center’s work encompasses a wide range of research methodologies, including public opinion polling, demographic research, and computational social science. It meticulously gathers data from thousands of individuals representing diverse ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds, listening to their perspectives on topics ranging from jobs and politics to religion, education, and health.
Pew Research Center distinguishes itself through a commitment to methodological rigor. Every step of its research process undergoes multiple layers of review to ensure high quality and factual accuracy. Notably, the Center shares its data and survey questions publicly, promoting transparency and allowing for independent verification of its findings. This openness is a cornerstone of its commitment to building trust with the public.
The Center’s research agenda is driven by questions people are asking, changes occurring in the world, and gaps in available information. It focuses on areas where its expertise and resources can provide valuable insights, aiming to explain the public rather than persuade it. This non-advocacy approach is central to its identity as a fact tank.
Recent research from Pew highlights the evolving landscape of digital access in the U.S., examining internet use, smartphone ownership, and digital divides. , Pew Research Center published findings on these topics, contributing to a broader understanding of the digital landscape. The Center is exploring emerging solutions to challenges facing the U.S. Electric grid, such as virtual power plants, which could play a key role in providing reliable and affordable power. A report published on , details this potential solution.
Looking ahead, Pew Research Center is also examining the fiscal pressures facing state governments in . An article published on , suggests that many states may face increasing budget stress, potentially requiring difficult decisions in the coming year. The Center’s work on broadband expansion, highlighted in an article from , also addresses critical infrastructure needs.
Pew Research Center’s commitment to objectivity and its dedication to providing high-quality, fact-based research make it a valuable resource for leaders, policymakers, and the public alike. As a nonpartisan organization, it strives to inform public discourse and support sound decision-making in a complex and rapidly changing world.
The Center’s methods are continually refined to meet the highest standards of research, and it remains committed to exploring new frontiers in social science. Its dedication to transparency and accessibility ensures that its findings are available to all who seek to understand the forces shaping our society.