Survey report

Religious Diversity and Change in American Social Networks: How Our Social Connections Shape Religious Beliefs and Behavior

Daniel A. Cox December 15, 2020

The American Social Network Survey uses a unique design to measure the race, educational background, politics, and religion of our social contacts. The results reveal that personal behavior and beliefs are socially constructed—what we know is influenced by who we know. Americans who have more politically diverse social networks express greater openness to compromise and are less bound to their own beliefs. Racial and ethnic diversity in Americans’ social networks makes one more sensitive to race issues. Continue Reading →

Blog

The 2020 Religion Vote

Daniel A. Cox November 6, 2020

Religious voters lined up behind their preferred candidates in familiar ways in the 2020 presidential election, but there were some notable shifts. Continue Reading →

Photo of a Q-Anon protest
Survey report

Conspiracy Theories, Misinformation, COVID-19, and the 2020 Election

Daniel A. Cox, John Halpin October 13, 2020

The September 2020 American Perspectives Survey tests existing conspiracy theories about politics and misconceptions about public health, ideas, and whether demographic or partisan backgrounds are associated with greater propensity to accept or reject certain theories. Continue Reading →

Survey report

Fear, Frustration, and Faith: Americans Respond to the Coronavirus Outbreak

Daniel A. Cox, Jacqueline Clemence, Karlyn Bowman April 2, 2020

The March 2020 American Perspectives Survey finds that young people are most likely to have hoarded supplies and reveals a large partisan divide in opinions on how the federal government and Donald Trump handled coronavirus. Continue Reading →

Blog

Younger Christians Care Less About Their Partner’s Religious Beliefs

Daniel A. Cox February 13, 2020

Younger Christians are much more comfortable than older Christians with the idea of dating someone who does not share their views about God. Continue Reading →

Blog

Hidden Identity: When Americans Decide to Keep Their Religious Background to Themselves

Daniel A. Cox January 7, 2020

For many Americans, religion is a fundamental part of who they are. But for many other Americans sharing religious beliefs with others is not as easy. Continue Reading →

Survey report

The Decline of Religion in American Family Life

Daniel A. Cox, Jacqueline Clemence, Eleanor O'Neil December 11, 2019

The November 2019 American Perspectives Survey reveals that young people may not be to blame for the decline in religious affiliation even though they report being raised in less religious households than their parents. Continue Reading →

Blog

Are Americans Who Attend Neighborhood Churches Better Off?

Daniel A. Cox June 25, 2019

Beyond cutting down commute times and saving on gas there is no obvious benefit to attending religious services close to home. Continue Reading →

Blog

The Decline of Church Membership

Daniel A. Cox April 19, 2019

A new survey by Gallup finds that membership in religious congregations is plummeting. Continue Reading →

Survey report

Doubting disbelievers: A new approach to measuring religious uncertainty

Daniel A. Cox April 1, 2019

Though most Americans say they believe in God, many express doubts that God exists. A new research approach finds that doubts about God are even more prevalent than previous surveys suggest—a pattern evident among believers and nonbelievers alike. Continue Reading →

Survey Reports

Cartoon rendering of a series of different online dating app prospects, on phone screens

Daniel A. Cox
February 9, 2023

From Swiping to Sexting: The Enduring Gender Divide in American Dating and Relationships

The January 2023 American Perspectives Survey sheds some light on dating preferences, experiences, and perspectives. The national survey of more than 5,000 adults age 18 and older, including nearly 800 single adults, finds that Americans have strong dating preferences when it comes to living at home, being unemployed, and smoking. Continue Reading →

Red leather-bound Qur'an on a wooden table with prayer beads and a light blue surgical mask draped over top.

Lindsey Witt-Swanson, Jennifer Benz, Daniel A. Cox
January 5, 2023

Faith After the Pandemic: How COVID-19 Changed American Religion

The Survey Center on American Life at AEI teamed up with researchers at NORC at the University of Chicago to measure religious affiliation and attendance both before the pandemic (2018 to March 2020) and again in spring 2022, revealing who remained at the pews, who returned to the pews, and who left. Continue Reading →

A cartoon showing a vibrant office from the ceiling view.

Brent Orrell, Daniel A. Cox, Jessie Wall
October 25, 2022

The Social Workplace: Social Capital, Human Dignity, and Work in America

Over the past two decades, American social and civic life has been on an undeniable downward trajectory. New research finds that the workplace remains an increasingly important generator of social capital in the wake of this civic contraction. Continue Reading →

Photograph of pro-choice protestors holding signs

Karlyn Bowman, Daniel A. Cox
October 4, 2022

Gender, Generation and Abortion: Shifting Politics and Perspectives After Roe

In the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, the issue of abortion continues to garner widespread public attention. Young women are following the debate over abortion rights closely and more intensely than other Americans. How will it affect their vote in the upcoming election and their approach to politics? Continue Reading →