COVID-19 vaccination stickers sit in waiting during the Columbus Public Health drop-in clinic at Stonewall Columbus in the Short
Commentary

Peer Pressure, Not Politics, May Matter Most When it Comes to Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine

Daniel A. Cox June 29, 2021

Americans experience widely different levels of social pressure to get the COVID-19 vaccine. And for better or worse, our friends exercise considerable influence over the information we have and the decisions we make. Continue Reading →

An older man sits on a bench in a park as a group of young runners go by.
Blog

Is Social Isolation Hampering the Vaccine Rollout?

Daniel A. Cox June 23, 2021

Americans who are socially disconnected report far lower vaccination rates and may ultimately prove to be an important impediment. Continue Reading →

A word bubble the words Talk Always Known Friend and Year appear the largest.
Blog

What Does it Mean to be a Best Friend?

Daniel A. Cox June 8, 2021

American friendships have come under considerable stress over the past year, but even in the wake of a global pandemic, most Americans still have at least one close friend. In fact, 87 percent of Americans have one or more close friends. These close friendships are critical to our wellbeing. Americans who have a close friendship Continue Reading →

3 friends having coffee time on a terrace
Survey report

The State of American Friendship: Change, Challenges, and Loss

Daniel A. Cox June 8, 2021

The May 2021 American Perspectives Survey finds that Americans report having fewer close friendships than they once did, talking to their friends less often, and relying less on their friends for personal support. Continue Reading →

Photo of a couple holding up a gay pride flag
Blog

Why Public Support for Transgender Rights is Likely to Grow

Daniel A. Cox May 13, 2021

Public understanding of transgender policies will increasingly be informed not by news reports or political rhetoric, but through personal interactions with the people immediately affected by them. Continue Reading →

Photo of older women participating in a climate change protest
Blog

If You Have a Lot of Friends, You’re Probably More Active in Politics

Daniel A. Cox, Jacqueline Clemence February 8, 2021

Having a robust network of friends and family may encourage us to become more active in civic and political life. Continue Reading →

Photo of a Christmas tree and its ornaments. Two people are walking away from the camera's view. We see their backs.
Blog

Holiday Spending in 2020

Karlyn Bowman, Jacqueline Clemence December 17, 2020

The holidays look different this year. In addition to traveling less, having smaller gatherings, and gathering virtually, Americans are also altering their spending habits. Continue Reading →

Photo of a hand holding up a sign that says "We're not ovaryacting"
Blog

For Republicans, Abortion Attitudes Differ Depending on the Composition of Their Social Circle

Daniel A. Cox, Samantha Goldstein October 7, 2020

Although abortion attitudes are highly polarized between the two parties and the issue remains contentious, among Republicans, views vary depending on their political networks. Continue Reading →

Photo of a Trump campaign lawn sign next to a Biden campaign lawn sign.

Socially Distant: How Our Divided Social Networks Explain Our Politics

Daniel A. Cox, Ryan Streeter, Samuel J. Abrams, Jacqueline Clemence September 30, 2020

The American National Social Network Survey explains how personal networks and relationships condition personal behavior and influence decisions. Continue Reading →

Survey report

The Parents are Not All Right: The Experiences of Parenting During a Pandemic

Daniel A. Cox, Samuel J. Abrams July 9, 2020

Parenting during the pandemic placed a huge burden on those with children at home. Mothers (especially single mothers) have experienced a decline in mental health and are especially anxious about sending their children back to school. Continue Reading →

Survey Reports

Generation Z and the Transformation of American Adolescence Cover Image

Daniel A. Cox, Kelsey Eyre Hammond, Kyle Gray
November 9, 2023

Generation Z and the Transformation of American Adolescence: How Gen Z’s Formative Experiences Shape Its Politics, Priorities, and Future

This report explores the foundational differences between American generations through their formative adolescent experiences. Continue Reading →

Young man sitting in a dark room before a wall featuring various conspiracy theory-related items illuminated by a computer screen

Daniel A. Cox, M. Anthony Mills, Ian R. Banks, Kelsey Eyre Hammond, Kyle Gray
September 28, 2023

America’s Crisis of Confidence: Rising Mistrust, Conspiracies, and Vaccine Hesitancy After COVID-19

America is experiencing a crosscutting crisis of expertise and scientific distrust accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic that poses significant challenges to democratic debate and public decision-making Continue Reading →

A cartoon showing a vibrant office from the ceiling view.

Daniel A. Cox, Brent Orrell, Kyle Gray, Jessie Wall
September 14, 2023

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

The Social Workplace, Volume II examines Americans’ expectations and experiences surrounding work, the workplace, and key job-related priorities such as pay and interpersonal connections. Continue Reading →

An empty debate stage featuring red and blue podiums below a stage light face an audience of nearly-empty seats.

Daniel A. Cox, Ruy Teixeira
June 29, 2023

The 2024 Presidential Election: Evolving Political Coalitions and Familiar Partisan Divisions

Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, the AEI Survey Center on American Life conducted a national survey of Americans that explored a wide range of political attitudes, current voting preferences, and perceptions of the political parties. Continue Reading →