A crowd of protestors atop of a monument, waving confederate flags and Trump flags

March 26, 2021

Support for Political Violence Among Americans is on the Rise. It’s a Grim Warning About America’s Political Future.

In the wake of the Capitol uprising, we have been forced to reckon with the uncomfortable truth that political violence is no longer a theoretical concern. Continue Reading →

Photo of the dome of the capitol. Beside it, is the silhouette of a hiker.

March 8, 2021

Few Americans are Confident in American Democracy, But Younger Americans are Especially Skeptical

If governments can effectively administer the COVID-19 vaccine and deliver economic support, it will go a long way in demonstrating that even if government is clunky and the results imperfect, the institutions of democratic governance can work. Continue Reading →

Photo of a Q-Anon protest

March 4, 2021

Social Isolation and Community Disconnection are Not Spurring Conspiracy Theories

Findings from the January 2021 American Perspectives Survey

After the 2020 presidential election, a new survey finds acute partisan disagreement over whether President Biden was legitimately elected and whether political violence can ever be justified. Although most Americans believe the 2020 election was a fair contest, most Republicans disagree and express concerns about voter fraud. Republicans are more likely to embrace political conspiracies, including the existence of a “Deep State” working to thwart Donald Trump’s presidency and the Q-Anon conspiracy that Trump is fighting a cabal of sex traffickers. Continue Reading →

Photo of a Q-Anon protest in front of the Washington Monument

February 26, 2021

When it Comes to Conspiracy Theories, Education Matters

Educational attainment is closely associated with belief in conspiracy theories. However, education appears to matter more for Republicans than Democrats. Continue Reading →

Photo of protestors holding up riot shields and signs that say "God Bless America"

February 12, 2021

Rise of Conspiracies Reveals an Evangelical Divide in the GOP

Evangelical Christian Republicans are more likely to embrace conspiracy theories. One explanation? Their affinity to Trump. Continue Reading →

Photo of a man and child standing in front of a gate around the Capitol.

February 11, 2021

After the Ballots are Counted: Conspiracies, Political Violence, and American Exceptionalism

Findings from the January 2021 American Perspectives Survey

The January 2021 American Perspectives Survey looks at post-election sentiments, beliefs in conspiracies, attitudes toward political violence, political segregation, and general feelings toward the United States. Continue Reading →

January 8, 2021

Older Americans Support Getting Vaccinated Regardless of Their Politics or the Perceived Threat of COVID-19

As the US ramps up vaccinations, political identity is important in predicting the behavior of younger Americans. Continue Reading →

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

December 17, 2020

Holiday Spending in 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 →

December 9, 2020

A Turning Point? Americans Grapple With COVID-19 Amid Enduring Partisan and Racial Divisions

Findings from the November 2020 American Perspectives Survey

The November 2020 APS explores how Americans are grappling with COVID-19 amid soaring numbers of infections. Though large partisan divisions persist, more Americans say they would get a free, FDA-approved vaccine. It also challenges the “shy Trump voter” hypothesis and explores possible explanations for Trump’s increased support among non-white voters. Continue Reading →

October 27, 2020

Our Media Bubbles Reflect a Larger Problem of Political Segregation

A new study finds Republican trust in conservative media outlets is closely tied to the political composition of their friendship network. Continue Reading →

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Survey Reports

Daniel A. Cox
July 23, 2026

A Digital Divide in American Adolescence: Gender, Class, and the New Teenage Experience

If teenage years once represented a time of rebellion, teenagers’ lives today are marked less by pushing boundaries and more by building their own. Many teenage experiences are less common than they once were—dating, working a part-time job, and experimenting with drugs and alcohol are less common experiences. The 2026 American Teenagers Survey from the Continue Reading →

Daniel A. Cox, Jae Grace, Avery Shields
April 27, 2026

Strangers Next Door: The Decline of Neighborhood Socializing and the Class Divide in Belonging

Acknowledgment The American Enterprise Institute’s Survey Center on American Life is grateful to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for its generous support of this research. As Americans spend more of their time online, the neighborhood—once a primary physical location for real-world socialization—is playing less of a central role than ever before. Since Continue Reading →