Survey Basics

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Here, we address some of the most common questions we receive about the nuts and bolts of taking a U.S.-focused Pew Research Center poll.

While survey research in the United States is a year-round undertaking, the public’s focus on polling is never more intense than during the run-up to a presidential election.

While the notion that polls should include equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats makes some sense, it’s based on a misunderstanding of what polling is intended to do.

Polling in different parts of the world can be very challenging, because what works in one country may not work in a different country.

How does the way a poll is conducted influence the answers people give?

Pew Research Center uses benchmarking questions to ensure our surveys are accurate. Learn why and how we use these questions.