The Common Ground of the American People

Over a five year period, 31 in-depth surveys were conducted with 85,921 survey respondents (though some individuals were respondents in more than one survey). Most of the policy positions considered were based on proposed legislation. Others were derived from proposals made by the president, or were items in budget proposals.

The surveys were not simply standard polls used by the media or in political polling. For many issues, average Americans have a lack of information and in some cases misinformation on key issues. They also have not heard key arguments on each side of the issues. Research shows that in these circumstances poll responses are not highly stable and subject to even minor variations in the wording of the questions. Thus, they are not a reliable source of direction for policymakers.

Therefore for this project a unique survey form—developed by the Program for Public Consultation at the University of Maryland—that goes well beyond standard polls. The aim of the process is to put respondents in the shoes of a  policymaker; thus they are called policymaking simulations. In this process, respondents are:

  • provided a briefing on the issue and the policy proposals under consideration;
  • presented and asked to evaluate arguments for and against the policy proposal; and
  • finally, asked for their recommendations.

The following surveys are referenced in The Common Ground of the American Peoople: 157 Policy Positions Supported by Both Democrats and Republicans.  Access the links below to download the full survey reports, questionnaires with frequencies and/or policymaking simulations for each survey.


SOCIAL SECURITY

Americans on Fixing Social Security
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: February 16 – March 24, 2016
Sample Size: 4,591 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 1.4%  

MEDICARE

Americans on Solving the Medicare Shortfall
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough & Communications for Research, Inc.
Field Dates: August 24 – November 11, 2016
National Sample: 7,959 registered voters
Margin of Error:  +/-1.1%

FEDERAL BUDGET

Americans on the FY 2020 Federal Budget
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: April 10 – May 13, 2019
Sample Size: 2,403 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/- 2.0%
Americans on Tax Reform
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: November 14-17, 2017
Sample Size: 2,637 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/- 2.3%

HEALTH CARE

Americans on the American Health Care Act
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Fielding Dates: June 8‐13, 2017
Sample size: 2,430 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2%
Alexander-Murray Healthcare Bill
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: December 6 – 13, 2017
Sample Size: 2,511 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.0%

IMMIGRATION

Americans on Immigration Reform
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: October 1-16, 2018
Sample Size: : 2,407 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.0%
Americans Evaluate Immigration Reform Proposals
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: February 21 – March 12, 2018
Sample Size: : 2,916 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.1%

FEDERAL POVERTY PROGRAMS

Americans on Federal Poverty Programs
Fielded by: Nielsen-Scarborough & Communications for Research, Inc.
Field Dates: November 11, 2016 – January 18, 2017
Sample Size: 7,128 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 1.2%

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY

Offshore Drilling
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: March 9‐23, 2018
Sample Size: 2,003 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.2%
Americans on Solar Panel Tariffs
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: March 9‐23, 2018
Sample Size: 1,999 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.2%
Ground-Level Ozone: Americans on H.R 806:
Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017

Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: March 9‐23, 2018
Sample Size: 1,999 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.2%
Americans on Clean Power
Fielded by: Nielsen-Scarborough & Communications for Research, Inc.
Field Dates: April 16 – June 10, 2016
National Sample: 3,826 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 1.6%

GOVERNMENT REFORM

Americans Evaluate Campaign Finance Reform
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: August 3-16, 2017
National Sample: 3,045 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 1.8%
Independents and Third Parties
Fielded by: Nielsen-Scarborough
Field Dates: September 22 – October 17, 2017
National Sample: 2,569 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 1.9%
Redistricting By Citizens, Rank-Choice Voting, Multi-Member Districts
Fielded by: Nielsen-Scarborough
Field Dates: September 7 – October 3, 2017
National Sample: 2,482 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.0%
Lobbying Restrictions and Past Presidents
Fielded by: Nielsen-Scarborough
Field Dates: September 7 – October 3, 2017
National Sample: 2,482 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.0%
Allowing Nonprofits to Endorse Political Candidates
Fielded by: Nielsen-Scarborough
Field Dates: September 7 – October 3, 2017
National Sample: 2,482 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.0%

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Americans on International Trade Policy
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: April 10 – May 13, 2019
National Sample: 2,993 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.15%
Globalization and Trade
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: Wave 1: December 6‐21, 2016
Wave 2: August 28 – September 7, 2017
Sample Size: Wave 1 – 1,633 respondents; Margin of Error: +/-2.4%
Wave 2 – 2,745 respondents; Margin of Error: +/-1.9%

COLLECTIVE SECURITY & MILITARY ALLIANCES

Americans on NATO
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: January 16 – February 11, 2019
Sample Size: 2,416 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.0%
Americans on the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: January 7 – February 1, 2019
Sample Size: 2,264 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.1%

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Americans on Nuclear Weapons
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: January 7 – February 1, 2019
Sample Size: 2,264 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.1%

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: October 22-30, 2019
Sample Size: 2,417 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.0%
To Be Released

NET NEUTRALITY

Americans on Net Neutrality (Part 2)
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: March 9‐23, 2018
Sample Size: 997 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 3.1%
Americans on Net Neutrality (Part 1)
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: December 6 – 8, 2017
Sample Size: 1,077 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 3.0%

SENTENCING REFORM

Americans on Sentencing Reform
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: July 10‐23, 2018
Sample Size: 2,417 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 2.0%

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE

How Americans Would Fix the U.S. Postal Service
Fielded by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: July 2 – August 12, 2015
Sample Size: 1,542 registered voters
Margin of Error: +/‐ 3.7%

AMERICA IN ONE ROOM (A1R)

America in One Room Survey
Fielded by: NORC
Field Date: September 22, 2019
Sample Size: 523
Margin of Error: +/- 4.78%