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% |