Survey Method facts & stats

Question 1

What was the self-response rate to the 2020 US Census, compared with 66.5% in 2010 and 67.4% in 2000?

Accepted Answer

62.1%. The trend shows even a legally required national count is getting harder to complete through self-response alone.

Question 2

From 1936 to 2008, Gallup's final pre-election poll correctly called the presidential winner every time except two elections. How many misses was that?

Accepted Answer

2 misses (1948 and 1976). That's a strong track record across more than 70 years and roughly 18 elections.

Question 3

In 2012, Nate Silver's forecasting model correctly called the winner in how many US states plus DC?

Accepted Answer

all 51. That perfect state-by-state record boosted confidence in statistical polling-aggregation models.

Question 4

For its fiscal year ending June 2021, nonprofit Pew Research Center — which conducts many of its own surveys — reported revenue of about how much?

Accepted Answer

$36 million. That funding, mostly from foundation grants, supports Pew's ongoing survey research operations.

Survey Method facts & stats

Going deeper

In 2012, Nate Silver's forecasting model correctly called the winner in how many US states plus DC?

Expert level

What was the self-response rate to the 2020 US Census, compared with 66.5% in 2010 and 67.4% in 2000?

From 1936 to 2008, Gallup's final pre-election poll correctly called the presidential winner every time except two elections. How many misses was that?

For its fiscal year ending June 2021, nonprofit Pew Research Center — which conducts many of its own surveys — reported revenue of about how much?