Title: Response from Pew Research Center to “In Polls We Trust” | Alan Cooperman | First Things
Headings: Response from Pew Research Center to “In Polls We Trust”
Response from Pew Research Center to “In Polls We Trust”
Articles by Alan Cooperman

Content: Other major trends in American religion that we have reported in recent years—such as the rise of the religiously unaffiliated and the decline in the share of Americans who identify as Protestants—are also seen in virtually every survey that consistently looks at these issues. The point estimates may vary because of differences in question wording and sampling methods, but the General Social Survey, Gallup polls, Pew Research surveys and others show the same major trends. It is also worth noting that if non-response bias in religion surveys exists, it would inflate measures of religious affiliation and observance. As our studies show and as Wuthnow stipulates, civically engaged citizens are more likely to participate in telephone polls and more likely to attend religious services regularly. It follows, then, that the move away from organized religion that we and others have reported may be more dramatic than we document. P ollsters certainly need to continue monitoring response rates and study their implications for the representativeness of public opinion polls. We also need to explore new forms of data collection by, for example, considering what “big data” can teach us about trends in American society, including religion. And those interested in understanding religion should look for information from many sources. For example, deep, qualitative methods that allow individuals to share the details of their own experiences and practices are vital for understanding how religion matters in a person’s life. Religion's role in American society cannot be fully appreciated without an understanding of religious history.