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: 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. And the tenets and teachings of religious organizations are rooted in their respective theologies. But we should not ignore poll findings. Surveys are uniquely positioned to inform the public about the broad contours of the U.S. religious landscape and of the religious trends impacting American society. How are Catholics in the U.S. responding to Pope Francis? What might explain the nationwide growth of those who say they have no particular religion?