The Penn State Poll: An Omnibus Poll of Pennsylvania

Frequently Asked Questions

Can we use the Penn State Poll to answer specific questions about adult Pennsylvanians?
Yes. The Penn State Poll provides survey results that are generalizable to the adult population in Pennsylvania. Such data is often used to inform decisionmaking and policymaking, or to assess Pennsylvanians' knowledge of or opinions about specific topics.
How many surveys are conducted and what is the statistical accuracy of the survey?
The number of completed surveys is 850. The margin of error for a sample this size is +/- 3.4% at the 95% confidence level.
What type of questions are used in the poll? Open-ended? Close-ended? Both? Can you give a few examples of previous poll questions?
Most of the questions submitted are closed-ended for ease of using the collected data, but we can include open-ended items as well. For example, a question might offer a response scale including an option to select "other"; then, a follow-up question for those who select "other" might be "Could you describe that?" or "Could you specify?" The Center for Survey Research can provide you with sample questions from previous Polls.
Are general demographic questions asked free of charge?
Yes, standard demographic questions are included free of charge. These include age, gender, county of residence, race/ethnicity, level of education, marital status, employment status, political party affiliation, household size, and family income.
Is the poll for PA residents only?
Yes. Our sample is of adults in PA (must be 18 years or older). The results are generalizable to adult Pennsylvanians.
What is the format for survey results? How will it appear?
We provide you with a weighted data file of your results in your choice of formats (Excel, SPSS, Access, etc.) We also provide a report of weighted results (comparing data to U.S. Census demographics so that our sample accurately reflects the adult population of Pennsylvania). We provide frequencies of responses for each question asked and cross-tabulations by standard demographics. For open-ended questions, we provide the verbatim responses. We also provide a complete methodological report describing how the data were collected. All of your data is confidential, intended for your organization's use only.
What happens to the Poll results?
Each year, the Poll includes modules from various organizations interested in surveying Pennsylvania residents on special topics or interests. The data collected from these modules are the property of the sponsoring organization and are not reported in the general statewide poll results, nor made publicly available without the express permission of the sponsoring organization.
Why is a random phone survey used instead of a random mail survey?
There are several reasons why a phone survey is preferable. The first is that the length of time required for completing a phone survey and preparing the data for analysis is considerably shorter than the length of time required for mail survey. This keeps your costs down. The second reason is that a phone survey allows for a truer random sample in the survey.
What organizations sponsored questions in last year’s Poll?
The following organizations sponsored modules on the Poll in 2008:
  • Barbara Sims, Ph.D., School of Public Affairs, Penn State Harrisburg
  • Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency, Office of Victims' Services
  • Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing
  • Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission
  • Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center/Penn State College of Medicine, Strategic Services
What are the deliverables for sponsors?
Each sponsoring organization receives the following services from CSR.
  • Assistance in defining research objectives or informational needs
  • Aid with design, wording, and sequencing of questions
  • The survey results of sponsor’s questions, including frequencies of all items and cross-tabulations by standard demographic characteristics (this includes region of Pennsylvania, age group, education level, race, income level, and gender)
  • A complete methodological report detailing both technical and quality control procedures
  • An electronic dataset of sponsor’s questions and standard demographic items
  • Assistance to sponsor’s organizational representative in interpreting the results of the survey
Other services are available at an additional charge. These include narrative or multivariate analysis, over-sampling of specified geographic areas or demographic groups, and dissemination of research findings through mass media or other public relations entities. Please inquire for more information.
Can the Center for Survey Research (CSR) conduct separate surveys for our organization?
Yes. If you have significant data needs that extend beyond the Poll’s multiple-sponsor format, you may want to sponsor your own survey. CSR offers a full range of survey research services designed to meet all your project needs including focus groups, nominal groups, depth interviewing, survey design, sample design, computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI), mail and web-based surveys, multi-mode surveys, statistical analysis and reporting, and spatial analysis and decision support information systems design and implementation. Please contact Dr. Auden Thomas (adt121@psu.edu or 717-948-6435) at CSR for more information.