The Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey, a comprehensive undertaking by the Pew Research Center, has concluded its data collection and is now undergoing rigorous analysis. The survey’s findings, which aim to capture a snapshot of global public opinion, are underpinned by a sophisticated methodological framework designed to ensure accuracy and reliability. This report delves into the intricate details of this methodology, highlighting the survey’s commitment to robust research practices and providing a deep dive into the specific workings of the American Trends Panel (ATP), a cornerstone of Pew’s domestic data collection efforts.
The survey’s results are derived from a multi-modal approach, employing a combination of telephone interviews, face-to-face interactions, and online surveys. This blended methodology, executed under the direction of esteemed research organizations Gallup, Langer Research Associates, and the Social Research Centre, is designed to maximize reach and representation across diverse populations. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the data presented reflects national samples, reflecting a broad spectrum of public sentiment. For those seeking a more in-depth understanding of the survey’s operational backbone, Pew Research Center offers detailed explanations of its international survey methodology and country-specific sample designs on its official website.
Central to the analytical framework of many international analyses and reports by Pew Research Center is the categorization of respondents based on demographic and attitudinal variables. These categorizations often draw upon external data sources to provide a richer context for understanding public opinion. Two key areas of focus for the Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey include ideological self-placement and religious identification.
Understanding Ideological and Religious Landscape
Respondents were asked to place themselves on an ideological spectrum, allowing researchers to analyze attitudes through the lens of the political left, center, and right. This approach provides crucial insights into how different ideological groups perceive various issues, enabling a nuanced understanding of public discourse.
Furthermore, the survey meticulously gathered information on respondents’ current religious identification in each country surveyed. By analyzing groups with sufficient sample sizes for statistical reliability, Pew Research Center aims to illuminate the perspectives of various religious communities. It is important to note that while specific religious groups are analyzed separately, respondents from all religious backgrounds are included in the overall national totals, ensuring a comprehensive representation of the surveyed populations.
High- and Middle-Income Country Classifications
In its international analyses, Pew Research Center frequently employs classifications of countries as either high- or middle-income. These classifications are based on the World Bank’s established categories, which utilize per capita gross national income as the primary determinant. This consistent application of a recognized standard allows for meaningful comparisons across different economic contexts. This approach has been instrumental in previous Pew Research Center analyses, including studies on global views of China, satisfaction with democracy, attitudes towards globalization, and perspectives on national identity.
The American Trends Panel: A Pillar of Domestic Research
A significant portion of the data informing this report originates from Wave 190 of the American Trends Panel (ATP). The ATP is a nationally representative panel of randomly selected U.S. adults, maintained by the Pew Research Center, and serves as a vital instrument for tracking evolving public opinion within the United States.
Overview of ATP Wave 190
The survey for Wave 190 was conducted between March 23 and March 29, 2026. Out of a sampled pool of 4,046 panelists, a substantial 3,507 responded, yielding a survey-level response rate of 87%. This high response rate is a testament to the effectiveness of the ATP’s recruitment and engagement strategies. The cumulative response rate, which accounts for nonresponse during recruitment and subsequent panel attrition, stands at 3%. The break-off rate, indicating the percentage of panelists who began the survey but did not complete it, was a minimal 1%. For the full sample of 3,507 respondents, the margin of sampling error at a 95% confidence level is plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.
To ensure more precise estimates for smaller demographic subgroups, the survey incorporated an oversample of Muslim, Jewish, and non-Hispanic Asian adults. These oversampled groups are then weighted back to their accurate proportions within the broader U.S. population, thereby maintaining the overall representativeness of the sample. The data collection for this wave was conducted by SSRS, utilizing both online (n=3,377) and live telephone (n=130) interviewing methods. Interviews were administered in both English and Spanish, further enhancing the inclusivity of the survey. For a more comprehensive understanding of the ATP’s operational framework, interested parties can refer to the "About the American Trends Panel" section on the Pew Research Center’s website.
Panel Recruitment: A Long-Term Strategy
Since 2018, the ATP has adopted an address-based sampling (ABS) approach for its recruitment efforts. This method involves mailing a study cover letter and a pre-incentive to a stratified, random sample of households selected from the U.S. Postal Service’s Computerized Delivery Sequence File. This file is estimated to cover between 90% and 98% of the U.S. population. Within each selected household, the adult with the next birthday is identified as the potential participant. While the specifics of the ABS recruitment protocol have evolved over time, detailed information is available upon request. Prior to 2018, the ATP relied on landline and cellphone random-digit-dial surveys for recruitment, conducted in English and Spanish.
A national sample of U.S. adults has been recruited to the ATP approximately once annually since 2014. In certain years, the recruitment process has included targeted oversampling efforts to enhance the accuracy of data for underrepresented groups. For instance, Hispanic adults were oversampled in 2019, Black adults in 2022, and Asian adults in 2023.
Sample Design: Ensuring Representativeness
The overarching target population for this survey comprised noninstitutionalized individuals aged 18 and older residing in the United States. The sample design for this wave featured a stratified random sample drawn from the ATP, with Muslim, Jewish, and non-Hispanic Asian adults selected with certainty to ensure their adequate representation. The remaining panelists were sampled at rates meticulously calculated to maintain proportionality with their respective shares of the U.S. adult population to the greatest extent feasible. Respondent weights are subsequently adjusted to account for any differential probabilities of selection, as detailed in the weighting section.
Questionnaire Development and Testing: A Commitment to Quality
The questionnaire for Wave 190 was meticulously developed by Pew Research Center in close consultation with SSRS. The online survey platform underwent rigorous testing by both the SSRS project team and Pew Research Center researchers, ensuring seamless functionality across PC and mobile devices. The SSRS team also populated test data, which was then analyzed in SPSS to confirm the accuracy of the logic and randomizations before the survey’s official launch. This comprehensive testing protocol is a critical step in mitigating potential errors and biases.
Incentives: Encouraging Participation
All respondents were offered a post-paid incentive for their participation in the survey. Participants had the flexibility to choose their incentive in the form of a check or a gift code redeemable at major online retailers such as Amazon.com, Target.com, or Walmart.com. The incentive amounts varied between $5 and $20, with higher amounts offered to individuals belonging to groups traditionally harder to reach through surveys. This differential incentive strategy is designed to boost panel survey participation among demographics that historically exhibit lower survey response propensities.
Data Collection Protocol: A Multi-Channel Approach
The data collection period for this wave of the survey spanned from March 23 to March 29, 2026. Surveys were administered through two primary channels: self-administered online questionnaires and live telephone interviews.
For panelists participating online, postcard notifications were mailed to a subset of participants on March 23. Survey invitations were disseminated in two phases: a soft launch and a full launch. The soft launch involved 60 panelists, with initial invitations sent on March 23. Subsequently, all remaining English- and Spanish-speaking sampled online panelists were included in the full launch, receiving their invitations on March 24.
[Image of a table showing Invitation and reminder dates for web respondents, ATP Wave 190]
Panelists who opted for online participation received an email invitation and up to two email reminders if they did not initially respond. For ATP panelists who had consented to receive SMS messages, an SMS invitation with a direct link to the survey was sent, followed by up to two SMS reminders.
For panelists who preferred telephone surveys conducted by live interviewers, prenotification postcards were mailed on March 20. The soft launch commenced on March 23, with dialing until a total of three interviews were completed. Subsequently, the phone numbers of all remaining English- and Spanish-speaking sampled phone panelists were dialed throughout the remainder of the field period. Panelists opting for telephone surveys could receive up to six calls from trained SSRS interviewers.
Data Quality Checks: Upholding Integrity
To ensure the highest standards of data quality, Pew Research Center researchers conducted thorough data quality checks. These checks were designed to identify any respondents exhibiting patterns of satisficing, such as leaving a disproportionately high number of questions blank or consistently selecting the first or last answer choice presented. As a result of these rigorous checks, five ATP respondents were excluded from the survey dataset prior to the weighting and analysis phases.
Weighting: Accounting for Complexities
The data collected through the ATP undergoes a comprehensive weighting process. This process is designed to account for multiple stages of sampling and nonresponse that occur throughout the panel survey lifecycle. Initially, each panelist is assigned a base weight that reflects their probability of being recruited into the panel. These base weights are then calibrated to align with population benchmarks presented in accompanying tables, correcting for nonresponse to recruitment surveys and panel attrition. If only a subsample of panelists was invited to participate in a specific wave, this weight is further adjusted to reflect any differential probabilities of selection.
[Image of a table showing American Trends Panel weighting dimensions]
Among the panelists who successfully completed the survey, the weights are again calibrated to align with population benchmarks detailed in the accompanying table. To mitigate potential losses in precision due to variance in weights, these weights are trimmed at the 1st and 99th percentiles. Sampling errors and tests of statistical significance are calculated taking into account the impact of this weighting process.
The following table provides an overview of the unweighted sample sizes and the expected sampling error at a 95% confidence level for various groups within the survey.
[Image of a table showing Sample sizes and margins of error, ATP Wave 190]
Detailed sample sizes and sampling errors for other subgroups are available upon request. In addition to sampling error, it is important to acknowledge that other factors, such as question wording and practical challenges inherent in survey administration, can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.
Dispositions and Response Rates: Transparency in Data Collection
The detailed breakdown of dispositions and response rates for ATP Wave 190 offers a transparent view into the survey’s operational outcomes. These figures are crucial for understanding the representativeness and potential limitations of the data.
[Image of a table showing Final dispositions, ATP Wave 190]
[Image of a table showing Cumulative response rate, ATP Wave 190]
The comprehensive methodological framework employed in the Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey, particularly through the robust operations of the American Trends Panel, underscores Pew Research Center’s unwavering commitment to producing high-quality, reliable data that informs public understanding of complex global and domestic issues. The detailed explanations of ideological and religious categorizations, coupled with the meticulous procedures for panel recruitment, sample design, questionnaire testing, and data weighting, collectively contribute to the credibility and utility of the survey’s findings.
