Browse 114 concepts used in the study of religion, review how survey researchers measured them in the past, and quickly compare the results of more than 7,600 survey questions.
The archive is a collection of surveys, polls, and other data submitted by the foremost scholars and research centers in the world. Review and analyze data online, or download free of charge.
Examine the religious composition, religious freedoms, demographics, constitutional clauses, survey findings and multiple social and political measures for 250 nations.
View maps of the United States and individual states for hundreds of variables, including congregational membership, census data, crime statistics and many others.
Generate congregational membership reports for any county, state and urban area in the United States using data collected by the Religious Congregations & Membership Study.
The profiles chart schisms and mergers, document membership trends, offer basic descriptions, and link to additional resources for more than 400 past and present American religious groups.
Browse dozens of topics from a major national survey of religious congregations. See how the responses vary by the size, religious family and region of the congregation.
Browse dozens of topics covered by major national surveys. See how the responses vary by demographic categories and, when available, how they change over time.
View maps of the United States and individual states for hundreds of variables, including congregational membership, census data, crime statistics and many others.
The Faith Communities Today (FACT) surveys are a series of national surveys of U.S. congregations run by the Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership. The first FACT survey was launched back in 2000 with the largest national survey of congregations ever conducted in the United States. Coordinated by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at the Hartford Seminary, these surveys aim to not only compare and contrast congregational life across religious traditions but also provide insight into the changing nature of congregational life in the United States.
The 2015 FACT survey is a smaller version of the large national surveys completed at the beginning of each decade. Only surveying 4,436 congregations, this sample focused on completing a random oversample from 11 faith groups, in addition to a random national survey of non-partner congregations. Questions on the survey ranged from programs, demographics of the congregation, mission and identity, and projection of the future for the congregation. The FACT 2015 survey also only surveyed the male clergy. An additional question about the role of the respondent was also added at the end of the survey. This dataset contains data from the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.
Data File
Cases: 276
Variables: 198
Weight Variable: None
The survey sample is double weighted. First, the various sub-surveys are combined in a way that, through the use of statistical weights, each partner denomination and faith group and each non-partner cluster of congregations is represented in the national FACT 2015 data which is proportional to its representation in the total population of congregations in the United States. Secondly, the dataset is weighted to represent denominational family according to census region parameters based on the National Congregations Study (NCS) and the 2010 U.S. Religious Census.
The Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford Seminary
Collection Procedures
The Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership created common core questions totaling between 150 to 200 questions. These questions were drawn from previous surveys and select themed modules. The final questionnaire was mailed out to randomly selected congregations. Leaders of the congregations were asked to fill out the survey, with the option to use the online platform or the mail-in form.
The Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership also contracted a denominational agency to survey a sample of non-partner denomination congregations. Selections were based on a random sample from a database of congregations maintained by FaithStreet.
The Faith Communities Today 2015 mailed a physical copy to 4,436 randomly selected American congregations from 11 faith groups. Survey was encouraged to be completed by the leader, staff member or an informed lay leader.
The project's common core questionnaire includes nearly 50 questions covering ten broad areas:
* Worship * Programs * Mission and Identity * Participants * Leadership * Member Issues * Vitality and Change * Electronic Technology * Finances * History, Location, Building and Affiliation
Principal Investigators
Research surveys and reports are conducted by the Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership, a multi-faith group of religious researchers and faith leaders. This group includes over 25 different faith groups, working together with Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford Seminary. Reported findings for the 2015 FACT survey is written by David A. Roozen.
