Changing American Family Survey

DOI

10.17605/OSF.IO/EHU63

Summary

This Pew Research Center survey examines the views of Americans on a variety of topics including the following: satisfaction with life ; feelings toward the country's future; different family arrangements; marriage as obsolete; satisfaction with life aspects; family life expectations; closeness with other family members; marriage affecting life goals; family trends affecting society; nuclear family importance ; family compared to growing up; closeness to spouse ; reasons for marriage; women caring for household; living together as a step toward marriage; household finances; desire for marriage; remarrying; desire for children; desired spousal traits; family definitions; financially supporting family; rating parental ability; balancing job and family; challenges for children; family dinners; Thanksgiving meal; obligation to provide assistance; one true love. The Princeton Survey Research Associates International performed the survey from October 1 through October 21, 2010.

The ARDA has added six additional variables to the original data set to enhance the users' experience on our site.

Data File

Cases: 2691
Variables: 206
Weight Variable: WEIGHT, WT1

Data Collection

October 1-21, 2010

Funded By

Pew Social & Demographic Trends

Collection Procedures

This telephone survey used a nationwide representative sample of 2,691 adults (ages 18 and older). The survey was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Interviews were done in English and Spanish. In order to correct known demographic discrepancies, statistical results were weighted. The margin of sampling error for weighted data is +/-2.6 percentage points.

The Pew Social Trends & Demographics Project developed the questionnaire, pre-testing it twice with a small number of respondents using listed telephone numbers. As a result, some final changes were made to the questionnaire in order to improve the quality of the data.

Sampling Procedures

Eight separate sample segments were used to obtain a representative sample. Sample segments 1 and 2 consisted of landline random-digit dialing. Sample 3 was a cell sample that wasn't listed, but was drawn through a systematic sampling from dedicated wireless 100-blocks and shared service 100-blocks with no directory-listed landline numbers. Sample segments 4-8 were landline and cell callback samples from recent PSRAI surveys. Callback samples help maximize the likelihood of reaching target populations. There also was an oversampling of three key demographic groups: cohabitating parents, divorced/separated parents, and never been married parents.

Principal Investigators

Pew Social & Demographic Trends.

Related Publications

"For Millennials, Parenthood Trumps Marriage."

"The Public Renders a Split Verdict On Changes in Family Structure."

"A Portrait of Stepfamilies."

"The Decline of Marriage And Rise of New Families."

Notes

For both the complete questionnaire as well as a more detailed methodology, see the following link to the official Pew Research Center Report.