User Guides Subject Guides > Government, Law & Politics — Public Polling

This guide is an introduction to selected sources on Public Polling available at URI.

To find additional books, search the HELIN Catalog (http://library.uri.edu/) under such subjects as:  ELECTION FORECASTING, ELECTION FORECASTING --  UNITED STATES, CONSUMER BEHAVIOR, CONSUMER ATTITUDES, or PUBLIC OPINION POLLS.  Reference Databases such as Academic Search Premier, LexisNexis Academic, and PAIS International may have public poll data and articles on polling.

There are also related Subject Guides accessible on the Library's home page under User Guides.  Examples include:  United States Government Statistics and Consumer Behavior.

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Encyclopedias | Bibliographies
Poll Compilations | Web Resources

URI Ref HN90 .P8 P645 2005 2 vol.

Polling America:  An Encyclopedia of Public Opinion, edited by Samuel J. Best and Benjamin Radclipp.

Article-style entries on issues and concepts surrounding polling, followed by organizations, archives, and polling centers.

URI Ref HM1236 .P83 2004

Public Opinion and Polling Around the World:  A Historical Encyclopedia, edited by John G. Geer.

Comprehensive article-style entries with bibliographic references.  Each volume organized by subject and then alphabetically or chronologically.  Includes general bibliography, index, and sample election studies questionnaire.

URI Ref  Z7164 .P956 W34 1990

Walden, Graham R. Public Opinion Polls and Survey Research: A Selective Annotated Bibliography of U.S. Guides and Studies from the 1980s.

URI Ref  Z7164 .P956 W33 1996

Walden, Graham R.  Polling and Survey Research Methods, 1935-1979:  An Annotated Bibliography.

Collects annotated citations for a wide variety of sources on polling and survey research.  Organized by broad subject and then author.  Includes extensive author and subject index.

URI Ref HN90 .P8 A527 2005

American Attitudes:  What Americans Think About The Issues That Shape Their Lives. 4th ed.

Compilation of survey results from the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center.  Displays results of same questions polled from 1972-2002, as well as some 2002-only surveys.  Broad focus on a wide range of social issues and lifestyle questions.  Includes index.

URI Ref  HN90 .P8 G35

The Gallup Poll. 1935-

URI Ref  HN90 .P8 G29 1999

The Gallup Poll Cumulative Index:  Public Opinion, 1935-1997.

Polls on various topics of contemporary public interest chronologically.  Post-1971 volumes include a chronology of major events for the period covered.  Individual volumes include indexes.  The Cumulative Index is organized by subject.

 

The Public Perspective:  A Roper Center Review of Public Opinion and Polling, 1989-2003.  [Electronic Resource]

Available from 11/01/1989 to 6/01/2003 through LexisNexis Academic (available at http://www.uri.edu/library/reference_databases/title.html).  Click on LexisNexis' Guided News Search, then search by "publication title" (example: "The Public Perspective").  A database of short articles, most with accompanying polls from various sources.  Topics covered tend to be those of interest at the time of the polling.  Searchable by keyword and date range.

http://www.carnegieendowment.org/about/library/index.cfm?fa=poll

Carnegie Endowment -- Polling and Public Opinion Resources.

Annotated list of links to resources on polling focused on the U.S. and those focused abroad, as well as some academic sources.  Some print sources also included.

http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.htm

Eurobarometer.

Database of pan-European polls on public attitudes towards European Union-related issues.  Polls generally collected into large reports, with topics ranging from feelings about EU membership to attitudes about alcohol use.  Many reports have country-specific variants, although those tend to be in their native language.  Organized by type of report and date published.

http://www.galluppoll.com/

The Gallup Poll.

One of the key U.S. polling organizations.  The "Poll Topics A-Z" section provides polls on a wide variety of topics, most including retrospective data from previous polls on the topic.  Most other site features are pay-only.

http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/crinews/backissues2006/october06/opinionpoll.htm

Guide to Public Opinion Poll Web Sites:  Polling Data from Around The World. (2006)

List of annotated online resources on polling compiled by Association of College & Research Libraries.  Some resources are available only to subscribers.

http://www.irss.unc.edu/data_archive/pollsearch.html

Odum Institute Public Opinion Poll Questions Database.

Robust search engine for polling questions.  The "Constructing Searches" link at the bottom of the search page gives detailed instructions on usage.  Focuses on Southern U.S. polling bodies, but includes some significant major U.S. poll data.

http://www.pollingreport.com/

Polling Report.

Compiles recent polls from a variety of reputable sources.  Focuses on political issues and figures, as well as some social issues.  Has basic search function, and a table of contents.

http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/education/polling_fundamentals.html

University of Connecticut's Roper Center -- Polling 101.

Overview of topics in polling practice.  Includes glossary of polling terms.  The "Analyzing Polls" section includes information and advice on both computer-assisted and qualitative analysis.

http://www.library.yale.edu/socsci/opinion/pollingorganizations.html

Yale University Library -- Polling Organizations.

Lists links to various U.S. and international polling organizations and resources.  Some resources are available only by subscription.

For assistance
If you need further assistance, please contact the Government Publications Office, University Library, (401) 874-2606. If the office is closed, please consult the Reference Desk, which may be reached at (401) 874-2653. You may also contact the government publications subject specialist, Deborah Mongeau, at (401) 874-4610 or dmongeau@uri.edu.

S. Anderson 5/07.