Pew Research Center

The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan American think tank based in Washington, D.C. It describes itself as a fact tank, focused on generating a foundation of facts that enriches public dialogue and supports sound decision-making. The center conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, random sample surveys, media content analysis, and other empirical social science research. Its work spans topics including U.S. politics and policy, journalism and media, internet and technology, religion and public life, social and demographic trends, global attitudes, and Hispanic trends.

Pew Research Center is widely cited by journalists, policymakers, scholars, and the general public. It does not take policy positions and is known for its rigorous methodology and commitment to nonpartisanship. The center operates as a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts and is funded primarily by that organization, along with other foundations that share its commitment to fact-based research.

With a staff of over 160 people, the center produces dozens of reports each year. Its data is used extensively in academic studies, news coverage, and government briefings. The center is a charter member of the American Association of Public Opinion Research's Transparency Initiative, reflecting its dedication to methodological transparency and ethical standards. [edit]

Pew Research Center's mission is to inform the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It does this by providing a foundation of facts that enriches public dialogue and supports sound decision-making. The center does not advocate for particular policies or take partisan positions. Its goal is to produce high-quality, objective research that is transparent in its methods and accessible to all audiences. [edit]

The Pew Research Center traces its roots to 1990, when the Times Mirror Company founded the Times Mirror Center for the People & the Press to conduct political polling. Andrew Kohut, a veteran pollster, became its director in 1993. In 1996, The Pew Charitable Trusts stepped in as the primary sponsor, and the organization was renamed the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

On July 1, 2004, the center was formally established as a separate, nonpartisan subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, based in Washington, D.C. Kohut served as its founding president. That same year, the center expanded beyond political polling to launch new research areas. In 2005, it created the Social & Demographic Trends project, followed by projects on religion, global attitudes, and Hispanic trends in subsequent years.

Kohut stepped down in 2013 after leading the center for nearly two decades. Alan Murray served a brief tenure as president before Michael Dimock took the helm in October 2014. Under Dimock, the center has invested in new methodologies, including online panels and computational social science, while continuing to maintain high survey response rates and transparency standards. [edit]