This guide provides summary-level and micro-level data resources for Roper Center public opinion data.
Summary-level data are published data points in either print or electronic format. Use summary-level data if you are looking for a quick statistic such as a Presidential Approval Rating.
Micro-level data files are the numerically-coded results of individual responses to such files as the census questionnaires, public opinion surveys, etc. You have more flexibility to work with these data and run statistical analyses. These data are in an unanalyzed, raw format of columns and rows, usually in ASCII format but not always. Some raw data files are accompanied by files in SPSS, SAS or other statistical software formats for easier use in these packages. If you are working with only the raw data, you must consult the data documentation (codebook) and write a small program or use an extraction program to have the computer "read" in the data into a useable format.
POLL Database
Contains summary-level results from various public opinion polls; United States only. Available through Lexis/Nexis Academic, a HOLLIS e-resource. Once you access Lexis/Nexis Academic, select the "Sources" tab, then “Reference”, then "Statistics", then select “Public Opinion Location Library or Public Opinion Online” and "Public Perspective."
iPOLL
The iPOLL database is searchable at the question level. The full-text retrieval system allows the user to see the exact wording of the question as well as all corresponding responses. Users can search by keyword and/or subject, and limit by survey organization or date. All study level information is provided. Not all of the polls and surveys on this site are available through the Roper Center. In the case of studies that are available through Roper, direct links to data and documentation are provided. The Roper Center resources require users to set up individual accounts in order to gain access to the data.
Roper Center Data Archive
The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research provides access to summary-level (aggregate) and micro-level (raw) public opinion data. While the data collection focuses strongly on United States public opinion, it also includes growing collections of (micro-level) public opinion polls from Europe, Latin America (Latin American Databank) and Japan (Japanese Data Archive and JPOLL) . The data archive (micro-level data) is searchable by keyword, date, and survey organization. The iPOLL database (summary-level data) is searchable by keyword, subject /or survey organization and survey sponsor; it provides question and response level data. The Roper Center resources require users to set up individual accounts in order to gain access to the data.