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Poverty Pulse
January 2007
Objectives and Methodology
This is a report of findings from Wave VII of the Poverty Pulse survey, a study designed to evaluate attitudes toward poverty in America. This is the seventh in a series of studies conducted annually beginning in December of 2000. The results of each Poverty Pulse are used by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) to promote understanding of poverty in America and greater awareness of the problem in our society.
This year’s Pulse once again used an online methodology for data collection. A total of 1,027 surveys were completed among the general adult population through Harris Interactive Service Bureau (HISB), a separate operating unit of Harris Interactive. The surveys were completed between December 7 and 11, 2006. The sample was selected at random by HISB using their database of potential respondents. The results of the study were collected and weighted demographically by HISB. The questionnaire was designed in conjunction with CCHD by Market Research Bureau LLC. Market Research Bureau also conducted the analysis of the data and prepared this report.
Many (but not all) of the questions in this year’s survey were also asked in previous waves of the Poverty Pulse. In some cases, results from previous years are presented in this report for reference purposes. It should be noted that prior to 2005, the Poverty Pulse was conducted using a telephone methodology. Because of this difference in data collection, comparisons between studies from 2000-2004 and subsequent waves (2005 and 2006) should be made with caution. While general comparisons can be made, numerical differences may reflect the difference in data collection technique rather than true differences in people’s opinions. In addition to the data collection differences, some questions were asked differently. For example, in some cases questions were asked this year in an aided fashion – that is, respondents were shown a list from which to choose their response – while in previous years, the question was unaided (no options provided to respondents). Also, in some cases only one response was accepted from respondents where in previous years respondents were allowed to give multiple responses. Any general comparison made in this report is accompanied with a caveat reflecting these differences.
The results presented on the following pages have been tabulated and analyzed by various demographics by Market Research Bureau. If a table total is 99% to 101%, this is likely due to rounding the individual percentages in the table. For some questions, more than one response was accepted from each respondent. In these cases the table percentage totals exceed 100%.
Statistical significance testing was conducted to determine differences by demographics and other criteria. Significance testing across years was conducted just between 2005 and 2006 where the methodology was the same, but these two years are not compared to earlier years. All testing for statistical significance was conducted at the 95% level of confidence. Any statistical differences are indicated in the tables with an “s” or are discussed in the text. The sample tolerance for the total sample is +/- 3 percentage points. This study can be considered reasonably representative of all adults in the United States.
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Catholic Campaign for Human Development
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3000
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Presented By:
Market Research Bureau LLC
1831 Monroe Street, NW
Washington, DC 20010
Phone: (202) 789-2110
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