SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " surveyed " 71 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Small Business Owners Putting up Personal Assets to Keep Businesses Afloat, New Equifax Canada Survey Finds
One in four business owners have been required to personally guarantee business financing with their own home and assets; younger entrepreneurs show greater reliance on credit as a financial safety netTORONTO, Oct. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The financial pressures facing Canadian small businesses are extending beyond the business itself, with some owners relying on personal credit and assets to support their companies, according to a new Equifax Canada survey. One in four surveyed business ow
New Survey Reveals What Pet Parents Do for Their Dogs' Health
How much would you do for your dog? A recent Tractor Supply Co. survey sought to answer this question. They surveyed 2,035 dog parents and 50 veterinary professionals in the United States, and discove...
Xbox Reportedly Surveys Users On Return to Full Exclusivity for its Games
Xbox has reportedly surveyed players on how they would feel about a return to console exclusivity for all of its games, with the exception of Call of Duty.
1 in 5 Lawyers Rate Their Mental Health as 'Fair' or 'Poor,' Illinois Study Finds
Nearly 27% of lawyers surveyed by the Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program said they have daily or weekly feelings of stress regarding work, and 66% believe their workplaces harm their mental health, physical health or overall wellness and would consider leaving.
A Major Labor Boom in CNY? Not Here Yet
With so many major projects going on — Micron, I-81 viaduct and others — job growth is predicted to increase. But so far the number of jobs in the region has declined By Aaron Gifford [caption id=attachment_11065 align=alignright width=350] Amy Stage, deputy director at the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY): “For us, the conversation isn’t just about filling jobs. It’s about creating sustainable pathways that help people see a future for themselves in manufacturing.”[/caption] The I-81 viaduct project in Syracuse and Micron facility construction in Clay are expected to create a major labor boom for Central New York. But for the time being, the number of jobs here has actually decreased in the past year. The New York State Department of Labor reported that, for the annual comparison of June 2025 to this past June, private sector jobs decreased by 2,200 or less than 1% to 260,000. Job gains were concentrated in leisure and hospitality (+700), private education and health services (+400) and other services (+300). Job losses for that annual period were reported in the areas of trade, transportation and utilities (-1,500); professional and business services (-1,000); financial activities (-500); mining, logging and construction (-300); manufacturing (-200); and information (-100). The public sector job count rose over 12 months, with most growth concentrated in education, the state Department of Labor reported. Looking ahead, the Central New York economy is expected to benefit from both the Micron and I-81 viaduct projects over a period of several years. Initial job growth is foreseen in construction and computer and electronic manufacturing. Spin-off jobs will be created in the areas of professional and business services, health care and education, the state Department of Labor said in an email response to Oswego County Business magazine. “Population growth tied to the buildout of Micron Technology semiconductor complex in Clay is also expected to bring more workers and residents to the region, increasing demand for transportation services,” the agency said. New York Department of Labor highlighted current or projected job growth trends in various sectors. An increase in defense-related contracts at local high-tech employers has continued to support employment growth in the computer and electronic product manufacturing sector and Micron is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs as the project progresses. This sector paid an annual average wage of $117,500 in 2025 and employment in the sector is projected to grow by over 60% through 2032, making it the fastest-growing industry in the region. Typical occupations in this industry include electrical, electronic and electromechanical assemblers, software developers and industrial engineers, the state agency reported. Specialty trade contractors include several different types of tradespeople — electricians, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) mechanics and installers. Many of these positions are trained through apprenticeships, the state Department of Labor reported. The Interstate 81 construction project is generating local jobs, including construction laborers, projected to grow at a 6.4% rate, and operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, projected to grow at a 7.3% rate over the next several years. Construction of the Micron Technology facility is also “creating thousands of job opportunities that will continue over the next two decades,” the state agency reported. The specialty trade contractors sector paid an annual average wage of $86,200 in 2025. For Central New York, the challenge isn’t creating jobs, it’s filling them. Amy Stage, a deputy director at the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), said meeting this unprecedented growth is a much larger task than just replacing retirees. “We’re seeing workforce gaps at every experience level,” she said. “Companies need entry-level employees, experienced technicians, supervisors, engineers and skilled trades professionals. The opportunity is tremendous, but we need more people entering these career pathways.” Employers are looking for people who can troubleshoot, read technical information, use computers and learn new processes, not just perform repetitive production work, Stage said. To address this demand, the MACNY created the Manufacturers Talent Institute, which aims to connect students and job seekers with meaningful career pathways while helping employers build their workforce. Twenty-one companies have so far signed up to provide opportunities for more than 800 students. “For us, the conversation isn’t just about filling jobs,” Stage said. “It’s about creating sustainable pathways that help people see a future for themselves in manufacturing.” Several manufacturing facilities in the region are in the midst of expansion: • TTM Technologies, a leading U.S. manufacturer of advanced electronics and interconnect solutions for aerospace, defense and high-technology markets, which has a plant in DeWitt, completed its buildout of an additional facility, adding 400 jobs and expanding production of high-tech circuit boards for defense and critical electronics applications. • In Cortlandville, the Byrne Hollow Crossing Plant, a dairy manufacturing and processing facility, is increasing its operations, creating 100 new jobs. • The Chobani yogurt company is building a 1.4-million square foot dairy processing facility in Oneida County. This will create more than 1,000 good-paying jobs and double Chobani’s New York state workforce, Stage said. Stage noted several ways that local, state and federal governments can help spur manufacturing job growth in this region. Elected leaders and public agencies could work with industry representatives to create pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs seeking to upskill workers and improve employee retention. New York state has a variety of grants, tax incentives and financing programs to support site preparation, infrastructure, workforce development and capital investment. The U.S. Department of Labor has a pay-for-performance incentive program that provides employers $3,500 per new apprentice hired and retained for 90 days. MACNY was previously awarded an $87,000 federal grant that will cover 25 apprentices at nine companies. The manufacturing skills gap in the United States, at its current rate, could result in 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030, according to a study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute. In New York state, that gap is on pace to exceed 100,000 unfilled positions within six years. Manufacturing companies will be counting on more women to help fill that gap. While women make up half of the overall U.S. workforce, they only account for 29% of the manufacturing workforce in this country, Stage said. “Pre-apprenticeship programs like Real Life Rosies help to bring awareness to the manufacturing industry to fill some of the gaps, but we have a long way to go and it starts with educating people at younger ages about careers in manufacturing and earn-and-learn opportunities,” she said. As for Micron, that $100 billion-plus project, considered the largest private investment in New York state history, is expected to eventually create up to 50,000 jobs throughout the region, factoring in the spin-off opportunities for construction and supply chains. The plant’s foundation was poured on July 9. “As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, data and memory are foundational to the modern economy — and Micron is increasing our U.S. investments to more than $250 billion through 2035 to meet that moment,” the company’s president and CEO, Sanjay Mehrotra, said in a news release. Bechtel, Micon’s construction partner in the project, reported that 4,500 people will be employed to help build the facility, including skilled craft professionals, local union members representing various trades and apprentices. The Syracuse-based CenterState CEO organization tallies the regional labor force at 397,582 workers (Onondaga, Cayuga, Cortland, Madison and Oswego counties). Job growth isn’t limited to the Central New York region. For the larger area covering portions of the Mohawk Valley, the North Country, the Southern tier, and the western part of the state, there are 155,601 employees in the advanced manufacturing sector, and 155,275 construction workers. The agency’s 2026 Economic Forecast report noted that 41% of community and business leaders surveyed said a shortage of skilled workers in this area remains a problem, though 77% shared a positive economic outlook for the year ahead. Beyond the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing areas, local business leaders also see growth in small manufacturing companies, storage businesses, housing, unmanned flight technology and general construction. “Productive reuse of property,” the report said, “will hopefully continue to preserve unique architecture while driving business.” The report identified several challenges for economic growth in the region, including an aging workforce, outdated equipment, the rising cost of raw materials and “the disconnect between the speed of business needs and the pace of talent readiness.”
Ten kamaʻāina explorers join deep-sea expedition around the Hawaiian Islands
Ten local scientists, students, and educators are currently sailing aboard Ocean Exploration Trust’s Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus for a 20-day expedition to explore previously unsurveyed deep-sea habitats around the Hawaiian Islands and within Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary.
Trust in science falls as Covid-era confidence fades, finds global survey
Across countries surveyed before, during and after the pandemic, 72% of people expressed at least some trust in science in 2025, down from 80% in 2020 and 77% in 2018
American Journal Of Public Health Study Examines Political Differences In Perceptions Of Vaccine Safety And Effectiveness
Vaccine perceptions can influence acceptance and uptake. Dr. Dror Walter, with the Department of Communication at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and colleagues examined these perceptions using data from a national probability sample of 1,763 US adults surveyed in November 2024.
Majority of Northern Virginia business leaders give data centers thumbs-up
A majority of surveyed business leaders now believe data centers will have a positive impact on the regional economy in Northern Virginia.
New Zealand third quarter business confidence jumps, says think tank
WELLINGTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - New Zealand's business confidence rose in the third quarter even as fuel prices increase and geopolitics remain a headwind for the country, a private think tank said on Tuesday. A net 43% of firms surveyed expec...
New Zealand third quarter business confidence jumps, says think tank
WELLINGTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - New Zealand's business confidence rose in the third quarter even as fuel prices increased and geopolitics remained a headwind for the country, a private think tank said on Tuesday. A net 43% of firms surveyed expected ge...
Opinion | We Surveyed 50,674 Americans. This Is What Brings Them Together.
Americans are divided in their politics but not as sports fans.
Mothers face barriers to accessing mental healthcare, survey shows
Having theoretical access to healthcare doesn’t mean you can take advantage of it, as underscored by a report examining mothers’ experiences for themselves and their children. Released Thursday, Pulse Check 2026: Mothers on Mental Health, Care, and the Systems Around Their Families reports that nearly 48% of Florida mothers surveyed said they had struggled struggle […]
ABI predicts employer and financial stability for fourth quarter
The Iowa Association of Business and Industry reported that surveyed Iowa employers are looking towards 2026’s fourth quarter with a “neutral outlook”, approaching a stable economy and financially healthy end of the year. Each quarter, ABI surveys its board of directors in order to track business sentiment, identifying common concerns and inform upcoming priorities for […]
The best airlines for flying business class, ranked by passengers
The aviation rating company Skytrax surveyed travelers to determine the best business-class airlines.
Navigating the American Dream: How Integrated Financial Tools, Credit and Rewards Can Help Small Businesses Succeed
(Feature Impact) Owning a small business has been a cornerstone of the “American Dream” for generations. It represents the chance to transform a passion into a livelihood and legacy. However, turning dreams into reality is rarely a smooth or easy process and requires more than ambition alone. Today’s business owners need support and access to tools that enable them to overcome challenges and keep growing.#placement_678081_0_i{width:100%;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid678081 = window.pid678081 || rnd;var plc678081 = window.plc678081 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=678081;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid678081+';place='+(plc678081++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');Recent research conducted by the Capital One Insights Center shows 75% of more than 1,000 surveyed small business owners with more than one employee and annual revenues of up to $20 million are confident about the future, and 69% believe their business is actively primed for growth.While this optimism is promising, 47% of business owners still said their operations either stayed the same or became less efficient over the past year, citing issues like back-office friction and fragmented financial systems that make it difficult to get a clear picture of the health of their businesses.If you’re a small business owner eager to grow but not sure how to get there, start with this advice from real small business owners and experts at Capital One.Identify Sources of FrictionBefore you can pour effort into growth, you must understand what barriers are holding you back. Take time to look under the hood of your business to identify where time and energy is being lost.For example, you may be among the 78% of small business owners who feel stressed and uncertain about expense management – think hours spent hunting for receipts, manually entering numbers into software and reconciling accounts. Operational challenges aren’t just a hassle; they also pull attention away from important priorities like serving your customers and planning for growth. “We were focused on making as many candles as possible, especially during the busy season,” said Katie Roering, co-owner of Fontana Candle Co. “A lot of the back-office tasks like procurement, raw material purchasing, forecasting – all the really important things – were done at 3 a.m., 8 p.m. or on Saturday and Sunday, and there really just was not enough time in the day to get everything done that we needed to. We just knew as we continued to grow, we needed to streamline our processes, build out our team and keep moving forward.”Use Integrated Tools to Manage FinancesInstead of balancing 10 different tracking and analysis tools, you can turn to one-stop solutions to improve efficiency. Time gets lost when you’re forced to manually gather and interpret relevant data before you’re able to act. You need a platform that handles the busywork for you.Integrated, or “all-in-one,” financial tools – like accounting and bookkeeping platforms with automation capabilities or business credit cards featuring built-in analytical tools – allow you to easily stay on top of cash flow and day-to-day operations. For small businesses where every hour and dollar makes a difference, consolidating and automating systems can have an immediate impact. In fact, 51% of survey respondents said integrated tools have already fueled their growth.Leverage Credit Access and Rewards WiselyGrowth requires capital, so access to credit is a game-changer for many business owners, with 77% describing it as a key factor in achieving business resilience. Having funds accessible when you need them makes your business more capable of weathering storms such as equipment failures and seasonal slowdowns. It also puts the power in your hands to act when an exciting opportunity presents itself, like an inventory flash sale or the chance to advertise in a new market.Access to credit comes with another advantage: rewards. By using credit cards for your daily business expenses, you can earn cash back, points or travel rewards. Whether you redeem these to cover everyday expenses, book business trips or reinvest in the business, they can act as a bonus source of income. Learn to maximize rewards like the 84% of small business cardholders surveyed so you aren’t leaving money on the table.To learn more about how small business owners can identify obstacles, employ integrated financial tools and use credit as a tool for growth, read the full report at capitalone.com/about/insights-center.Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
CDC’s youth behavior report offers a narrower look at teen health
For more than 35 years, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has surveyed American high school students every two years about their health and behavior.
Sony Allegedly Surveyed Game Developers on its Disc-Killing Plan for 2028, Hinting at a Possible Reversal amid Fan Boycotts
According to leaker MLID, Sony has surveyed game developers on its disc-killing plan, suggesting they may consider a shocking reversal.
The state of pediatric restorative dentistry
Nearly every pediatric clinician surveyed this year expects zirconia crown use to rise, but far fewer are placing them today. A 2026 benchmark report
NBC 5/Telemundo 39 station group Texas voter poll
Economy and inflation are top issues according to likely voters surveyed in the NBC 5 Dallas/Telemundo Station Group Texas Voter Poll. NBC 5’s Larry Collins and Phil Prazan tell us the details.
Mastercard Dreamonomics Report Finds Smaller Businesses Prioritizing Stability
Small businesses are putting a premium on predictability. Across more than 6,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) surveyed in 18 countries for
‘High risk, high reward’: How early-career neuroscientists view their future
The Transmitter and Neuromatch surveyed more than 300 early-career neuroscientists to better understand their unique challenges, career aspirations and support needs.
Logan Airport workers push Massport to set a standard for their health care
A recent report finds that 30% of surveyed unionized airport employees are uninsured.
Global library trends report on AI, open science, future of libraries
The Pulse of the Library 2026 report surveyed 1,800+ academic, national and public libraries globally on future of the library and trends including the pace of AI adoption
Have we found alien life? Hundreds of scientists weigh in
Two major alien-life announcements in 2025 generated enormous excitement, but most astrobiologists remained unconvinced. Only 6.6% of surveyed experts thought possible biological molecules on K2-18b probably represented extraterrestrial life, while 15.1% said the same about intriguing mineral patterns in a Martian rock.
Want to age well? Health experts say these habits matter most
U.S. News and World Report surveyed health experts to better understand how Americans can age healthily and what the next major health trend would be.
LGBTQ+ adults more likely to miss or forgo healthcare, survey finds
LGBTQ+ adults are more likely than other adults to miss healthcare appointments due to cost or other reasons — with a third reporting their health worsened as a result, according to a new survey by health policy research group, KFF. Among the 2,640 LGBTQ+ adults surveyed, those who are transgender, younger than 30, those with lower incomes or without insurance were most likely to miss or forgo care due to cost.
IBM Study: Sports Fans Want Streamlined Digital Experiences as Platform Choices Expand
/PRNewswire/ -- New research commissioned by IBM (NYSE: IBM) reveals the digital expectations of surveyed sports fans are rising as they navigate more...
New study raises concerns over use of weight-loss drugs in elite sport
Researchers surveyed 114 sports medicine physicians from 38 countries, covering 93 different sports, to explore their views on athletes' use of GLP-1 drugs. Twelve percent said they were aware of athletes ...
42% of millennial radiologists surveyed say their pay has stagnated over past year
This included about 33% of rads polled, who said their year-over-year compensation has remained flat, while 9% reported a decrease, according to Medscape.
Siena poll: Hochul leads GOP challenger Blakeman by 10 points
Gov. Kathy Hochul's advantage has now been cut in half, according to likely voters surveyed.
Bay Beach named among most nostalgic local summer businesses in US
Advance Funds Network says it surveyed 3,021 Americans 45 and older.
Proposals to lower health costs get broad support in battlegrounds
Voters in battleground states and congressional districts tend to voice support for proposals in Congress that would expand access to health care or lower drug costs — often irrespective of their party affiliation — according to new polling from the University of Maryland. The poll, first shared with CQ Roll Call, surveyed people in 11 competitive states like Pennsylvania, Georgia […]
Peptide boom has states scrambling to protect consumers, Post investigation finds
The Post surveyed states’ pharmacy, medical and nursing boards to reveal the gaping regulatory holes for medspas and peptides.
Almost half of surveyed Israelis want entertainment venues closed on Tisha B'av, Tzohar poll finds
A Tzohar poll found that 49. 6% of Israelis support nationwide closures of entertainment venues on Tisha B'Av, while 35.
Takeaways from the AP-NORC poll of more than 1,000 Jewish Americans
The Associated Press has surveyed more than 1,000 Jewish adults in the U.S. to better understand their views on Israel’s military actions in Gaza, their opinions of the political parties and their experiences with prejudice
Takeaways from the AP-NORC poll of more than 1,000 Jewish Americans
The Associated Press has surveyed more than 1,000 Jewish adults in the U.S. to better understand their views on Israel’s military actions in Gaza, their opinions of the political parties and their experiences with prejudice.
Many Philadelphia businesses are not complying with plastic bag law: Survey
The organization also found that more than 20% of surveyed businesses were still providing plastic bags, despite the citywide ban.
Small Business Owners Need Wider Adviser Support, per Voya
More than 90% of small business owners surveyed said advisers should be equipped to help with employee retention.
What are the 'top workplaces' in the New Orleans area? Check out this year's awards.
The annual competition identifies exemplary companies via independent, anonymous surveys of their employees. This year, more than 41,000 workers were surveyed.
Nearly 100% of patients surveyed say they’d want to know when AI is used in imaging
Researchers recently sought to better understand how patients perceive rapidly evolving advancements in AI, sharing their findings in RSNA’s Radiology.
The World Cup's effect on local businesses isn't black and white
We talked to 14 businesses and surveyed our readers.
Queerying neuroscience: How legislation and institutions reframe LGBTQIA+ researchers’ careers
In honor of Pride Month, The Transmitter spoke with three researchers who surveyed hundreds of LGBTQIA+ neuroscientists to better understand how institutional support, harassment and policy intersect to shape their professional trajectories.
Half of London firms report skills gap amid AI boom
Of the just over 2,000 business leaders surveyed, half say their staff have the necessary skills.
Health plans say AI is pushing healthcare costs higher
Nearly 70% of surveyed health plans said providers’ use of AI documentation and coding tools was a top three trend inflating commercial healthcare costs next year, according to a new report from PwC.
Survey shows growing challenge of running a business in Maine
Nearly half of Maine businesses surveyed by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce cite workforce challenges and policy uncertainty as barriers to growth .
73 Percent of Small Business Owners Now Identify as 'Creators'—and It's Changing How They Operate
A new study from Constant Contact surveyed more than 5,000 small business owners. A key trend that emerged? Content creation.
China: High Trust, But Skepticism Toward Business
China rose to the top of the Trust Index among the 28 markets surveyed in the Edelman Trust Barometer.
We Surveyed Scientists About Aliens. Their Answers Were Revealing.
Here's what they said.
The Best Over-the-Counter Products of 2026, According to U.S. News & World Report
Hundreds of pharmacists and dermatologists were surveyed to discover the top finds.
Radiologists among physician specialists facing higher risk of being sued, AMA says
About 38% of rads surveyed said they had defended against at least one lawsuit, with such specialists at a higher risk than others in internal medicine.
Science Films Inspire Mindful Observation, Ground Audiences
Audience members from a September 2025 screening of the documentary OBSERVER ay Climate Week NYC were surveyed on why audiences engage with science films.
Child Health Poll: Vast majority of Tennessee parents say their kids get regular immunizations, support school-based immunization requirements
Roughly 8 in 10 parents surveyed across the state said they are concerned about communicable diseases like measles if others are not immunized and agreed that immunizations are important to protect their children from serious infections.
Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections
[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
iPhone Loyalty Hits 96.4% as Android Users Four Times More Likely to Switch
Customers are more loyal to Apple than ever, according to a smartphone loyalty survey conducted by phone trade-in site SellCell. 96.4% of customers surveyed said they planned to stick with an iPhone for their next upgrade, and 3.6% said they would choose a different brand. That's up from 91.9% in SellCell's 2021 survey and 90.5% in 2019. Android users were less loyal to their brand, and are almost 4x more likely to switch than iPhone users.
New poll shakes up California governor race, debate stage
Editor’s note: This article was updated to correct the breakdown of Republican voters surveyed. Congressman Eric Swalwell’s abrupt departure from the race for California governor has upended the fi…
Spring Health Data Reveals a "Silent Burnout" Crisis: Mental Health Leaves Surge as Employees Quietly Disengage
/PRNewswire/ -- Spring Health, the leading global mental health company, today released its 2026 Workplace Mental Health Report. The study, which surveyed more...
Steam on Linux reaches 5.33% in March Steam Survey, highest share on record
Steam Survey: Linux climbs to 5.33%, more than double macOS Valve’s March 2026 Steam Hardware & Software Survey puts Linux at 5.33% of surveyed users,
Portland keeps losing legacy businesses. Could a new program be the solution?
A majority of business owners surveyed for the study expressed support for the program, according to the report.
Encouraging progress in inclusive health policies for refugees and migrants
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports a major shift in how countries are responding to the health needs of refugees and migrants, with new data showing more than 60 countries—two thirds of those surveyed—now include them in their national health policies and laws.
Researchers surveyed by STAT detail the scientific and personal toll of grant cuts: ‘This can't be how it ends’
STAT interviews with 30 respondents brought the unmistakably human impacts of federal science policy into sharp focus. Here are three of those stories.
RFK Jr. vowed to restore public trust in health. It's not working, a new survey suggests.
Less than 40% of surveyed adults view Health Secretary Kennedy as trustworthy, compared to 86% who have confidence in their own doctors.
Film and TV charity unveils landmark mental health principles for UK industry
Move comes after 35% of sector workers surveyed described their mental health as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’
Many health systems suffer from AI 'execution paralysis,' study shows
New research from HIMSS and Guidehouse shows more than half of hospitals surveyed not yet able to deploy AI at scale. It highlights some steps providers can take to overcome a lack of operational readiness for artificial intelligence transformation.
Trump immigration sweeps upended L.A.'s economy, with some businesses losing big
The report, commissioned by L.A. County officials, found that 82% of businesses surveyed reported negative impacts from immigration enforcement, with 44% losing more than half their revenue.
One third of surveyed US games industry workers were laid off in the last two years, GDC reports
A report from GDC states one third of surveyed US workers within the industry were laid off in the last two years.
Looking ahead: New Jersey business leaders weigh in on 2026
NJBIZ surveyed New Jersey business leaders on growth, uncertainty and emerging tech as they share how they are preparing for 2026.
IBM Study: AI Poised to Drive Smarter Business Growth Through 2030
New research from the IBM IBV reveals that nearly eight in ten (79%) surveyed executives expect AI will significantly contribute to their revenue by 2030 – up from 40% today – yet, few (24%) have a clear view of where that revenue will come from.
Why small, medium businesses are 'cautiously optimistic' about 2026
Small and medium-sized business owners are remaining cautiously optimistic in their 2026 outlook, according to Bank of America's latest Business Owner Report, as they continue to contend with inflation and even tariff pressures. Bank of America President of Business Banking Sharon Miller shares the findings from the survey, noting how 70% of these surveyed businesses plan to expand this year. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Morning Brief.
Experts predict top health trends for 2026, offer advice on best wellness resolutions
Wellness choices are looking different in 2026. U.S. News surveyed 58 medical doctors, dietitians, and health researchers on their predictions for the top health and nutrition trends of 2026.
BI readers told us their grocery bills keep going up. That's bad news for more rate cuts.
Business Insider surveyed readers about how prices have changed. Their answers could mean the next interest-rate cut catches a snag.