I would like to see "the results" of your most recent study.
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ANES is primarily a data collection organization and produces no reports or
summary analysis based on any data (including its own). None of our studies are
confined to a single topic, although all are concerned with electoral behavior,
political participation, and public opinion. The possibilities for types of
analysis are too numerous to count.
ANES provides raw data (the case-level responses to the questions appearing in our surveys) for academics, students, and other interested persons for use in their own research --typically using statistical software. Anyone is free to access ANES raw data themselves (downloadable free of charge), and conduct their own research.
Besides raw data, the only summary information made available by ANES is the subset of tables in the Guide to Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior, which displays simple output for a selection of variables representing individual questions that have been asked over a series of years in the ANES time series.
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ANES is primarily a data collection organization and does NOT, as an organization,
offer expert opinion on elections, politics, or any other topics.
For expert opinion, you must consult a career specialist whose expertise covers the topic in which you are interested. Such specialists may be found at most universities and colleges, and at institutions dedicated to expert analysis and study of the topic. Among others, some University of Michigan experts on various topics are identified in a general list at http://www.isr.umich.edu/home/news/experts.html -- although, of course, many additional experts can be found outside this list. On the topic of the 2008 election in particular, some experts are identified at http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=6664.
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ANES is not a source of factual population data on registration, eligibility, turnout, or vote.
We are primarily a data collection organization for surveys, and all information in our
data represents self-report by respondents who are selected as part of relatively small
samples.
Data for population registration and turnout are collected at the state level by the state's Election Board (which is often part of the Secretary of State office). For election result data, you can also check with the clerk of the House of Representatives.
Does ANES provide data that is representative at state or any smaller geographic level?
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We use a sampling methodology that is scientific and probability-based, but is intended to be representative nationally,
not at the state level. It can be used to study different sub-populations (education, race, gender) at the national level,
if there are enough cases available in the sub-populations you are interested in. But we would not recommend using our data
for representative state-level analyses or for analyses at any smaller geographic level.
How do I find the codebook for a study?
- From the ANES homepage, select "Data
Center" then choose "Study Page" for the Study. You can view detailed information regarding the dataset using any of
the three links located under the Codebook heading (Introduction, Variables, Appendix).
Can we see the questionnaire you're using in the field right now?
- We have a strict policy on viewing questionnaires before they've been released and the use of our questions.
It is ANES policy that we do not release the content of the questionnaire to the public before the election. However, to facilitate coordination with other election studies, ANES will respond to inquiries about whether or not specific questions will appear on a study that is not yet in the public domain. Such requests must be made about specific questions (rather than the questionnaire as a whole) and the requestor must sign an agreement not to publicize in any way the fact that ANES is the source of the questions until after the full questionnaire has been publicly posted on the ANES website. Read our full policy statement.