General Lifestyle

Will “Yes Means Yes” Mean Fewer Sexual Assaults on College Campuses?

President Obama has pledged to combat the rising number of sexual assaults at colleges and universities, and California this week became the first state to pass a “yes means yes” bill which requires affirmative consent before sexual activity on state-funded campuses. But Americans aren’t sure new codes of sexual conduct will reduce the assault problem and question whether it's something the federal government should be involved in.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of American Adults consider sexual violence at colleges and universities at least a somewhat serious problem, with 32% who think its Very Serious. Fourteen percent (14%) don’t consider sexual violence on college campuses a serious problem, but that includes just two percent (2%) who say it’s Not At All Serious. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 24-25, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Have Their Doubts About College Campus Safety

Americans continue to question whether colleges and universities do enough to protect their students, particularly when it comes to underage drinking.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 40% of American Adults believe colleges and universities do enough to provide for the safety of their students. Just as many (39%) say they do not do enough, with 21% more who are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 24-25, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Sitcoms, Dramas, News Top the List for TV Watchers

America is overwhelmingly a nation of television watchers, and regularly scheduled comedy and drama shows and the news are at the top of their viewing list.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just eight percent (8%) of American Adults say they rarely or never watch television. Fifty-five percent (55%) of Americans watch TV every day or nearly every day, although that's down from a high of 63% in 2010. Twenty-five percent (25%) watch television one or more times each week. Ten percent (10%) watch only occasionally. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 22-23, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Say Buying House is Best Investment

Americans continue to say buying a home is a family’s best investment, but they are closely divided over whether now is the opportune time for someone in their area to sell their house.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveys finds that 53% of American Adults say that buying a home is a family's best investment. But only 37% say that now is a good time for someone in their area to sell their house, up slightly from the previous two months and consistent with findings for the past year.(To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 14-15, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Prefer a Homemade Cheeseburger

With September 18 marking National Cheeseburger Day, Americans say they enjoy a burger that’s both homemade and with cheese on top. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% of American Adults prefer cheese on their burgers. One-in-four (24%) do not put cheese on their hamburger, while two percent (2%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 16-17, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Give U.S. Hospitals Positive Marks

Despite giving mixed reviews for the U.S. health care system in general, Americans have a generally positive view of hospitals in this country and the level of care they provide.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 69% of American Adults rate the level of care in U.S. hospitals today as good or excellent. Just five percent (5%) rate it poorly. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 12-13, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Worry Less About Ebola Threat to U.S.

Ebola may be spreading in Africa, but Americans are less concerned about the deadly disease coming to these shores than they were six weeks ago.

Fifty-one percent (51%) of American Adults remain at least somewhat concerned personally about the threat of Ebola disease, but that’s down from 58% at the beginning of August. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that nearly as many (46%) don’t share that concern, up from 38% in the earlier survey. The latest findings include 15% who are Very Concerned about the disease and 11% who are Not At All Concerned. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 12-13, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Say Legal Authorities Need to Tackle Domestic Violence Harder

The Ray Rice saga has brought domestic violence back into the news in a big way. A sizable number of both women and men say they have been victims of such violence and question whether legal authorities are taking the problem seriously enough. (To see survey question wording, click here.) (Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 8-9, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Parents Think Winning More Important Than Just Playing the Game

An overwhelming number of Americans consider sports important in childhood development, but most parents think winning is more important than just participating in team sports. Americans also believe free play is better than organized sports activities.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 84% of American Adults think participation in sports by young people is at least somewhat important to their development, although only 36% say it is Very Important. Fourteen percent (14%) believe sports is not very or Not At All Important to a young person’s development. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 4-5, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans See Too Much Computer, Not Enough Exercise in Kids' Lives

Too much time in front of the computer makes Johnny a fat boy.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 79% of American Adults think children today do not get enough exercise. That's up four points from last November. Only 12% disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 4-5, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Say Schools Can't Make All Students Top Achievers

Common Core and other government-driven education efforts set universal excellence as their goal, but Americans overwhelmingly agree that no set of standards can ensure that all students reach the top.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 12% of American Adults believe that any set of education standards can guarantee that all students will achieve excellence. Seventy percent (70%) disagree and say no set of standards can guarantee that. Nineteen percent (19%) are not sure.

Adults with children of elementary or second school age are only slightly more optimistic: 18% think a set of education standards can ensure excellence, but 70% in this group disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 31-September 1, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Parents Oppose Tying Federal School Funds to Common Core

Support for the new national Common Core education standards has rebounded among parents of school-age children, but they still question whether it will improve academic performance. Most oppose requiring states to adopt the standards in order to receive federal school monies.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of American Adults with elementary or secondary school age children now favor requiring that all schools nationwide meet the same Common Core education standards. Forty-six percent (46%) are opposed. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 31-September 1, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Like Mowing Their Lawns

Believe it or not, most Americans take pleasure in mowing their lawns.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 84% of American Adults own or rent a home for which they are responsible for the upkeep. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on August 27-28, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Is the Internet Killing Public Libraries?

Though a majority of Americans say they’ve used a public library in the past year, the number who believes public libraries will still be relevant in 25 years has dipped considerably from six years ago. The Internet is the research option of choice for most now.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of American Adults have used a public library in the past year, including 27% who have done so in the past month. Another 19% have used a public library within the last five years, while 20% last did so more than five years ago. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on August 27-28, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Do Americans Think Their Water Supply Is Safe?

Americans overwhelmingly count on their local water supply, but they're not nearly as confident that it's well protected.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 90% of American Adults think the water supply where they live is at least somewhat dependable, including 64% who say it is Very Dependable. Only seven percent (7%) think their local water supply is not very or Not At All Dependable. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 24-25, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Looking Forward To Taking a Sales Tax Holiday

Most Americans like the idea of sales tax holidays and say they are more likely to buy things during such periods.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of American Adults favor so-called sales tax holidays, periods at this time of year when a number of states suspend sales taxes to encourage back-to-school shopping. This level of support is in line with findings the past two years but down from 2010's high of 62%. Nineteen percent (19%) are opposed, while 22% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 21-22, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Should School Start Before or After Labor Day?

Many students around the country are already returning to school, but Americans still prefer waiting until after Labor Day before sending them back.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of American Adults think the school year should begin after Labor Day, but 38% think it should begin before that in August. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 21-22, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Think Ice Bucket Challenge Has Raised Awareness, Funds for ALS

Over the past several weeks, countless people across the globe have taken the “ice bucket challenge” to raise awareness and funds for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. But is it working? Americans think so.

The challenge consists of either donating $100 to ALS research or dumping a bucket of ice water on your head, though those who choose the water are encouraged to donate as well. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of American Adults have or know someone who has taken the ALS ice bucket challenge. Forty-five percent (45%) do not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 24-25, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

How Would the Media React If the Cop Was Black and the Victim Was White?

Most Americans think the media would be less interested in the incident in Ferguson, Missouri if a white teenager had been shot by a black police officer. They also reject the idea that most policemen are racist. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 35% of American Adults rate the media’s coverage of the police shooting and subsequent events in Ferguson as good or excellent. Twenty-three percent (23%) say the media have done a poor job covering the story. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national telephone survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on August 15-16, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

47% Say A Family Member Has Been Diagnosed with Depression

The shocking suicide of comedian-actor Robin Williams has highlighted the dangers of clinical depression, and Americans strongly agree more needs to be done to identify and treat it. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 87% of American Adults think clinical depression is a serious problem in America today, with 52% who view it as a Very Serious one. Just six percent (6%) regard it as not very or Not At All Serious following Williams' death.(To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted August 13-14, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.