General Lifestyle

59% Think Summer Camp Important for Young People

School’s out, and most Americans consider summer camp a good alternative.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of American Adults think it’s at least somewhat important for young people to go to a summer camp. Thirty-nine percent (39%) disagree. This includes 20% who view summer camp as Very Important and 10% who say it's Not At All Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 25-26, 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.

78% Want to Keep ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ As National Anthem

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and Americans remain intensely loyal to the song that's been our official national anthem since 1931.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 90% of American Adults say they know the words to the anthem, and only 14% think it’s too hard to sing. Seventy-seven percent (77%) don’t think it’s too difficult. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 7-8, 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.

85% Express Major Privacy Concerns About Google Glass

Google Glass, a wearable computer with optical head-mounted display, became available to the public on May 15, and Americans overwhelmingly expect these computers to routinely violate the privacy of others.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveys finds that just 14% of American Adults believe that wearable computers like Google Glass are not likely to violate others' privacy, including six percent (6%) who say it is Not At All Likely. But 85% disagree, with 67% who say this is Very Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 3-4, 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.

39% Would Take a Commercial Space Flight

Virgin Galactic has announced that it will begin commercial passenger space flights as early as this year, and four out of 10 Americans are open to the idea.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of American Adults say they would travel into space on a commercial space flight if they could afford it, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-five percent (55%), however, would 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 June 3-4, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

45% Think Media Coverage Encourages Copycat Killers

Americans tend to believe the media pay too much attention to mass murders and that their coverage prompts others to commit violent crimes.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults believe the media cover mass murders like the one in southern California too much, while just 13% say they don’t cover them enough. One-in-three (33%) says the level of media coverage is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 30-31, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

Fewer Americans Will Cut Their Summer Vacation Spending

Just as many Americans will be taking a summer vacation this year, but fewer will be cutting back on how much they spend.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults plan to take a summer vacation this year. That's consistent with surveying for the last couple years. The number of summer vacationers fell into the 30s following the Wall Street meltdown in 2008. (To see question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on May 26-27, 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.

Most Voters Still Agree School Food Standards Are Not A Federal Issue

School districts around the country have been pushing to opt out of the school food guidelines championed by First Lady Michelle Obama, and the House Appropriations Committee last week passed a bill that would allow them to do so for budgetary reasons. Most Americans continue to believe it's not the federal government's job to decide what school kids eat.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of American Adults think the federal government should set nutritional standards for schools, although that's up from 18% last August. But 51% still believe those standards should be set locally, with 37% who say they should be decided by parent-teacher groups and 14% who see them as the responsibility of local government. Fifteen percent (15%) think school nutritional standards should be determined by state governments. Support for local or state control is unchanged from the previous survey. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on May 28-29, 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.

75% Still Think It Will Be Tough for Young People to Find Jobs This Summer

As the school year comes to a close, American continue to strongly believe it is important for kids to have a summer job but also think they'll have a tough time finding one.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 93% of American Adults feel it is at least somewhat important for young people to have jobs during the summer when school's out, including 66% who say it’s Very Important. Just five percent (5%) rate a summer job not very or Not At All Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on May 26-27, 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.

77% Say Losing a Wallet Worse Than Losing a Cell Phone

Despite the fact that most Americans use a mobile phone several times a day or more, most still think losing their wallet is scarier than losing their phone.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% of American Adults who own a mobile phone use it to make calls, send text messages and e-mails or use the Internet at least once a day. That includes 13% who use their phone every hour, and another 13% who do so constantly. Seventeen percent (17%) rarely or never use their mobile phone. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 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.

24% Support Warrantless Mobile Phone Searches By Police

The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments on whether police must obtain a warrant to search data on the cell phone of a person under arrest. Most Americans oppose warrantless searches of mobile phones, and those who use their phone for financial transactions are even more firmly opposed. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 24% of American Adults believe that if police arrest someone for any offense, they should be allowed to search that individual’s mobile phone without a warrant. Sixty-seven percent (67%) disagree and don’t think police should be allowed to conduct a warrantless search of a suspect's phone. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 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.

Only 28% Think Most College Graduates Have Enough Skills to Get A Job

Most Americans think the main reason for going to college is to improve one's job skills but don't think most graduates leave college with the skills to get a job. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults think the primary purpose of attending college is to learn the skills needed to get a better job, down slightly from April of last year. Thirty-three percent (33%) don't see that as the main purpose of a college education. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 11, 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.

63% Say Ban on Large Sugary Drinks Would Have No Health Impact

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio will renew efforts proposed by his predecessor Michael Bloomberg to ban the sale of so-called "super-size" sugary drinks. Americans are more opposed than ever to such a ban and think banning big drinks won’t have an impact on public health.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% of American Adults favor a law where they live that bans the sale of any cup or bottle of a sugary drink over 16 ounces. Sixty-three percent (63%) oppose such a ban. Nineteen percent (19%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on May 6-7, 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.

60% Favor Government-Recognized National Day of Prayer

Congress established the first National Day of Prayer 62 years ago today, and most Americans continue to support the tradition.

Sixty percent (60%) of American Adults favor the federal government recognizing a National Day of Prayer, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-one percent (21%) oppose federal government recognition of the day, while 19% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on April 28-29, 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.

31% Say Search for Malaysian Jetliner Should Continue Indefinitely

Nearly two months after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, most Americans still say it’s unlikely the fate of the plane will ever be fully known. Most also don’t think the search for the jetliner should continue indefinitely.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 32% of American Adults believe it’s at least somewhat likely that we will find out exactly what happened to the missing plane, but that includes just seven percent (7%) who say it’s Very Likely. Fifty-nine percent (59%) think it’s unlikely we will ever know the whole story behind the plane's disappearance, with 15% who say it's Not At All Likely.(To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on April 26-27, 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.

51% Believe E-Cigarettes Should Be Regulated by Federal Government

The federal Food and Drug Administration has proposed new rules for electronic cigarettes, and half of Americans agree the government should regulate this new smoking habit. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of American Adults believe electronic cigarettes should be regulated by the federal government the same way traditional cigarettes are. Thirty percent (30%) disagree. Nineteen percent (19%) are not sure. (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 Adults nationwide was conducted on April 26-27, 2013 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.

23% Think Schools Assign Too Much Homework

Most Americans think homework is a good measure of a student's performance, but only one-in-three feel that students today are getting the right amount of take-home work. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 85% of American Adults believe that homework is at least somewhat important in assessing a student's overall performance in school, including 40% who say it’s Very Important. Just 11% think homework is not very or Not At All Important in measuring student performance. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 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.

49% Oppose Affirmative Action in College Admissions, 25% Favor

The U.S. Supreme Court this week upheld a Michigan law that prohibits the use of race as a determining factor in college admissions. Half of Americans agree with that decision, and even more think it’s better for colleges and universities to put the emphasis on ability, not race.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of American Adults favor applying affirmative action policies to college admissions, unchanged from May of last year.  Forty-nine percent (49%) are opposed, up from 44% in the previous survey. Twenty-six percent (26%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 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.

46% Are Not Willing To Pay More for a Cleaner Environment

Although a sizable number of Americans think the environment is getting worse, most don’t believe their fellow countrymen are willing to make major lifestyle changes to do something about it. Nearly half aren’t willing to pay a cent more to do so.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of American Adults believe major lifestyle cutbacks are necessary in order to save the environment. That’s down slightly from 51% in April 2010. Thirty-eight percent (38%) disagree and say major lifestyle cutbacks are not necessary. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 20-21, 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.

84% Consider the Level of Prom Spending Too High

Prom season is upon us, and it seems the days of cheap tuxedos and having your parents drop you and your date off at the school gym are long gone. A recent study conducted by VISA says the national average for prom spending in 2013 was $1,139 per family.

Eighty-four percent (84%) of American Adults think spending that much for a high school prom is too much, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just two percent (2%) say it's not enough, while nine percent (9%) consider the current level of spending about right. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 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.

68% Say Frivolous Lawsuits Are Driving Up Health Care, Insurance Costs

Americans think it’s too easy to file a lawsuit nowadays, and even more still believe dubious lawsuits are driving up the price of health care, insurance and other products and services.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults feel it’s too easy to file a lawsuit in the United States, although that's down nine points from 53% in October 2012. Sixteen percent (16%) say it’s too hard, while 22% think the level of difficult is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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This survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on April 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.