A new study by the Chicago Institute of Research this week shows that 100% of US adult residents like taking surveys. Utilizing a National Science Foundation grant, researchers spent almost two years polling thousands of people from around the country by various means. Although there were initially difficulties obtaining sufficient responses, researchers eventually received enough data for a resoundingly conclusive result.
“At first it was really disheartening. We would mail out surveys to 100 people and would only get 2 or 3 back. We were really worried we wouldn’t have anything to show for a work, but I think eventually our persistence really paid off,” said researcher Abi Wong.
Although response rates may have been low, they certainly were significant. With 2,253 total responses, the study leaves a margin of error of only 2.06%. That means at most the true number of poll-lovers could be anywhere between 97.94% and 102.06% of the population.
The head of the project, Paul Powell, had this to say about the success: “These results really are unprecedented. We would have thought at most maybe 5% of the people would like taking surveys, but getting a unanimous result in favor just astounded us. You would think that would make our lives as pollsters a lot easier, but what we’re learning is that people must just be really busy. We cold call people and they hang up as soon as we tell them who they are. We knock on their doors only to get them slammed in our faces. So many people have to sacrifice and forgo one of their favorite activities. It’s a shame.”
Results of the survey show that is no exaggeration:
- 22% of respondents said that “taking as many surveys as possible is there primary purpose in life.”
- 30% said that they “love” taking surveys.
- 21% said that they “strongly like” taking surveys.
- 10% said that they “mildly like” taking surveys.
- 17% said that they “like taking surveys as long as they get paid like they were promised.”
The team plans on using the results of the survey to push for further federal funding amid obvious public support. Powell says he has always had a heart for education, so a likely goal for their next study would be to mail surveys nationwide to study the prevalence of illiteracy.