Methods 101 - How do polls work when no one answers the phone anymore?

Ever wonder how we collect our data? Maybe you expect it to be by phone call or mail, which is how it used to be. In 2026, most polls are conducted online. BUT no method is totally out of the question. Most pollsters reject the idea that “one size fits all” when it comes to polling, so we still use phone calls or mail to reach people. Creative Director & Story Editor: Kimberly Arias Executive Producer & Story Editor: Sara Atske Research & Story Editor: Courtney Kennedy Animation Director: Fabian Tejada Design: Jesus Cardenas Video: Antonio Villaronga Sound Editing: Chris Mastellone Thanks to: Andrea Caumont, Nida Asheer, Ashley Amaya, Peter Bell, David Kent, Stacy Rosenberg, Shannon Greenwood, and Blythe Thomas ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. RELATED RESEARCH How Public Polling Has Changed in the 21st Century (April 2023) https://www.pewresearch.org/methods/2023/04/19/how-public-polling-has-changed-in-the-21st-century/ WATCH MORE PEW RESEARCH CENTER VIDEOS https://www.youtube.com/@pewresearch SUBSCRIBE TO PEW RESEARCH CENTER For our latest research, visit: https://www.pewresearch.org/ YouTube: ‪https://www.youtube.com/@pewresearch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pewresearch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pewresearch/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pew-research-center/ X / Twitter: https://x.com/pewresearch