Survey Methodology

The PPBS program comprises 12 datasets collected across three US election cycles (2016, 2018, 2020). Each wave includes nationally representative cross-sections and recontact panels, enabling both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. All surveys were fielded by professional survey companies using quota-based sampling to achieve nationally representative samples of the US adult population.

Surveys by Sample Type

Nationally Representative (N=7,259)

1. 2016 Pre-election sample (N=1,500)
2. 2018 Pre-election sample (N=1,000)
3. 2018 Post-election sample (N=2,759)
4. 2020 Pre-election sample (N=2,000)

Confirmatory/Replication (N=11,582)

1. 2016 Pre-election sample (N=2,119)
2. 2016 Pre-election sample (N=420)
3. 2018 Pre-election sample (N=2,728)
4. 2018 Post-election sample (N=3,377)
5. 2020 Pre-election sample (N=2,938)

Recontacts / Longitudinal Panel (N=2,215)

1. 2016 Pre-election sample (N=814)
2. 2018 Pre-election sample (N=609)
3. 2018 Post-election sample (N=792)

Below you can access the complete methodology documentation for each survey wave.