Americans see value in university social science research
Core finding
In a Verasight survey of 3,000 U.S. adults conducted Sept. 22 to 29, 2025, 61% of Americans said universities produce useful social science research a great deal or a moderate amount, with 32% who said a moderate amount and 29% who said a great deal.
About one in five said universities produce useful research only a little (18%), 3% said none, and 3% said the research is harmful. Another 14% said they did not know.
Topline scale
61% of Americans say universities produce useful social science research a great deal or a moderate amount.
To what extent do universities produce useful social science research?
n = 1,000 · Sep 22–29, 2025 · MoE ±3.3%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Sep 22–29, 2025 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.3% |
| Module | Verasight APSA Omnibus Survey #2025-119 |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025
To what extent do universities produce useful social science research?
Cite this question
Verasight APSA Omnibus Survey #2025-119, fielded September 22-29, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.