# Americans see value in university social science research

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/culture/most-americans-say-universities-produce-useful-social-science-research/

> Indexed question in Culture.

## Reading

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

To what extent do universities produce useful social science research?

61% of Americans say universities produce useful social science research a great deal or a moderate amount.

Net findings combine adjacent response options from the same scale.

- A moderate amount: 32.3%
- A great deal: 28.9%
- A little: 18.2%
- Don’t know: 14.3%
- None: 3.5%
- It’s harmful: 2.9%

## 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: 2025-09-22 → 2025-09-29
- 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

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025#perceptions-of-universities-contribution-to-social-science-research](https://reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025#perceptions-of-universities-contribution-to-social-science-research)

## Citation

Verasight APSA Omnibus Survey #2025-119, fielded September 22-29, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025#perceptions-of-universities-contribution-to-social-science-research](https://reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025#perceptions-of-universities-contribution-to-social-science-research)