Over the Wire

The Secret to Happiness?

Share |

So Harris just came out with its annual Happiness Index in which we analyze broadly how America is progressing in its age-old quest for life satisfaction.  Research (at Harris and otherwise) has correlated happiness with many traits including age, marital status, income, and race/ethnicity.

And this latest poll is no exception.

Over the past year, America’s overall Happiness score has decreased by 2 percentage points from 35% to 33%.  And “happiness” has gone down for every group except:  those earning $75K in household income per year, married women, and Hispanic adults.  Today:

• Women are more likely to be happy than men are (35% vs. 32%);
• Married women are much more likely to be happy than single women are (39% vs. 30%);
• Seniors are more likely to be happy than their Gen X or Y counterparts are (26% for those ages 18-24; 30% for those ages 25-29; 27% for those ages 30-39; 31% for those 40-49; 37% for those 50-64 and 44% for those 65+).
• Those with greater affluence (38%) appear to be happier than those with less (28%).
• Both African Americans (40%) and Hispanics (39%) appear to be happier than Whites (32%).

What underlies the slight overall change and the demographic differences above is tough to say.  I would argue that many things (not addressed in this survey) like productive and valuable employment, physical health, loving relationships, spirituality and perhaps even pet ownership all contribute vastly more to our happiness than any of the demographic traits measured.

However, it appears from the Harris Poll that relationships with family/friends, spirituality and leisure activities have remained relatively unchanged (and on the whole satisfying) over the past year. 

There has been some slightly more elevated concern regarding work and health.  But, the big change (to the negative) appears to be with political happiness.  More adults today say they don’t feel their voice is heard in national decisions.  Whether it be health care reform, gays in the military, off-shore drilling, or financial regulation, the percentage of adults dissatisfied with their impact on politics looks more like 2008 than it does like Obama’s halcyon post-election days in mid-2009. 

What makes you happy?  The Bills winning the Super Bowl? Bi bim bop from the Korean restaurant down the street?  Lucinda Williams live in Central Park?

Oh right, that’s me.  

Share |

Data Snapshot

Harris Poll Happiness Index edged downward from 35% of Americans who said they were very happy in both 2008 and 2009 to 33% who say the same in 2010.

For full data and methodology, click here.

A Social Media Tsunami for Nonprofits

Share |

 

Post by Justin Greeves, Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs and Policy Research

Those of us who are on Facebook and other social networking sites know that many of our friends have “friended” their favorite cause or non-profit and have asked us to be friends as well.  Many of us chalk this up to a fun activity that allows us to learn a bit more about our friends, their likes and dislikes, and to hear about interesting new causes.  However, some non-profits are taking great advantage of this growing population and are starting to count the money, the friends, and their growing online influence.  While still, other non-profits remain on the sidelines, unsure if this new reality will have any actual use or payoff. 

Our recent DonorPulse study reveals the growing power of social media for non-profits, advocacy organizations and others.  The numbers are staggering and show how many organizations are leveraging this new national pastime into real support toward their missions.  Our survey shows that just less than half (48%) of adult Americans engaged in philanthropy have done something passively to support a non-profit through social media.  This includes “friending”, encouraging others to act, showing support generally, and posting stories about their favored non-profits. This adds up to about 76 million Americans and that is quite a base of potential new donors, advocates, volunteers!

However, we all know that being a friend isn’t just about passive activity.  A small but growing proportion of active social networkers represent the leading edge and true power of this pastime.   The results from DonorPulse reveal that, of those who already use social networks as a way to keep up with their non-profit friends on social media, an amazing 85% have taken meaningful action as a result of what they have seen or read about those non-profits in social media.  This includes making a financial contribution, recommending to friends and family, volunteering, attending events and other such directly supportive  behaviors.  This leading edge group represents about 10 million adult Americans, many of whom are highly engaged in giving, networking, influencing, and recommending other things to their friends.

Social media outlets of all types represent a new bounty for non-profits and those that support them.  The costs for social media are incrementally lower than for other media forms and the returns appear tantalizing for those that have the right people inside the organization to properly leverage this growing media form.  One day soon, organizations that used to measure their influence in dollars spent may start telling us instead how many friends they have on Facebook.

For up-to-the-moment news about DonorPulse and other Harris surveys, follow Harris Interactive and the Harris Poll on Twitter.

Share |

88% of Americans and 75% of Mexicans say America's drug consumption is very or somewhat responsible for the drug war.

For full data and methodology, click here.

Our Heart Will Go On

Share |

So for anyone who knows me, you know that at least as far as pop culture goes, I am in lockstep with America – I follow American Idol like a religion, have set my home page to www.ew.com, rarely miss an issue of People magazine; and can lip synch all the words to Lady Gaga’s "Bad Romance."

So pardon my flabbergast when Celine Dion was named the #1 favorite singer by you-guessed-it: America. 

I barely broke a sweat with the next three: U2, Elvis Presley, and the Beatles… and even felt semi-comfortable with Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson and George Strait, knowing of course that against my better judgment, country would rule America (though really, 3 singers in the top 10 seem like overkill)…

And I felt no surprise that Frank Sinatra was tied at #9 which, in my estimation, may even be unacceptably low for Ol’ Blue Eyes…and Lady Gaga is obvs, if only because my daughter emotes all her songs into a hairbrush every night before she goes to sleep.

But… Celine Dion.  Besides 3 years ago being one of the largest celebrity earners of the year and appearing magically with Elvis Presley on Idol Gives Back, what has she done for us lately?  But if you – unlike me and the rest of NYC – think Celine is the top artist of the year, then check out these fun facts.

Now really, you other married female Democrats from the East, please tell me … to quote Ms. Dion herself… Why Oh Why? 

Share |

Data Snapshot

For the seventh straight year, Subway Restaurants ranks highest in brand equity in the quick service area, according to Harris' Equitrend study.

For full data and methodology, click here.

We've Come A Long Way, Baby

Share |

Here we are on the 50th anniversary of FDA approval of the birth control pill, and according to a Harris Poll released last week, our attitudes about the pill – generally speaking – remain positive:

• Almost 9 in 10 Americans say the availability of the pill has been good for society – and 56% say it has been very good.  Even 80% of Republicans say (though somewhat more tepidly) that access to the pill is good (either somewhat or very good).
• Approximately 9 in 10 Americans believe the pill is effective at preventing pregnancy – and 59% say it is very effective.  Regardless of gender and age.

However, access to the pill does not appear to have fully abated our apprehension about pregnancy (the unplanned kind).  Sixteen years ago, 90% of Americans said that unplanned pregnancies were a problem in the United States – and 60% said a “really big problem.”  Today these numbers have dropped significantly to 71% and 32% respectively but unfortunately are still too high.  

The going belief remains that a decline in moral standards (which were apparently declining 16 years ago and are still declining today) and a lack of education are the main causes of unplanned pregnancies.  Birth control (or lack thereof) does not appear to the major roadblock to eliminating unplanned pregnancies (at least that’s the perception). Though before we feel totally at ease with the state of birth control in the U.S., 68-81% of Americans still say that lack of access, understanding, or money to obtain and/or use birth control is at least somewhat of a factor in the rate of unplanned pregnancies.

So, what’s the public policy directive then – more money to schools, to sex education, to improving our moral standards?  What should your local politician do?

Share |

Data Snapshot

Only 14% of Americans say having a birth control pill available is bad for society.

For full data and methodology information, click here.

 

Favorite Bands or Musicians - Interviews on the Streets of NYC!

Share |

Post by Whitney Heckathorne, Marketing Manager

...And here we go! Round 2 of the Harris Poll Wrap-Up video, this time asking about people's favorite bands and musicians. Getting the opportunity to co-host a video like this (err...solicit people on the streets of New York City) definitely brought out some interesting moments. Being in the numbers biz, I thought I'd provide you with a few fun facts about the results and making of this video...

The Numbers Don't Lie

• 1 - Ranking for Celine Dion as America's favorite musician
• 0 - Number of people on the streets of NYC who said Celine was their fave
• 29 - Number of times Dan and I hadn't heard of a particular group or artist
• 29 - Number of times our camerawoman had to tell us who the group or artist was
• 32 - Degrees Fahrenheit outside the first day we filmed
• 72 - Degrees Fahrenheit outside the second day we filmed (wearing the same coats and scarves for consistency)
• 2 - Number of Harris employees who've gotten mad at me for not knowing who "Cream" is
• 5 - Number of times I've meant to Wikipedia "Cream," but haven't

So who's your favorite band or musician? See if your faves are mentioned in our video, below!

Share |

Obama for (Class) President!

Share |

Ah, the overwhelming teenage dilemma …Is it better to be popular or smart?  Popular or successful?  Popular or powerful?  Popular or really anything else?

It turns out Barack Obama is both.  He is our well-liked and influential leader … He’s the captain of the football team and the president of Student Council.  According to a recent France 24/Harris Poll among adults in the United States, Italy, France, Spain, Great Britain and Germany, most of us have a very/somewhat good opinion of Barack Obama… and:

• Like him nearly as much as we did when he was first elected and way more than basically every other well-known world leader (except maybe the Dalai Lama) – including all 5 leaders of the EU5, and many in South America, Asia and the Middle East; and,
• Believe he has a great deal/some influence at an international level, more than most other well-known world leaders.

Note that we here in the United States have a less rosy (and getting progressively unrosier) opinion of Obama than those abroad, but most of us still like him somewhat.

Too bad these warm fuzzy feelings haven’t translated into optimism about his job performance here at home or the economy or health care reform (see every other Over the Wire post from last week).  Turns out, we can like someone very much and perhaps even want him to sit at our lunch table or take him to the school prom, but not want him in charge of our allowance or our personal life. 

Share |