NEW YORK, N.Y. – Doctors’ visits aren’t typically a favorite activity for most, but their importance is unquestionable. As health care models continue to morph, the marketplace is continually changing. Patients now have more choices than ever as to where and how they interact with their health care providers, so satisfaction is an increasingly important measure. Among those who have visited a doctor’s office in the past year (“patients”), 88% (up 5 points from 2012) report they are satisfied with their last visit; notably, over half (53%) state they are very satisfied.
Satisfaction appears to rise with age, as very satisfied ratings increase from 47% among Millennials (age 18-35) to 69% among Matures (ages 70+). From an ethnicity perspective, Whites and Blacks are significantly more likely than Hispanics and Asians to say they are very satisfied with their last health care experience (54% & 57% vs. 43% & 39%, respectively).
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,368 general population U.S. adults, along with representative oversamples of 511 Hispanic Americans (interviewed in English and Spanish) and 179 Asian Americans (interviewed in English), surveyed online between September 9 and 17, 2015.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Americans identify several other experiences where they’ve had higher levels of satisfaction:
- Very satisfied ratings for a medical visit rank behind Americans’ last online purchase (71%), last restaurant visit (65%), and last visit to a bank (61%).
- Satisfaction levels for a doctor’s visit are more on par with Americans’ last stay at a hotel (52%), and last car purchase (50%).
- Americans are much more likely to say they’re very satisfied with their last doctor’s visit compared to their last interaction with a health insurance company (31%) or their last visit to a mobile phone store (28%).
Elements of satisfaction
Many factors can contribute to a positive experience at a doctor’s office, with the doctor’s overall knowledge, training, and expertise topping the list – 83% say this is very important. Majorities also rate the doctor’s ability to access overall medical history (65%) and time spent with the doctor (58%) very important, and many say the same for several aspects of communication: ease of making an appointment (49%), efficient and simple billing process (45%) and ability to communicate with the doctor outside of an appointment, either by phone or email (44%).
- Matures are particularly likely, compared to the two youngest cohorts, to say the doctor’s ability to access their overall medical history is very important (75% vs. 66% Gen Xers & 58% Millennials).
One of the often-dreaded aspects of visiting the doctor – the time spent waiting – is a very important factor for 43% of patients to ensure a positive experience. The least important aspects are convenience of the doctor’s office location (40%), minimized paperwork (32%) and appearance and atmosphere of the doctor’s office (31%).
Access to online services increases, but not enough
Doctors’ offices are clearly enhancing patients’ opportunities to interact with the offices online. Since 2012, the number of patients who say their doctor offers a particular online communication service has increased across the board. Most notably, one quarter (25%, up from 17% in 2012) of patients now indicate they have online access to their medical record, including doctor visits, prescriptions, test results and history. Email access to doctors has grown as well, from just 12% of patients indicating they had access in 2012 to one in five (19%) today.
But while access is moving in the right direction, there are still far more patients awaiting these enhancements. Six in ten patients (59%) say they don’t have online access to their medical records but rate it important, and roughly half say the same about being able to reach their doctor via email.
This holds true for other tested services as well, including:
- Proactive communications from doctors to schedule preventative care appointments via email or text (16% have the service; 59% believe it’s important to have),
- Online appointment setting (17% have; 52% important), and
- Online billing and payments (15% have; 50% important).
The largest gap between access and perceived importance is for an online cost estimator that provides average costs for specific services, which is available to less than one in ten (7%) patients but important to over six in ten (62%).
Retail for some, not all
When asked about their likelihood to use a retail health care provider – like a drug store, urgent care facility or walk-in clinic – for various ailments, Americans’ interest depends on the medical need.
- Majorities are likely to use a retail option for getting a flu shot (62%) or seeking care for cold or flu-like symptoms (54%).
- Nearly half of adults indicate are likely to use one of these options to treat a cut or puncture wound, or a rash (49% each).
- Four in ten are likely to get a checkup for high cholesterol or blood pressure (46%) or get screening or lab services (46%) in such a setting.
On the other hand, majorities of Americans are unlikely to turn to these types of providers for a regular checkup for a chronic condition (67%), for a wellness visit (60%), to get an x-ray (59%), or to treat a flare-up of asthma or high blood sugar (55%). Likelihood levels, or lack thereof, have stayed largely consistent since 2012.
That’s not to say all Americans feel the same way. With the exception of getting a flu shot, majorities of Matures (those ages 70+) are unlikely to use a retail health care provider for any ailment.
TABLE 1
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER VISITS IN PAST YEAR – TREND
“How many times in the past year did you visit a health care provider, such as a doctor (general practitioner or specialist), a nurse practitioner, a physician assistant, etc.? If you are not sure, please provide your best estimate.”
Base: All adults
|
Total 2012 |
Total 2015 |
|
|
% |
% |
|
| No visits |
16 |
12 |
| One or more visits |
84 |
88 |
Note: Responses may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 2a
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WITH NINE EXPERIENCES – TREND
“Now thinking about customer satisfaction in general, how satisfied were you with the following?”
*“Thinking of your most recent visit to a health care provider, how satisfied were you with the overall experience?”
Base: All adults [*Seen health care provider at least once in the past year]
|
Satisfied [NET] |
Dissatisfied [NET] |
|||
|
2012 |
2015 |
2012 |
2015 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| Your last visit to a restaurant |
90 |
91 |
6 |
6 |
| Your last online purchase |
84 |
89 |
6 |
4 |
| Your last visit to a department store |
86 |
88 |
9 |
6 |
| *Most recent visit to a health care provider |
83 |
88 |
17 |
12 |
| Your last visit to a bank |
85 |
87 |
8 |
6 |
| Your last stay at a hotel |
78 |
78 |
6 |
7 |
| Your last car purchase |
72 |
76 |
10 |
8 |
| Your last interaction with your health insurance company |
61 |
63 |
18 |
17 |
| Your last visit to a mobile phone store |
59 |
59 |
17 |
17 |
TABLE 2b
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WITH NINE EXPERIENCES
Grid Summary
“Now thinking about customer satisfaction in general, how satisfied were you with the following?”
*“Thinking of your most recent visit to a health care provider, how satisfied were you with the overall experience?”
Base: All adults [*Seen health care provider at least once in the past year]
|
Satisfied [NET] |
Very Satisfied |
Somewhat Satisfied |
Dissatisfied [NET] |
Somewhat Dissatisfied |
Very Dissatisfied |
Not Applicable |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| Your last visit to a restaurant |
91 |
65 |
26 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
| Your last online purchase |
89 |
71 |
19 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
| Your last visit to a department store |
88 |
46 |
42 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
| *Most recent visit to a health care provider |
88 |
53 |
35 |
12 |
7 |
6 |
– |
| Your last visit to a bank |
87 |
61 |
27 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
| Your last stay at a hotel |
78 |
52 |
26 |
7 |
4 |
2 |
15 |
| Your last car purchase |
76 |
50 |
26 |
8 |
5 |
3 |
16 |
| Your last interaction with your health insurance company |
63 |
31 |
32 |
17 |
10 |
6 |
20 |
| Your last visit to a mobile phone store |
59 |
28 |
31 |
17 |
11 |
6 |
24 |
Note: Responses may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 3
SATISFACTION WITH MOST RECENT MEDICAL VISIT – BY GENERATION AND EDUCATION
“Thinking of your most recent visit to a health care provider, how satisfied were you with the overall experience?”
Base: Seen health care provider at least once in the past year
|
2012 Total |
2015 Total |
Generation |
Ethnicity |
|||||||
|
Millennials (18-35) |
Gen X (36-50) |
Baby Boomers (51-69) |
Matures (70+) |
White |
Black |
Hispanic |
Asian |
|||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| Very Satisfied |
47 |
53 |
47 |
46 |
56 |
69 |
54 |
57 |
43 |
39 |
| Somewhat Satisfied |
36 |
35 |
37 |
42 |
34 |
21 |
34 |
35 |
33 |
47 |
| Somewhat Dissatisfied |
11 |
7 |
9 |
7 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
4 |
12 |
11 |
| Very Dissatisfied |
7 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
13 |
3 |
Note: Responses may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 4a
IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDER – TREND
Summary of “Very Important”
“Thinking generally of all the health care visits you have made in the past year, how important are each of the following to ensuring you have a positive overall experience when you visit a health care provider in the future?”
Base: Seen health care provider at least once in the past year
|
Very Important |
||
|
2012 |
2015 |
|
|
% |
% |
|
| The doctor’s overall knowledge, training and expertise |
83 |
83 |
| The doctor’s ability to access your overall medical history |
62 |
65 |
| Time spent with the doctor |
59 |
58 |
| Ease of making an appointment |
42 |
49 |
| Efficient and simple billing process |
38 |
45 |
| Ability to communicate with the doctor outside of an appointment, either by phone or email |
43 |
44 |
| Time spent in the waiting room |
40 |
43 |
| Convenience of the doctor’s office location |
37 |
40 |
| Minimized paperwork |
29 |
32 |
| Appearance and atmosphere of the doctor’s office |
26 |
31 |
TABLE 4b
IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
Grid Summary
“Thinking generally of all the health care visits you have made in the past year, how important are each of the following to ensuring you have a positive overall experience when you visit a health care provider in the future?”
Base: Seen health care provider at least once in the past year
|
Very Important |
Important |
Not that Important |
Not at all Important |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| The doctor’s overall knowledge, training and expertise |
83 |
15 |
* |
1 |
| The doctor’s ability to access your overall medical history |
65 |
31 |
3 |
1 |
| Time spent with the doctor |
58 |
38 |
3 |
1 |
| Ease of making an appointment |
49 |
47 |
3 |
* |
| Efficient and simple billing process |
45 |
45 |
7 |
2 |
| Ability to communicate with the doctor outside of an appointment, either by phone or email |
44 |
43 |
11 |
2 |
| Time spent in the waiting room |
43 |
41 |
14 |
1 |
| Convenience of the doctor’s office location |
40 |
49 |
10 |
1 |
| Minimized paperwork |
32 |
46 |
19 |
3 |
| Appearance and atmosphere of the doctor’s office |
31 |
49 |
17 |
3 |
Note: Responses may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 4c
IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
Summary of “Very Important”
By Generation and Ethnicity
“Thinking generally of all the health care visits you have made in the past year, how important are each of the following to ensuring you have a positive overall experience when you visit a health care provider in the future?”
Base: Seen health care provider at least once in the past year
|
Total |
Generation |
Ethnicity |
|||||||
|
Millennials (18-35) |
Gen X (36-50) |
Baby Boomers (51-69) |
Matures (70+) |
White |
Black |
Hispanic |
Asian |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| The doctor’s overall knowledge, training and expertise |
83 |
79 |
85 |
85 |
88 |
85 |
84 |
79 |
66 |
| The doctor’s ability to access your overall medical history |
65 |
58 |
66 |
69 |
75 |
66 |
71 |
63 |
52 |
| Time spent with the doctor |
58 |
51 |
57 |
63 |
66 |
61 |
56 |
61 |
50 |
| Ease of making an appointment |
49 |
50 |
56 |
45 |
43 |
46 |
59 |
57 |
34 |
| Efficient and simple billing process |
45 |
50 |
47 |
42 |
40 |
42 |
50 |
47 |
36 |
| Ability to communicate with the doctor outside of an appointment, either by phone or email |
44 |
43 |
46 |
44 |
38 |
41 |
60 |
50 |
30 |
| Time spent in the waiting room |
43 |
45 |
50 |
41 |
34 |
41 |
54 |
46 |
35 |
| Convenience of the doctor’s office location |
40 |
41 |
45 |
36 |
37 |
38 |
46 |
51 |
36 |
| Minimized paperwork |
32 |
32 |
36 |
29 |
32 |
31 |
40 |
42 |
29 |
| Appearance and atmosphere of the doctor’s office |
31 |
38 |
35 |
25 |
24 |
27 |
47 |
49 |
23 |
TABLE 5a
TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO HEALTH CARE CONSUMERS – TREND
Summary “Very Important”
“Thinking now of new technologies your health care provider could implement, how important would each of the following be to you?”
Base: Seen a health care provider at least once in the past year
|
Very Important |
My doctor already does this |
|||
|
2012 |
2015 |
2012 |
2015 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| Online medical record access to your doctor visits, prescriptions, test results and history |
32 |
29 |
17 |
25 |
| Online cost estimator which provides average costs for specific services |
26 |
27 |
6 |
7 |
| Proactive communications from your doctor to schedule preventative care appointments via email or text |
23 |
26 |
12 |
16 |
| Online appointment setting |
21 |
24 |
11 |
17 |
| Email access to your doctor |
23 |
23 |
12 |
19 |
| Online billing and payments |
21 |
21 |
10 |
15 |
TABLE 5b
TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO HEALTH CARE CONSUMERS
Grid Summary
“Thinking now of new technologies your health care provider could implement, how important would each of the following be to you?”
Base: Seen a health care provider at least once in the past year
|
Important [NET] |
Very Important |
Important |
Not Important [NET] |
Not that Important |
Not at all Important |
My doctor already does this |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| Online cost estimator which provides average costs for specific services |
62 |
27 |
35 |
32 |
23 |
9 |
7 |
| Online medical record access to your doctor visits, prescriptions, test results and history |
59 |
29 |
30 |
15 |
10 |
6 |
25 |
| Proactive communications from your doctor to schedule preventative care appointments via email or text |
59 |
26 |
33 |
25 |
18 |
7 |
16 |
| Online appointment setting |
52 |
24 |
28 |
31 |
22 |
9 |
17 |
| Email access to your doctor |
51 |
23 |
28 |
30 |
21 |
8 |
19 |
| Online billing and payments |
50 |
21 |
29 |
35 |
25 |
10 |
15 |
Note: Responses may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 5c
TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO HEALTH CARE CONSUMERS
Summary of “Important (NET)”
By Generation and Ethnicity
“Thinking now of new technologies your health care provider could implement, how important would each of the following be to you?”
Base: Seen a health care provider at least once in the past year
|
Total |
Generation |
Ethnicity |
|||||||
|
Millennials (18-35) |
Gen X (36-50) |
Baby Boomers (51-69) |
Matures (70+) |
White |
Black |
Hispanic |
Asian |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| Online cost estimator which provides average costs for specific services |
62 |
68 |
67 |
59 |
46 |
60 |
72 |
78 |
71 |
| Online medical record access to your doctor visits, prescriptions, test results and history |
59 |
64 |
57 |
60 |
52 |
58 |
58 |
73 |
73 |
| Proactive communications from your doctor to schedule preventative care appointments via email or text |
59 |
65 |
65 |
52 |
50 |
57 |
65 |
66 |
66 |
| Online appointment setting |
52 |
62 |
63 |
40 |
38 |
50 |
56 |
70 |
65 |
| Email access to your doctor |
51 |
57 |
54 |
48 |
40 |
51 |
52 |
64 |
66 |
| Online billing and payments |
50 |
60 |
58 |
42 |
34 |
49 |
54 |
73 |
70 |
TABLE 6a
LIKELIHOOD OF GOING TO A RETAIL CLINIC FOR CERTAIN SERVICES – TREND
Summary of “Likely (NET)” and “Unlikely (NET)”
“New options for healthcare services are starting to be available in shopping environments (such as drug stores like CVS or Walgreens, and large big-box stores like Walmart) and we are seeing more types of urgent care centers and walk-in medical clinics not affiliated with a particular doctor or medical group. In general, if you had to treat one of the following ailments, how likely would you be to go to one of these places instead of your regular doctor?”
Base: All adults
|
Likely [NET] |
Unlikely [NET] |
|||
|
2012 |
2015 |
2012 |
2015 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| To get a flu-shot |
65 |
62 |
31 |
32 |
| You have a cold or flu-like symptoms |
53 |
54 |
41 |
41 |
| You have a cut or puncture wound |
49 |
49 |
46 |
45 |
| You have a rash |
47 |
49 |
48 |
45 |
| You need a checkup for high cholesterol or high blood pressure |
47 |
46 |
48 |
48 |
| For screening or lab services, such as blood sugar testing |
47 |
46 |
48 |
49 |
| You have an injured arm or foot (possible break or sprain) |
39 |
37 |
56 |
57 |
| You are having a flare-up of asthma or can’t get your blood sugar down |
36 |
37 |
57 |
55 |
| For a wellness visit, regular checkup or preventative services |
33 |
36 |
62 |
60 |
| To get an x-ray |
36 |
35 |
59 |
59 |
| You need a regular checkup for a chronic condition (such as diabetes or asthma) |
27 |
28 |
67 |
67 |
TABLE 6b
LIKELIHOOD OF GOING TO A RETAIL CLINIC FOR CERTAIN SERVICES
“New options for healthcare services are starting to be available in shopping environments (such as drug stores like CVS or Walgreens, and large big-box stores like Walmart) and we are seeing more types of urgent care centers and walk-in medical clinics not affiliated with a particular doctor or medical group. In general, if you had to treat one of the following ailments, how likely would you be to go to one of these places instead of your regular doctor?”
Base: All adults
|
Likely [NET] |
Very Likely |
Somewhat Likely |
Unlikely [NET] |
Somewhat Unlikely |
Very Unlikely |
Not at all sure |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| To get a flu-shot |
62 |
40 |
23 |
32 |
9 |
23 |
6 |
| You have a cold or flu-like symptoms |
54 |
26 |
28 |
41 |
16 |
25 |
5 |
| You have a cut or puncture wound |
49 |
24 |
25 |
45 |
16 |
29 |
5 |
| You have a rash |
49 |
23 |
26 |
45 |
16 |
29 |
6 |
| You need a checkup for high cholesterol or high blood pressure |
46 |
21 |
25 |
48 |
16 |
32 |
6 |
| For screening or lab services, such as blood sugar testing |
46 |
24 |
22 |
49 |
16 |
33 |
5 |
| You have an injured arm or foot (possible break or sprain) |
37 |
18 |
19 |
57 |
18 |
39 |
5 |
| You are having a flare-up of asthma or can’t get your blood sugar down |
37 |
18 |
19 |
55 |
18 |
37 |
8 |
| For a wellness visit, regular checkup or preventative services
|
36 |
18 |
18 |
60 |
20 |
40 |
4 |
| To get an x-ray |
35 |
17 |
18 |
59 |
17 |
42 |
6 |
| You need a regular check up for a chronic condition (such as diabetes or asthma) |
28 |
13 |
15 |
67 |
21 |
46 |
5 |
Note: Responses may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 6c
LIKELIHOOD OF GOING TO A RETAIL CLINIC FOR CERTAIN SERVICES
Summary of “Likely (NET)”
By Generation and Ethnicity
“New options for healthcare services are starting to be available in shopping environments (such as drug stores like CVS or Walgreens, and large big-box stores like Walmart) and we are seeing more types of urgent care centers and walk-in medical clinics not affiliated with a particular doctor or medical group. In general, if you had to treat one of the following ailments, how likely would you be to go to one of these places instead of your regular doctor?”
Base: All adults
|
Total |
Generation |
Ethnicity |
|||||||
|
Millennials (18-35) |
Gen X (36-50) |
Baby Boomers (51-69) |
Matures (70+) |
White |
Black |
Hispanic |
Asian |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| To get a flu-shot |
62 |
64 |
61 |
60 |
70 |
64 |
61 |
72 |
53 |
| You have a cold or flu-like symptoms |
54 |
61 |
59 |
46 |
47 |
53 |
61 |
66 |
41 |
| You have a cut or puncture wound |
49 |
52 |
46 |
50 |
47 |
50 |
55 |
62 |
45 |
| You have a rash |
49 |
57 |
48 |
46 |
40 |
51 |
47 |
64 |
38 |
| You need a checkup for high cholesterol or high blood pressure |
46 |
51 |
45 |
46 |
37 |
46 |
53 |
62 |
42 |
| For screening or lab services, such as blood sugar testing |
46 |
48 |
50 |
43 |
38 |
46 |
50 |
58 |
43 |
| You have an injured arm or foot (possible break or sprain) |
37 |
39 |
38 |
37 |
30 |
37 |
44 |
53 |
38 |
| You are having a flare-up of asthma or can’t get your blood sugar down |
37 |
43 |
40 |
34 |
24 |
35 |
46 |
54 |
37 |
| For a wellness visit, regular checkup or preventative services |
36 |
49 |
35 |
30 |
21 |
34 |
43 |
61 |
29 |
| To get an x-ray |
35 |
39 |
36 |
34 |
27 |
34 |
41 |
54 |
35 |
| You need a regular check up for a chronic condition (such as diabetes or asthma) |
28 |
38 |
29 |
24 |
13 |
26 |
38 |
44 |
29 |
TABLE 6d
LIKELIHOOD OF GOING TO A RETAIL CLINIC FOR CERTAIN SERVICES
Summary of “Not Likely (NET)”
By Generation
“New options for healthcare services are starting to be available in shopping environments (such as drug stores like CVS or Walgreens, and large big-box stores like Walmart) and we are seeing more types of urgent care centers and walk-in medical clinics not affiliated with a particular doctor or medical group. In general, if you had to treat one of the following ailments, how likely would you be to go to one of these places instead of your regular doctor?”
Base: All adults
|
Total |
Generation |
||||
|
Millennials (18-35) |
Gen X (36-50) |
Baby Boomers (51-69) |
Matures (70+) |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| You need a regular check up for a chronic condition (such as diabetes or asthma) |
67 |
58 |
65 |
71 |
83 |
| For a wellness visit, regular checkup or preventative services |
60 |
48 |
59 |
66 |
77 |
| To get an x-ray |
59 |
56 |
56 |
60 |
71 |
| You have an injured arm or foot (possible break or sprain) |
57 |
57 |
54 |
57 |
68 |
| You are having a flare-up of asthma or can’t get your blood sugar down |
55 |
50 |
51 |
57 |
71 |
| For screening or lab services, such as blood sugar testing |
49 |
46 |
43 |
52 |
60 |
| You need a checkup for high cholesterol or high blood pressure |
48 |
42 |
48 |
48 |
61 |
| You have a cut or puncture wound |
45 |
38 |
45 |
49 |
57 |
| You have a rash |
45 |
43 |
47 |
44 |
51 |
| You have a cold or flu-like symptoms |
41 |
35 |
35 |
47 |
51 |
| To get a flu-shot |
32 |
31 |
31 |
35 |
27 |
Methodology
This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States between September 9 and 17, 2015 among 2,368 adults (aged 18 and over). Additionally, oversamples were collected in English and Spanish among 511 Hispanic (representing Spanish-dominant, English-dominant and Bilingual profiles) respondents and in English among 179 Asian respondents. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, The Harris Poll avoids the words “margin of error” as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Poll surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in our panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of The Harris Poll.
Product and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
The Harris Poll® #4, January 20, 2016
By Allyssa Birth, Senior Research Analyst, The Harris Poll
