Lifestyle

35% Think Nobel Prize Is Most Prestigious Award

Nobel Prizes are being awarded this month, but Americans remain divided over the prestige attached to the international awards.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% of American Adults say the Nobel Prize is the most prestigious award a person can win, but slightly more (39%) disagree. Twenty-six percent (26%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 8-9, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

61% Say Colleges Should Ban Hazing

Most Americans think colleges should ban fraternity and sorority hazing rituals but don’t believe in banning these organizations all together.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of American Adults say college fraternities and sororities should be prohibited from hazing potential new members as part of their initiation.  Twenty-five percent (25%) disagree, while 14% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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This survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on October 8-9, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Dickey, Verlander Are Cy Young Favorites, Cabrera Top MVP Pick

A third of baseball fans nationwide think New York Mets knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey and Detroit Tigers hurler Justin Verlander should win the Cy Young awards in the National and American leagues respectively. While Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera is the heavy favorite to win the AL Most Valuable Player award, the NL MVP race is a bit closer. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 445 Baseball Fans was conducted on October 4, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

60% Say There Are Too Many Lawyers in the U.S.

Most Americans say there are too many lawyers in the United States and that's it a bad thing most members of Congress are lawyers.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 60% of American Adults say there are too may lawyers in America. Just 13% say there are not enough lawyers, but 14% say there are just the right amount. Another 13% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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This survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 30-October 1, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

In Crowded Field, Football Fans Make 49ers Top Super Bowl Pick

There’s a lot of football to be played before the replacement referees are forgotten and the Super Bowl champion is determined, but the early fan favorites are the San Francisco 49ers. However, there are a lot of teams in the hunt.

Fifteen percent (15%) of National Football League fans expect the ‘Niners to rebound from last year’s tough loss in the NFC Championship game and go all the way this year, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twelve percent (12%) think Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are likely to win yet another title this year. The Patriots won the AFC last year before losing in the Super Bowl. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Eleven percent (11%) pick the Houston Texans. The Baltimore Ravens (10%) and Green Bay Packers (10%) are the only other teams with double digit support.

Five percent (5%) think the defending champs, the New York Giants, will win for the second year in a row.

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This survey of 643 Professional Football Fans was conducted on October 4, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

75% Say Frivolous Lawsuits Are Driving Up Health Care, Insurance Costs

Most Americans think it’s too easy to file a lawsuit nowadays, and even more believe dubious lawsuits are driving up the price of health care, insurance and other products and services.

22% Predict Yankees Will Win World Series

Playoff action begins tonight for Major League Baseball’s wildcard teams, but the American League East champion New York Yankees are the slight favorite to win the World Series this year. However, that’s not necessarily the outcome many baseball fans are hoping for.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 22% of baseball fans believe the Bronx Bombers will win their 28th World Series title this year. Right behind are the Washington Nationals, a team that 17% of fans think will win its first-ever championship. Fourteen percent (14%) believe the Texas Rangers will win the World Series after two unsuccessful trips over the past two seasons. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

56% Say Schools Should Teach Both Sex Ed and Abstinence

When it comes to sex education in schools, the majority agrees that teaching both sex education and abstinence-only education is the best route for students.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 17% of American Adults think schools should only teach sex education, while 24% believe they should teach only abstinence education.  Fifty-six percent (56%) think schools should teach both. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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This survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 28-29, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

58% Oppose Schools Giving Morning-After Pills to Students

More than 50 New York City public high schools are now giving out morning-after anti-pregnancy pills to students as young as 14, and most Americans disagree with that decision.

Just 29% of American Adults agree with the public schools' decision to dispense morning-after pills, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-eight percent (58%) disagree, with another 13% who are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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This survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 28-29, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

66% Oppose Teacher Strikes During Union Negotiations

As the Chicago teachers strike comes to a close, voters strongly believe the teachers should have kept working while their union contract was being negotiated.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 25% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is appropriate for the teachers to go on strike at this time. Sixty-six percent (66%) believe the teachers should stay on their jobs while a new union contract is being negotiated. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 17-18, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

40% Say Internet Best Way to Get News, 37% Say TV

More Americans turn to the world wide web to get their news nowadays, but nearly as many still think television news is the most reliable news source available.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% of American Adults think the Internet is the best way to get news and information in today’s world. Thirty-seven percent (37%) say television is best. Just nine percent (9%) believe the radio is the best way to get news and information, and even fewer (7%) still go with print newspapers. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on September 12-13, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Only 25% Know How Much Teachers Really Make

Americans tend to think public school teachers are not paid enough until they find out how much they actually are paid.

Forty-five percent (45%) of American Adults, when initially asked, say public school teachers are paid too little, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This is relatively unchanged from February but down 12 points from 57% in May 2008. One-in-three (33%) think teachers are paid about the right amount, while 14% say they earn too much. (To see survey questions wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 10-11, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

42% Think It Should Be Illegal for Teachers to Strike

Chicago public school teachers are on strike for higher pay and different job evaluation procedures, but Americans are narrowly divided over whether it should be legal for teachers to strike under any circumstances.

Forty-two percent (42%) of American Adults say it should be against the law for school teachers to go on strike, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Slightly more (46%) do not think it should be illegal, while 11% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 10-11, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

65% See Another 9/11 As Possible in Next 10 Years

Eleven years ago today, thousands of Americans were murdered by radical Islamic terrorists, but despite the subsequent security precautions and the killing of Osama bin Laden, most adults in this country still think another 9/11-style attack is at least somewhat likely in the next 10 years.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Americans believe another 9/11 might take place in this country in the next 10 years. Only 27% view a repeat of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 as unlikely. This includes 29% who see another 9/11 as Very Likely and just two percent (2%) who consider it not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 6-7, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

On 11th Anniversary of 9/11, 64% More Afraid of Domestic Attack than Outside Terrorists

While the War on Terror continues, most Americans believe the bigger terrorist threat to the United States comes from within. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 64% of American Adults think a bigger threat now to the United States is a domestic attack. Just 18% believe an attack from terrorists outside the United States is a bigger threat, but another 17% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 7-8, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Just 24% Say Colleges Do Enough to Stop Underage Drinking On Campus

Classes at many colleges are already in session which means full dormitories and another year of on-campus drinking reports.  Most Americans feel colleges should be held responsible for underage drinking on campus and feel not enough preventative action is being taken.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of American Adults say colleges or universities should be held responsible for underage drinking on campus, up slightly from April 2011 Thirty-five percent (35%) disagree, while 11% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on September 4-5, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Say Childhood Obesity is a Serious Issue But Don't Want Gov't Involvement

American Adults continue to recognize the childhood obesity epidemic as a serious problem, but they don’t believe it’s the government’s job to control it. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% of adults say childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States today, including 43% who say it is Very Serious. Just 13% do not see childhood obesity as a serious issue. That's consistent with findings in November 2010 when Rasmussen Reports first asked this question. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on September 4-5, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

11 Rasmussen Challenge Participants Got It Right This Week

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of American Adults went to concerts or theater events this summer, and 11 Rasmussen Challenge participants correctly predicted that answer this week. They're among 3,500 Rasmussen Reports readers who've participated in the Challenge so far.

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The summer of 2012 is almost over, but it's not forgotten.

In fact, 48% of American Adults give this summer positive marks, including four percent (4%) who believe it was the best summer ever. Thirty percent (30%) say it was a good summer, and 14% more think it was excellent. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 20% rate this summer as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The two surveys of 1,000 Adults each were conducted on August 29-30 and August 31-September 1, 2012, by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

52% Celebrate Labor Day As Unofficial End of Summer

Labor Day was originally meant as a day to celebrate the nation's work force, but more than half of Americans continue to see it more as an unofficial end to summer.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 35% celebrate Labor Day as a holiday honoring the contribution of workers in society. Fifty-two percent (52%) celebrate the federal holiday as the unofficial end of summer. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 29-30, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

39% Took A Summer Vacation This Year

Slightly more Americans took a summer vacation this year, and fewer cited economic conditions as a reason to spend less on that vacation.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey find that 39% of American Adults took a summer vacation this year.  That's up slightly from 33% last year and is more in line with the number who vacationed in 2010 and 2009.  Sixty percent (60%) did not go on summer vacation this year.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 29-30, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.