IPOL: Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab

Data restored from a 1978 survey show a majority of Iowans at the time reporting opposition toward gay people in general. When asked about them working in various occupations, opposition was stronger for some occupations, such as teachers, than for others. These data come from Iowa Poll #229, a random sample survey of 600 Iowans from March 1978, which has been restored as part of a larger IPOL project to recover lost data from past Iowa Polls.

Data restored from a 1978 survey indicates that while Iowans' sympathies were with the Israelis, a majority favored establishing a Palestinian homeland in the Middle East in 1978, though this support dropped substantially when a follow up asked supporters if they still felt that way even it meant war. These data come from Iowa Poll #229, a random sample survey of 600 Iowans from March 1978, which has been restored as part of a larger IPOL project to recover lost data from past Iowa Polls.

IPOL presented some of our findings from Iowa Poll #229 from 1978 in Des Moines.

Data restored from a 1978 survey indicates that Iowans Iowans were generally open to women holding various positions in society, but overwhelmingly preferred men to hold them. These data come from Iowa Poll #229, a random sample survey of 600 Iowans from March 1978, which has been restored as part of a larger IPOL project to recover lost data from past Iowa Polls.

Data restored from a 1978 survey indicates that Iowans believed President Carter sided with the poor and factory workers more than he did with the wealthy, middle class, and farmers. These data come from Iowa Poll #229, a random sample survey of 600 Iowans from March 1978, which has been restored as part of a larger IPOL project to recover lost data from past Iowa Polls.

Starting in fall 2022, IPOL has been working to enter and analyze data from some recently unearthed Iowa Polls from the 1940s through the 1980s. This academic year we are working with Iowa Poll #229 from 1978. Keep an eye out for our news releases and full report this spring.

The Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab (IPOL) just released its Public Opinion Report on Iowa Poll #249--which was originally conducted by the Des Moines Register in September 1981--after restoring its contents. The report evaluates Iowans' responses on this survey, focusing on sets of questions related to constitutional rights, teaching Iowa history, the Iowa Caucuses, race, and personalities and trends from 1981 that people were most tired of.

Data restored from a 1981 survey indicates that while a near-majority of Iowans supported keeping the Iowa Caucuses in January, nearly one-third preferred to shift them to March or April. These data come from Iowa Poll #249, a random sample survey of 1021 Iowans from October 1981, which has been restored as part of a larger IPOL project to recover lost data from past Iowa Polls.

Four decades ago, Iowans were most unhappy about high interest rates, massage parlors, the neutron bomb, and clothes with alligators, among other items. They were less bothered by a royal wedding, coin operated video games, and Dan Rather. The question asked specifically, “Choose three things you are least thankful for in 1981” and offered a list of twelve items as shown in the figure below. For the first choice, there was a clear front-runner, with 65% saying they’re least thankful for high interest rates. The second and third most frequently cited options were Iran, with 43%, and massage parlors, with 39%. The least frequently given option was Dan Rather, 2% listing him among their three choices.

Recently reconstituted data from 1981 reveal that 44% of Iowans would eliminate at least one of the Ten Commandments. The top three chosen were “thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods” with 9%, and “remember the sabbath day to keep it holy” with 9%, and “though shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” with 8%. These results come from IPOL’s efforts to recover lost data from historical Iowa Polls, starting with Iowa Poll #249, a random sample survey of 1021 Iowans from October 1981.

Recently reconstituted data from 1981 reveal that Iowans had doubts about their own knowledge of Iowa history and were split on which features of Iowa history should be covered in school. These results come from IPOL’s efforts to recover lost data from historical Iowa Polls, starting with Iowa Poll #249, a random sample survey of 1021 Iowans from October 1981.

Recently reconstituted data from 1981 show that Iowans strongly support some items, such as unreasonable search and equality for the sexes, being protected in the United States constitution whereas others, such as the right for life to begin at fertilization, should not. These results come from IPOL’s efforts to recover lost data from historical Iowa Polls, starting with Iowa Poll #249, a random sample survey of 1021 Iowans from October 1981.

Starting in fall 2022, IPOL has been working to enter and analyze data from some recently unearthed Iowa Polls from the 1940s through the 1980s. These were discovered in the archives of Tom Mans, a 1981 UI PhD in Political Science. The Iowa Polls were conducted by the Des Moines Register. In fall 2022 IPOL worked to digitize an entire survey from scans of the printouts. This semester we have begun to analyze the questions, including sets relating to race, constitutional rights, teaching Iowa history, and the Iowa Caucuses. Keep an eye out for our report.

According to a recent Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab Poll, a plurality of Iowans (45.3%) said they would support a proposed pro-gun amendment to the Iowa Constitution while 28.9% of Iowans answered that they would vote against it. The Iowa legislature passed the proposed state constitutional amendment for a second time in 2021, meaning it could appear on the general election ballot in November 2022. Differences in support for the proposed amendment were found based on respondent party identification and urbanicity.

A recent Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab (IPOL) survey conducted by University of Iowa faculty and students found that Iowans trust school officials and parents more than state or local elected officials to make decisions about banning books in public schools. Opinions on who is best situated to make these decisions varied with a respondent's party affiliation and the importance of religion to them.

A team of IPOLers recently presented their research in a poster session as part of the 79th Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference. Interested in the BLM’s influence on public opinion, Sam Avery, Marissa Good, and Thomas Dainty have participated in the Black Lives Matter protest research as a spin-off project of IPOL since the summer of 2021 under the guidance of Professor Boehmke.

Congratulations to Alex Hefel on receiving 2022-2023 Laurence Fairall Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to undergraduate and master's professional students who intend to have active careers in journalism.

Congratulations to Caleb Slater on receiving 2022-2023 Teri G. Rasmussen Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate political science major who intends to pursue a career in law.

A recent Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab (IPOL) survey conducted by University of Iowa faculty and students found that a majority of Iowans support multiple racial justice policing and sentencing reforms, but fewer than half of Iowans support increased penalties for protestors and cities.

Congratulations to Marissa Good on receiving 2022-2023 Donald B. Johnson Fellowship. This fellowship is awarded to undergraduate political science majors who are completing their junior years and who show the quality of character and leadership. 

A recent Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab (IPOL) survey conducted by University of Iowa faculty and students found that Iowans’ opinions are split regarding the construction of pipelines that would transport carbon dioxide from ethanol plants to be sequestered underground to reduce greenhouse emissions.

A recent Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab (IPOL) survey conducted by University of Iowa faculty and students found that a majority of Iowans who have heard of critical race theory (CRT) support teaching it in schools. However, the level of support varies based on the respondent's political ideology, religion, and age.

A recent Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab (IPOL) survey conducted by University of Iowa faculty and students found that Iowans are split on whether businesses should be prevented from having mask and vaccine mandates. However, a large majority are in favor of vaccine exemptions for medical and religious reasons. View results and more information about the survey in the documents linked below.

A recent Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab (IPOL) survey conducted by University of Iowa faculty and students found that Iowans support COVID-19 vaccination. Most respondents were already vaccinated. In addition, those who are already vaccinated or in the process of getting vaccinated worry that those who have chosen not to get vaccinated were hurting Iowa.

A recent Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab (IPOL) survey conducted by University of Iowa faculty and students found that a majority of Iowans are worried about the effects of global climate change. Concerns about climate change split strongly along partisan lines and show some level of generation differences.

A recent Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab (IPOL) survey conducted by University of Iowa faculty and students found that a majority of Iowans support changes to Iowa’s bottle bill deposit Law. The strongest support was seen for expanding the types of containers covered.

The Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab (IPOL) just released its 2021 Legislative Report. The report summarizes research done by IPOL and its five thematic student research groups over the last year. The report focuses on policymaking activity by the Iowa state government during the 2021 legislative session.

Congratulations to Thomas Dainty on being awarded 2021-2022 the Morris & Lenore Mandelbaum Family Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for those who seeking their undergraduate degree in one of the following departments: Anthropology, Geography, Political Science, Economics (BA or BS), History, Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, or International Studies.

Congratulations to Choloe Weidl on being named to the University of Iowa President's List during Fall 2020. Students who achieve exceptional academic performance are listed to the President's list.

Congratulations to Thomas Dainty, Marissa Good and Sierra Wicks on being awarded 2021-2022 Helen Fairall Scholarships. 

Congratulations to Amelia Thoreson on receiving 2021-2022 Donald B. Johnson Fellowship. This fellowship is awarded to undergraduate political science majors who are completing their junior years and who show the quality of character and leadership. 

Congratulations to Carolina Herra on being awarded 2021-2022 Molly C. and Josepht R. Gaylord Scholarship! This scholarship is given to undergraduate students majoring in political science and actively involved in campus activities. 

A recent Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab (IPOL) survey conducted by University of Iowa faculty and students between the dates of January 13 and February 3 found that almost half of Iowans support the Black Lives Matter movement while a majority oppose calls to “defund” the police. This opposition dropped dramatically when specific shifts in funding were described in place of a call to “defund” the police. View results and more information about the survey in the documents linked below.

According to a recent Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab (IPOL) poll — conducted by University of Iowa faculty and students between January 13 and February 3 — a majority of Iowans do not currently support an amendment to the Iowa constitution saying that the state constitution “shall not be construed to recognize, grant, or secure a right to abortion”. The Iowa House recently passed this amendment and the Senate is currently considering it (Senate Joint Resolution 2). If approved in the Senate this session, both chambers would have to do so again in 2023 or 2024 before it would appear on the ballot. Topline and details of the survey are available in our full news article.

A recent Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab (IPOL) survey finds that most Iowans are interested in COVID‐19 vaccinations. IPOL, directed by Profs. Fred Boehmke in Political Science and Kajsa Dalrymple in Journalism and Mass Communication, provides an opportunity for nearly 20 students to do research on Iowa politics, focusing on the connection between government activity and public opinion. This survey, conducted on behalf of IPOL January- February 2021 by Ipsos Observer, interviewed 1000 Iowans for their opinion on important policies facing the state today.