FAQs
Why did the Data Foundation launch the COVID Impact Survey?
With the increasing number of COVID-19 cases reported daily across the United States and a limited health surveillance infrastructure in place, a statistically valid survey that includes physical health, mental health, and economic security information will provide decision-makers and the American public vital information in coming weeks. The COVID Impact Survey aims to fill an information gap in the United States. This information will be critical for policymakers in determining future actions for stay-at-home orders, social distancing policies, and other actions to combat the virus.
How does this project relate to the Census Bureau’s new Household Pulse Survey?
In late April 2020, the Census Bureau announced a new, large-scale survey of American households called the Household Pulse Survey. The COVID Impact Survey is complementary to this government effort, which is expected to begin publishing summary information the week of May 18. The Census Bureau survey relies on an email distribution and poses questions primarily about economic security. In contrast, the COVID Impact Survey was designed to ask how households experience the COVID crisis alongside physical health, economic security, food security, and employment metrics.
Where are data available? And in what format?
Available data are posted on the results page of the covid-impact.org website and through project partners. The results page includes de-identified dataset for further research use along with a codebook and detailed methodology. Microdata are being made available in open, machine-readable formats.
How should the data from the COVID Impact Survey be cited?
Research publications that use microdata from the COVID Impact Survey should cite as:
Abigail Wozniak, Joe Willey, Jennifer Benz, and Nick Hart. COVID Impact Survey: Version # [dataset]. Chicago, IL: National Opinion Research Center, 2020.
Media articles and other publications should attribute as:
COVID Impact Survey, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for the Data Foundation.
Are the survey results credible and reliable?
The COVID Impact Survey was developed with support from leading experts across the country in public health, economics, and social sciences. An advisory group of experts is contributing to all elements of survey design and methodological considerations, in addition to the world-class expertise at the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, which is conducting the survey. In publishing survey results we are making every attempt to identify relevant limitations while also maximizing the reliability and validity of the published summary statistics and datasets.
Will the public have to pay to access your survey results?
No. The information from the COVID Impact Survey is being provided in the public interest as public, open data. Summary information will be made publicly available, to the extent possible while also protecting respondent confidentiality.
How can I access results from the COVID Impact Survey?
Available data are published here.
What geographic areas will your survey cover?
The first and second weeks of results provide national level estimates as well as sub-national estimates for 18 jurisdictions. The initial states include California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Oregon, and Texas. The initial metropolitan areas include Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Phoenix, and Pittsburgh.
Who is funding the COVID Impact Survey?
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis are providing financial support for the COVID Impact Survey. A complete list of funders and partners is available here.
Are you still raising funds to support this project?
The Data Foundation is still seeking contributions to the project to support additional weeks of data collection. Learn how to donate here.