RAND American Life Panel Projects

As a longitudinal panel, the American Life Panel allows for tracking of changes in public opinion by surveying the same people over time. This provides for observation of true changes in opinion, rather than changes based on who was surveyed randomly.

This approach was extremely effective in a RAND's election panel surveys, during the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections, and in the 2014 midterm elections. The ALP was one of the most accurate polls in forecasting the 2012 U.S. presidential election result.

The ALP was also used to survey public opinion during the rollout of the Affordable Care Act. The RAND Health Reform Opinion Study surveyed public opinion of the ACA, and changes in the number of Americans with health insurance after implementation of the ACT.

Featured Survey

American Working Conditions Survey
How do Americans perceive their workplace? RAND's American Working Conditions Survey shows workers find their jobs physically demanding, hazardous, and hectic—but also social and supportive, and many retirees would prefer to return to work.
Aug 14, 2017

Health Surveys

The RAND Health Reform Opinion Study
The RAND Health Reform Opinion Study tracked public opinion of the Affordable Care Act by surveying the same people over time. This allowed us to observe true changes in public opinion, rather than changes based on who was surveyed randomly.
Health and Retirement Study Data File
The RAND Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Data file is a longitudinal data set based on HRS data. It was developed at RAND with funding from the National Institute on Aging and the Social Security Administration.

Election Surveys

The RAND 2016 Presidential Election Panel Survey
The RAND 2016 Presidential Election Panel Survey (PEPS) uses a unique approach to study the evolution of public opinion, voting intentions, and voter behavior.
The RAND 2014 Midterm Election Opinion Study
The RAND 2014 Midterm Election Opinion Study tracks public opinion of the U.S. midterm elections by surveying the same people over time. This allows us to observe true changes in public opinion, rather than changes based on who was surveyed randomly.
The RAND 2012 Presidential Election Poll
The RAND continuous presidential election poll offered a unique perspective on voter intent during the 2012 campaign between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

Related Commentary

Why the Polls Were Wrong
RAND's Presidential Election Panel Survey, like other polls, overpredicted the popular vote. But since it focused on the decisionmaking process and how that translated into behaviors, the data could provide deep insights into what happened and how it took pollsters by surprise.
Nov 14, 2016
Do Young 'Elites' Favor Income Redistribution?
Young “elites” — employed Americans who are 40 or younger, with high household incomes and graduate degrees — and especially Democratic elites have a strong preference for income redistribution.
Oct 8, 2015
One in Five Hourly Employees Working Overtime Not Properly Compensated
Most laws as old as the Fair Labor Standards Act regularly need tuning up. But its overtime provisions are complicated because some workers are exempt from being covered. A survey of more than 1,500 employed adults finds that employers are violating the rules.
Sep 4, 2015