Data
Access Civic Information Needs Census (CINC) survey data, methodology documents, and research materials.
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All CINC data is freely available for research, journalism, and civic purposes. We encourage researchers, journalists, and civic organizations to explore our findings and build on this work. If you find the data useful or have done your own analyses, please share them with us so we can learn from you and include it on our website!
Citation Guidelines
When using CINC data, please cite: "Civic Information Needs Census, [Survey Name], [Date]. infocensus.org"
Available Datasets
National Survey (Wave 2)
Second national survey tracking changes in civic information needs over time.
Key Findings
- 21-46% gap between importance and satisfaction on civic topics
- Proximity Paradox: neighborhood/town info less accessible than international
- Overall gaps consistent with National Wave 1 survey
New York City Survey
Survey of 1,428 New York City adults on local information needs and sources. Includes deep-dive on education topics for parents and educators.
Key Findings
- 26-39% gap between importance and satisfaction
- 50% or less satisfied for 10 of 12 critical life situations
- Parents rely heavily on PTAs for education info
Chicago Survey
Survey of 1,698 Chicago adults on local information needs and sources. Includes deep-dive on education topics for parents and educators.
Key Findings
- 19-36% gap between importance and satisfaction
- Significantly higher information gaps for transportation than National
- Friends and family top source for quality information
National Survey (Wave 1)
National survey of 2,110 U.S. adults on civic information needs. Includes deep-dive on education topics for parents and educators.
Key Findings
- 16-26% gap between importance and satisfaction on civic topics
- 27% gap for parents on education information
- 34% of 18-34 year olds turn to social media for local info
Methodology
All CINC surveys are conducted in partnership with Embold Research using representative sampling methodologies. Surveys measure the gap between how important various types of local information are to respondents and how satisfied they are with the information they currently receive.
For detailed methodology information, including sampling procedures, weighting, and margin of error, please refer to the methodology documents included with each dataset.
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