Americanos Poll 2011: An Exploration of Racial and Ethnic Identity Constructs among U.S. Hispanics with Implications for Survey Design and Analysis A series of small-scale parallel U.S. Hispanic and non-Hispanic studies were designed by Encuesta, Inc. to explore new ways of defining race and ethnic constructs and testing of possible new questions related to self-identification. The study indicates that open-ended questions developed and tested by Encuesta, Inc. regarding ethnicity and race are successful in letting both Hispanics and non-Hispanics more easily express their own notions of race and ethnic self-identity from the perspective of the typical survey respondent in common survey mode applications.
Poster

Americanos Poll: Favorite Brands Study 2011 conducted in March 2011 compared the perceptions of Hispanics and non-Hispanics regarding corporate citizenship and involvement in the community with the findings from similar studies conducted in November 2009 and February 2005. The study shows that U.S. Hispanics today are more likely than non-Hispanics to believe that major corporations are increasingly involved in their community. Compared to the 2009 survey, the findings reveal that Hispanics have lost some confidence in major corporations’ role in their community.
Press Release

Americanos Poll: Economic Indicators Study 2011 finds that both Hispanics and non-Hispanics agree that the U.S. economy is going in the wrong direction. The study compares the findings to a similar study conducted in November 2009 by Encuesta, Inc. The findings indicate that Hispanics, like non-Hispanics, are now less optimistic about the direction the country is heading in and the future of the U.S. economy.
Press Release

Americanos Poll 2010: Extreme Response Style (ERS) among U.S. Hispanics vs. Non-Hispanics - An Experiment of Rating Scale Usage and Implications for Survey Design and Analysis The study finds indications that 5-point Likert rating scales (with each point anchored) are more appropriate than 10-point rating scales (anchored-end point only) for use among Hispanics in order to improve variability and facilitate comparisons with non-Hispanics. The small scale experiment was carried out within a nationally representative study to shed new light on ERS and possible solutions when conducting research among Hispanics.
Poster

Americanos Poll 2010: Who Are Latino Cell Phone Only Respondents? A Comparative Look at Demographics, Attitudes, and Behaviors of U.S. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Cell Phone Only and Landline Respondents The study reveals that there are substantial demographic differences among cell phone only Hispanics compared to the rest of Hispanics (especially landline only Hispanics) and cell phone only non-Hispanics. The differences are also apparent in terms of attitudes and behaviors related to healthcare, political views, and adoption of technology. The study shows that including the cell phone only Hispanics when conducting research is crucial in overcoming noncoverage error.
Poster

Americanos Poll: Favorite Brands Study 2009 is a follow-up to the 2005 study where the perception of brands in 2009 is compared to 2005 among U.S. Hispanics and non-Hispanics. The study was based on four superlative categories where brands were recorded in an unaided and spontaneous manner. Specifically, the frequency of mention and rank order were determined for the following, "best overall," "most trustworthy," "cares most about the community," and "best in advertising or promotions". The study also explores the views regarding corporate responsibility. The findings show that Hispanics have lost confidence in major corporations' role in their community.
Press Release-Perception of Brands
Press Release-Corporate Responsibility

Americanos Poll: Economic Indicators Study 2009 finds that Hispanics are more optimistic about the future of the U.S. economy compared to non-Hispanics. The study reveals that even though Hispanics and non-Hispanics have similar views on the current personal or national economic and employment situation, when it comes to future expectations, Hispanics are more hopeful than non-Hispanics. Views regarding the direction of things in general in the United States are also reported.
Press Release

Americanos Poll: Healthcare Study 2009 compares the attitudes of U.S. Hispanics and non-Hispanics on healthcare. The poll explores how Hispanics and non-Hispanics describe their overall health as well as their perceptions about universal healthcare and having access to affordable healthcare. The study also delves into opinions on topics such as the U.S. healthcare system, new or different methods for accessing healthcare, and specific alternative proposals to address the healthcare.
Press Release
Data Tables: Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Views on Healthcare

National Council of La Raza (NCLR): Healthy Tax Incentives: Healthy Choices or Bad Medicine? Study 2008 evaluates how health tax incentives can affect the Latino community. It acknowledges the health coverage gap for Latinos and furthermore delves into assessing three major plans, namely, health insurance tax credits, a health insurance standard deduction, and health savings accounts. The study sheds light onto how each of these proposed solutions might help Latinos to access health coverage. Americanos Poll: Hispanics, Non-Hispanics, and U.S. Federal Income Tax Study 2006 has contributed to NCLR's study by providing perspective on the Latinos' tax filing behaviors.
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Roundtable Transcript
Issue Brief

Americanos Poll: Financial Study 2007, a collaboration between Encuesta, Inc. and microlender ACCION USA, sheds light on the financial attitudes and behaviors of U.S. low-to-moderate income (LMI) individuals, with a special focus on Hispanics and how their attitudes compare to other LMI individuals. Findings of the study, broken out into two separate reports, delve into areas including basic financial habits, status and credit/ debt management strategies. The study also examines the banking level of LMI individuals and touches upon where improvements can be made to move this group into more mainstream banking habits.
Press Release
Report: Financial Habits of LMI Hispanics and Non-Hispanics
Report: Financial Status and Debt Management Strategies of LMI Hispanics and Non-Hispanics

Americanos Poll: Mid-Term Election Study 2006 takes the pulse of U.S. Hispanics and non-Hispanics with regard to their political concerns and intentions. The poll explores likelihood to vote and for which party's candidate as well as the degree to which factors - ranging from a candidate's characteristics to a comprehensive list of issues - influence voter choice. Views are also reported on the extent to which citizens believe they can influence government by voting and concern about voting count inaccuracies and voting fraud.
Press Release  Television Interview
Press Release: Political Opinion at the 2006 Midterm Election
Report: Political Opinion at the 2006 Midterm Election
Data Tables: Political Opinion at the 2006 Midterm Election
Press Release: Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Presidential Choices for 2008
Press Release: Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Political Beliefs and Behaviors
Report: Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Political Beliefs and Behaviors
Data Tables: Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Political Beliefs and Behaviors

Americanos Poll: U.S. Hispanic Television Habits and Opinions 2006 2006 suggests a large segment of Hispanics in the U.S. watch both Spanish-language and English-language television, regardless of whether they were raised in the U.S. or abroad. The study also finds that news and political programs, and not telenovelas, are the TV genre that U.S. Hispanics most report watching. Data include television viewing habits of Hispanics by language, hours, and specific program formats, opinions on 13 English- and Spanish-language television networks and different aspects of programming in each language, and observation and opinions of changes in programming and commercials aimed at the general population such as the use of Spanish or "Spanglish" and the presence of Hispanic actors or characters.
Press Release

Americanos Poll: Hispanics and Non-Hispanic Views on U.S. Immigration and Immigration Policy 2006 finds that Hispanics and non-Hispanics share a good deal of common ground regarding how they see immigration to and immigration policy in the U.S. The study explores concern about illegal immigration, the perceived underlying reasons for illegal immigration, opinions on legalizing the status of illegal workers, the economic impact of illegal immigrants, and the degree to which the issue will influence future voting.
Press Release

Americanos Poll: Hispanics, Non-Hispanics, and U.S. Federal Income Tax 2006 compares the views and experiences of Hispanics and non-Hispanics with regard to various aspects of federal income taxation. Topics include filing, refunds, knowledge and use of deductions, tax return preparation services, and opinions on federal tax system reform.
Press Release

Americanos Poll: Brand Power Index Study 2005 measures the marketplace strength of 184 brands according to Hispanics and non-Hispanics. This follow-up to the Favorite Brands Study offers a quantified measure of brand strength that enables appropriate comparisons across the brands tested as well as cross-culturally. The Brand Power Index (BPI) scores are based on four factors - familiarity, quality, likelihood of purchase, and agreement that the brand cares about the consumer - which we suggest are among those which most influence a brand's value to the consumer and thus provide a measure of overall brand equity. In addition to presenting the BPI scores calculated with the ratings assigned by Hispanics and non-Hispanics, the study provides U.S.-born Hispanic versus foreign-born Hispanic scores as well as raw survey rating scores for those who wish to review the measures for each brand prior to any statistical transformation.
Press Release  Summary Report

Americanos Poll: Favorite Brands Study 2005 explores differences in U.S. Hispanic and non-Hispanic perceptions of brands, to obtain a preliminary, concrete indicator as to whether the two populations are distinct from a marketing perspective. The study compares which brands Hispanics and non-Hispanics consider best overall, most trustworthy, caring most about community, and having the best advertising or promotions.
Press Release  Summary Report