Understanding America Study

Getting Started

Navigating the UAS Data Website

Welcome to the Understanding America Study (UAS) data pages (UASdata.usc.edu). The UAS data site:

Provides information about the UAS panel and the methods we use to build and maintain it.
Provides access to UAS survey data to researchers and allows anyone to explore UAS data in the form of interactive graphs.
Describes the UAS as a unique and powerful platform for collecting new data and outlines the steps necessary to initiate a data collection project with the UAS.

Note that the UAS has been a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Transparency Initiative since 2016, committing to complete transparency in and full disclosure of all methodological aspects of data collection and public data release.

To find information on the UAS website, use the main menu in the red bar at the top of the page. This page offers a brief overview of the UAS Data site's main menu (from left to right) and includes a site map at the end for easy navigation.

About

This includes links to pages that: (1) explain NubiS, the survey software used by UAS to manage the panel, conduct surveys, and facilitate data access; (2) introduce the UAS team members; and (3) provide UAS contact information.

Documentation

This menu section provides comprehensive information on various components of the UAS data collection process:

Recruitment outlines the UAS recruitment protocol and details the recruitment experiments conducted over time.
Retention explains the measures taken to maintain respondent engagement, including the "sleeper" protocol.
Participation and Attrition offers a dynamic overview of response rates and attrition trends by recruitment batch, with statistics updated daily.
Core Survey Response Rates displays participation rates and total respondent counts for each biennial UAS core survey.
Weights includes thorough documentation on the weighting methodology used to generate representative sample weights.
UAS Policies contains documents on data management practices, ethical guidelines, data publication, hosting, and replicability support.
Accessibility and ADA Compliance describes the UAS practices for the accessibility of its participant account pages and web surveys, and its level of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design.

Data Products

In this menu item, one can see all the available UAS data products and obtain information about how to access them.

The Individual Surveys section provides the complete list of all UAS survey datasets available for download to registered users. It includes a description of the quarterly My Household survey, which the UAS uses to collect and regularly update key demographic information on all respondents. This section also offers a classification of all surveys by topic for easier navigation and exploration.
The Curated Data section contains thematic datasets that have been organized, cleaned, and documented by the UAS team. The goal of these curated datasets is to facilitate data analysis by minimizing the time researchers need to spend preparing the data.
The Exposome Data section features a broad array of contextual variables that can be linked to UAS survey data using geocodes. These data capture various dimensions of an individual’s environment, including physical, social, and policy-related factors, as well as local climate conditions. This linkage, which can be performed in the UAS LINKAGE Data Enclave (see below), enables rich, multidimensional analyses of how environmental exposures influence behavior and well-being.
The Restricted Data section outlines datasets that are accessible only within the secure UAS LINKAGE Data Enclave. These include:
1. Geocode crosswalks for linking UAS survey data to external contextual and administrative datasets.
2. Administrative data available for consenting UAS participants, such as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) records, Experian Credit Report data, Electronic Financial Account Records (transactions and account balances).
This section also provides detailed instructions on the application process and requirements for obtaining access to the UAS LINKAGE Data Enclave.

For Clients

This section provides an overview of the standard process and key milestones for collecting new data through the UAS. It highlights the platform’s capabilities and the full range of services offered, from survey development and programming to fielding and final data delivery. Prospective clients will also find information on the UAS pricing model, which is based on estimated survey length and sample size. Additionally, this section includes helpful documentation such as the general UAS Brochure and the UAS ESOMAR (European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research) Profile.

Publications

This section features a comprehensive list of academic publications, blog posts, media articles, and other scholarly works based on UAS data. Whenever possible, these publications are also linked to the webpages of the specific UAS surveys that contributed the data. To support transparency and replicability and to meet journal requirements, the UAS offers to host associated analytic datasets and code used in the published studies using UAS data.

Search

The search function can be used to locate keywords, phrases, question text, and other information from the UAS database of survey questions, the UAS website, and/or the list of publications based on UAS data.

Login/Register

This section provides the form to register for a free UAS data user account. Once registered, data users should enter their credentials here to log in and access the data.

Quick Access Links

The Quick Access Links on the left-hand-side of the homepage have the following meaning:

Introduction to the UAS provides a general description of the UAS and access to “Cohort profile: The Understanding America Study.” by A. Kapteyn, M. Angrisani, J. Darling, and T. Gutsche, BMJ Open, 2024, 14:e088183.
Getting Started Guide provides a direct link to download this document.
What's New lists the most recent UAS data releases, documentation updates, and quarterly data user newsletters.
Interactive Data Explorer offers interactive graphs that allow anyone to explore UAS data without the need to register as a data user or download datasets. A special subsection highlights trends in a limited number of variables collected monthly. This tool provides an intuitive way to visualize key variables over time and across demographic groups, making it easy for interested individuals to examine trends and patterns at a glance.