CARA Catholic Polls:
National Portraits of the U.S. Self-identified Catholic Population
Since 2000, CARA has been surveying Catholics nationally. CARA conducted 43 of these surveys from 2000 to 2024. CARA has utilized interviewing by telephone and self-administered surveys onscreen. CARA can conduct polls with probability-based sampling or using opt-in online panels. The variability in sampling and survey methods allows for the widest range of clients to commission surveys of the Catholic population. Generally, costs start at $18,000 for a stand-alone survey. At times, CARA will already be planning a national survey and a client can buy into this with a small number of questions for an even more affordable cost. The most expensive type of polling, using probability-based sampling can cost from $65,000 to $85,000, generally speaking. In addition to surveying nationally, CARA can also survey at the state and regional level.
CARA designs surveys with our clients in a back-and-forth review process to best meet their research needs. CARA will provide advice, based on our experience and expertise, but in the end the survey is entirely focused on the questions our clients want answered. CARA has an extensive library of existing, tested survey questions. We will also work with clients to develop new questions for topics we have yet to explore.
CARA creates a narrative report of findings for each survey. This includes tables, figures, and even maps, where appropriate and applicable. CARA will analyze the dataset for major sub-group differences in the responses and report on any of these which are statistically significant. The most salient sub-groups tend to be generation, race and ethnicity, and frequency of Mass attendance. Our clients own the data and report and decide whether to release these publicly.
From time-to-time, CARA also conducts studies based on its own research interests, when funding is available to do so. This fits within our mission to 1) increase the Church’s self-understanding; 2) to serve the applied research needs of Church decision-makers; and 3) to advance scholarly research on religion, particularly Catholicism. CARA regularly publishes books, research articles, and presents at conferences using our own data or data that our clients allow us to work with publicly.
To inquire more about conducting a survey contact Dr. Mark Gray at 202-687-0885 or mmg34@georgetown.edu.
Archive of Recent Publicly Available Reports Utilizing CARA Catholic Polls (clients commissioning a study determine whether it is released publicly or not):