University Communications

Fourth annual national and Florida state survey goes to practical and ethical matters

SAINT LEO, FL – For the fourth consecutive year, the Saint Leo University Polling Institute (http://polls.saintleo.edu) has found a strong majority of Americans attesting to concern about climate change: 74.4 percent of those surveyed in February 2018 said they are either very concerned—40 percent—or somewhat concerned at 34.4 percent.

Of the remaining responses, 11.4 percent said they are somewhat unconcerned and another 11.3 percent said they are not at all concerned. A few, 2.9 percent, said they don’t know.

The Saint Leo University Polling Institute collected these responses from 1,007 adults from February 18 to February 24 using an online instrument. A parallel sample was taken in Florida with 500 respondents and results are nearly the same.

Four-Year Picture: Combined percentages of those who are very concerned or are somewhat concerned about climate change

Survey groups
2018 – %
2017 – %
2016 – %
2015 – %

U.S. sample
74.4
75.1
75.1
73

Florida sample
74.4
75.5
81.3
67

“Americans continue to show concern over global climate change, and the numbers of those who make the connection to human activities is also persistent,” said Dr. Leo Ondrovic, science faculty member at Saint Leo University. Ondrovic noted that over the years the proportion of respondents (both nationally and in Florida) who say they believe climate change is caused by both human activity and nature has been more than half. In February, 54.9 percent nationally and 56.4 percent in Florida indicated this belief. “Fewer than 5 percent said they do not believe climate change is occurring.”

The poll results also indicate respondents consider climate change a factor in some of the environmental events they know of or experience. “Roughly three out of four Americans believe climate change is to blame for rising sea […]

Polarization rings through as a theme in second year of Trump presidency

ST. LEO, FL – As the Trump administration enters its second year of governing, about eight in 10 Americans still report feeling divided from other Americans, and only one in three feel optimistic about reducing political discord, according to a February poll conducted among more than 1,000 adults by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute (http://polls.saintleo.edu). A parallel poll conducted with 500 Florida adults participating found very similar results.

High percentage levels of those polled said they observed a weakening of democracy. Those who reported strong levels of trust in White House statements, or in the mainstream media to report political news accurately, were less than half of those polled.

“The biggest change from last year is an even more pessimistic view of the country than we had last year both nationally and in Florida,” said Frank Orlando, political scientist and director of the Saint Leo University Polling Institute. “More respondents see democracy slipping away, fewer Americans are optimistic about reducing political discord, and nationally we have many more people arguing that not all free speech patterns should be protected. If the Trump presidency hasn’t been as catastrophic as those who voted against him believed from a policy perspective, it has certainly contributed to the growing sense of polarization and despair in the process. The camped battles, heated rhetoric, and media attention have made it very difficult to feel good about the state of public discourse,” he said.

Statements – respondents asked to read and report level of agreement or disagreement
U.S. – Strongly & Somewhat Agree 2/2018- %
U.S. – Strongly & Somewhat Agree 3/2017-%
Florida – Strongly & Somewhat Agree 2/2018- %
Florida – Strongly & Somewhat Agree 3/2017 -%

We […]

Mass shooting leaves public agitated but conflicted on gun policy

ST. LEO, FL – Americans who approve of the job performance of President Donald J. Trump lately came to 40.7 percent in the latest Saint Leo University Polling Institute (http://polls.saintleo.edu) survey, holding around the same level as previous poll results from November and September 2017.

The poll was conducted online among 1,007 respondents from February 18 through February 24, 2018. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points in either direction. The same questions were asked of a parallel sample of 500 respondents in Florida.

President Trump and other top Republicans continue to linger at approval ratings that are less than 50 percent in the Saint Leo survey. Respondents are specifically asked whether they strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job performance of the leaders. Results for strongly approve and somewhat approve are added together for the overall approval rating; the same process is applied to arrive at the disapproval rating.

Detailed Overall Approval Ratings Over Time for President Trump

Rate President Trump’s job performance

Feb. 2018
%
U.S.  |    FL

     Nov. 2017
%
   U.S.   |  FL

Sept. 2017
 – %
U.S. |   FL

March 2017
-%
 U.S.    |   FL

Combined approvals
40.7
42.6
41.2
41.8
42.8
43
44.1
48.7

Strongly approve
17.8
23.2
17.7
21.6
20.2
22
23.4
25.8

Somewhat approve
22.9
19.4
23.5
20.2
22.6
21
20.7
22.9

Frank Orlando, political scientist and director of the Saint Leo University Polling Institute commented: “In this hyper polarized era, it’s not surprising that President Trump’s approval rating hasn’t changed very much since he was elected. There’s very little he can do to convince his detractors to support him, and perhaps even less that would cause his supporters to jump ship.”

The survey also asks respondents to consider 15 specific topic areas and report how they rate President Trump’s job performance in those spheres. For instance, he garnered overall […]

New Saint Leo University Poll Shows Popularity High Among American Catholics

ST. LEO, FL – As he approaches the fifth anniversary of his papacy, Pope Francis continues to be popular among Americans, a new survey by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute (http://polls.saintleo.edu) shows.

The online poll, conducted from February 18 through February 24, asked 1,007 adults nationally if their opinion of Pope Francis was strongly favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or not at all favorable. The poll shows 65.6 percent of Americans say they have a favorable—very and somewhat combined—opinion of the pope.

As part of a Catholic university, founded on Benedictine traditions, the Saint Leo University Polling Institute consistently polls on the public’s opinion of the pope.

Among Catholics nationally, Pope Francis enjoys an 85.9 percent approval rating, which is an increase from 81.4 percent in the Saint Leo University Polling Institute’s November (2017) survey. That is lower than the 87.9 percent favorability he earned from Catholics in September (2017).

His overall popularity of 65.6 percent is higher than in previous polls. Francis’ favorability in November 2017 was 62.9 percent, according to the Saint Leo poll, down from 67.9 percent in September, and from 70.5 percent in March 2017.

“It’s not that surprising that we’ve seen the pope’s overall approval rating go up since the November poll,” said Dr. Marc Pugliese, assistant professor of religion and theology at Saint Leo University. “Over time we’ve seen a correspondence between the seasons of the liturgical year and the pope’s approval ratings. Our polls over the last couple of years show that Pope Francis’ approval ratings are higher during Lent and Advent. The spring 2018 poll took place immediately after Lent began this year.” Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent, began […]

ST. LEO, FL – More than one-quarter of Americans say they will make New Year’s resolutions, according to a new survey released by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute (http://polls.saintleo.edu). The poll, conducted online November 19-24, 2017, sampled 1,000 adults nationwide.

This year’s poll shows 29.8 percent of respondents say they plan to make resolutions, which is up slightly from 27.2 percent in 2016. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points in either direction.

Traditional New Year’s resolutions held steady, the poll shows, with top responses being: lose weight (55.7 percent); save more money (56 percent); travel more (29.5 percent); and spending more time with family (26.5 percent). But 4.4 percent say they resolve to spend less time with family, a percentage that is up from 2016’s response of 0.4 percent. Poll respondents were allowed to give multiple responses as to which resolutions they are likely to make.

Vacationing more and finding a new job ranked in the top five responses with 29.9 percent and 27.5 percent, respectively. These were up significantly from 2016 when 23.2 percent said they resolved to vacation more and 20.2 percent said they would look for a new job.

“At their core, most New Year’s resolutions seek to create a positive change in some aspect of life; most often an area that has caused worry, shame, regret. . .we make resolutions to create the chance to change these foibles and missteps in the next year,” said Dr. Christopher Wolfe, associate professor of psychology at Saint Leo University.

It is a hallmark within positive psychology that humans are innately striving to become better, Wolfe said.  “A father of the ideology, Abraham Maslow proposed that humans striving toward this better […]