2020 Time Series Study

About the Dataset

• Type of study: ANES Time Series Study
• Total number of interviews: 8,280 pre-election; 7,449 post-election

Fresh Cross-Sectional Sample

• Sample universe: U.S. eligible voters (cross-section)
• Sample composition: fresh cross-section cases
• Number of waves: 2 (pre-eIection, post-election)
• Number of interviews: 5,441 pre-election; 4,779 post-election
• Modes used: internet, phone, and video

ANES 2016-2020 Panel Sample

• Sample universe: ANES 2016 web and face-to-face post-election respondents
• Sample composition: ANES 2016 respondents
• Number of waves: 2 (pre-eIection, post-election)
• Number of interviews: 2,839 pre-election; 2,670 post-election
• Modes used: internet

Study Content Highlights

New content for the 2020 pre-election survey includes variables on sexual harassment and misconduct, health insurance, identity politics, immigration, media trust and misinformation, institutional legitimacy, campaigns, party images, trade tariffs and tax policy.

New content for the 2020 post-election survey includes voting experiences, attitudes toward public health officials and organizations, anti-elitism, faith in experts/science, climate change, gun control, opioids, rural-urban identity, international trade, sexual harassment and MeToo, transgender military service, perception of foreign countries, group empathy, social media usage, misinformation, and personal experiences.

Study Design Highlights

Data collection for the ANES 2020 Time Series Study pre-election interviews began in August 2020 and continued until Election Day, Tuesday (November 3). Post-election interviews began soon after the election and continued through the end of December. This field period began earlier than the traditional ANES field period, which typically starts the day after Labor Day and concludes the day before Election Day.

The ANES 2020 Time Series Study features a fresh cross-sectional sample, with respondents randomly assigned to one of three sequential mode groups: web only, mixed web (i.e., web and phone), and mixed video (i.e., video, web, and phone). The study also features re-interviews with 2016 ANES respondents (conducted by web), and post-election surveys with respondents from the General Social Survey (GSS). Data from GSS participants have been separately released as part of the ANES-GSS 2020 Joint Study.

Weights Summary

Several weight variables are available, each intended to be used with particular study components or aggregations of cases. Weights should be used in analyses to accurately represent the population. For correct standard errors, users should employ procedures that take into account the complex sampling design.

Citation

American National Election Studies. 2021. ANES 2020 Time Series Study Full Release [dataset and documentation]. February 10, 2022 version. www.electionstudies.org