History of the Poll

* “Winthrop views the Winthrop Poll as a new element in its long-time tradition of service to South Carolina.” -Winthrop President Anthony DiGiorgio

* “Given the rise of South Carolina to a place of prominence in presidential primary terms, data on evolving attitudes of citizens of the state will take on increasing importance in national terms." -Dr. Scott Huffmon, director of both Winthrop’s Social and Behavioral Research Lab and the Winthrop Poll

The Winthrop Poll is a long-term survey initiative designed to keep public policy makers across the country in touch with the attitudes and opinions of South Carolina residents – and South Carolina residents in touch with the viewpoints that are dominant in their state at any given time. It is the only “snapshot” of public policy attitudes of the residents of the state of South Carolina.

The first Winthrop Poll was conducted in the fall of 2006 from Winthrop’s computer-assisted telephone interviewing research lab during the first half of October. In the survey, 559 randomly selected South Carolinians age 18 and up were queried on a range of social and political issues. The results have a margin of error of plus/minus 4.14 percent, at the 95 percent confidence level.

In spring 2007, SC ETV and Winthrop partnered for the first Winthrop/ETV Poll and expanded the poll in August 2008 to include the Southeastern region.

The Winthrop Social and Behavioral Research Lab conducts other polls annually, some under contract to various public and private sector organizations, and some for academic research purposes.

The lab integrates students into the process, offering them the opportunity to gain guided, hands-on experience in a real-world social and behavioral research environment, integrating sampling theory and methodology, professional calling techniques, computer-aided telephone interviewing technology, and post-survey results analysis.