The findings in Squeeze Play 2009 are based on telephone interviews with a national random sample of 1,009 adults
aged 18 and over. Interviews were conducted from December 23rd through December 28th, 2008. The margin of error for
total respondents is plus or minus 3.09 percentage points. It is higher when comparing percentages across subgroups.
The response rate for this study was calculated to be 14.3 percent, and six attempts were made to reach each respondent. The survey data was weighted to provide nationally representative and projectable estimate of the adult population
18 years of age and older. The weighting process takes into account the disproportionate probabilities of household
selection, and the sample is post-stratified and balanced by key demographics — age, sex, region and education.
Results of less than 0.5 are signified by an asterisk (*). Results of zero are signified by an en dash (–). Data not available is signified by an em dash (—).
Responses may not always total 100% due to rounding. Combining answer categories
may produce slight discrepancies between the numbers in these survey results and numbers in the report. Trend data
from previous reports may be based on questions with slightly different wording.
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Previous reports covering public attitudes toward higher education:
2007: Squeeze Play: How Parents and the Public Look at Higher Education Today
2004: Public Attitudes on Higher Education: A Trend Analysis, 1993 to 2003
2000: Great Expectations: How the Public and Parents — White, African American and Hispanic — View Higher Education
1998: The Price Of Admission: The Growing Importance Of Higher Education
1993: The Closing Gateway