Celebrating 9 years of viewpoints: Key group of people that helps advance research marks anniversary
The CHRR-affiliated group of Americans that offers insights to researchers study-after-study is celebrating its 9th anniversary this month!
The group, known as the American Population Panel (APP), is a collection of people who represent a variety of demographics and are ready to be surveyed at any time. By answering questions about their lives and opinions, the participants help advance social science research and make surveying easier and more efficient. CHRR is forever grateful for the continued dedication and time commitment from our APP members – numbering at more than 50,000.
People in every region of the United States are part of the panel, surveyed on topics ranging from sports to driving habits to mental health. Check out the stats below originating from recent APP research, and explore more studies on the panel bibliography.
17% of parents think it's likely their child will become an Olympic athlete or go pro *
62% of Ohioans trust the state's public universities to provide a good education **
In a recent study, health support workers were 43% less likely to receive blood pressure screenings than clinicians ***
17% of parents think it's likely their child will become an Olympic athlete or go pro *
62% of Ohioans trust the state's public universities to provide a good education **
In a recent study, health support workers were 43% less likely to receive blood pressure screenings than clinicians ***
Perks of a panel
One of the most exciting aspects of the APP is that researchers can easily re-survey the same people later and measure changes. This is known as a longitudinal study. Also, the APP is an opt-in panel, which means that people volunteer to participate. Conducting surveys with a pre-assembled group of volunteers makes it easier to reach and gather participants than a truly randomized effort, known as address-based sampling (ABS). This means an opt-in panel is significantly less expensive than ABS and also faster. It should be noted that the methodological rigor of an opt-in sample is not as strong as ABS, but opt-in panels are a great fit for various research scenarios such as a thesis or dissertation, a pilot phase before submitting a grant application, or a proof-of-concept project.
The panel’s demographic mix also is a huge benefit for researchers who want to customize a participant pool to study a specific group. Let’s take a glance at some interesting facts about who makes up the APP:
- When it comes to age groups, millennials have the largest representation.
- The most common education level of participants is an undergraduate degree.
- The Midwest and South have the greatest regional membership.
THOUGHTS FROM APP MEMBERS
Research sources
All research sourced below is made possible through surveys conducted using CHRR’s American Population Panel.
* Source: McLeod, C. M., & Knoester, C. (2025). Parental Expectations for Children’s Future Athletic Achievement: The Roles of Socioeconomic Status, Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Athletic Experiences and Identities. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 50(1). doi.org/10.1177/01937235251392534
** Source: Gavazzi, S. (2026). Turning on the RADAR in Ohio: Civic Education and Public Trust in Higher Education. RADAR: Recognize, Analyze, Diagnose, Act, Review. go.osu.edu/radarpaper
*** Source: Jun, J., Frogner, B., Carle, A., and Tubbs-Cooley, H. (2026). Preventive Care Utilization, Employer-Sponsored Benefits, and Influences on Utilization by Healthcare Occupational Groups. Workplace Health & Safety, 74(4). doi.org/10.1177/21650799251408100