COVID-19 Reporting

With the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in 2020 many Commonwealth agencies are looking for information to assist with decision-making and policy planning. The Institute, with collaborations by the PA State Data Center and Center for Survey Research, has embarked on collecting and analyzing data from surveys and other sources to produce reports illustrating aspects of the ongoing pandemic.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Pennsylvania Child Care

Comprehensive survey and analysis of the readiness and sustainability of child care centers in the Commonwealth as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In collaboration with the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Pennsylvania Key, and the Consortium for Policy Research in Education, University of Pennsylvania.

View the Report

COVID-19 Report Series: Employment Risk

Quantifying Establishments and Employment in "Life Sustaining" Industries and Impact on Unemployment Claims

View the Report

COVID-19 Report Series: Medical Risk

Mapping and Assessing Medical Risk Across the Commonwealth

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COVID-19 Report Series: Differences in Economic, Physical, and Mental Health by Age

Depending on age, COVID-19 is having a disproportionate effect on people’s economic, physical, and mental health.

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Results from the Center for Survey Research's Lion Poll

The Lion Poll is an annual omnibus poll of the Commonwealth where stakeholders can include questions in the survey to gain better insight into the opinions and statistics of Pennsylvanians. The current LionPoll included questions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the response by the Commonwealth and others. The results of these questions will generate informational reports. Learn more about the Lion Poll from CSR.

Survey Result: Trust in Public Officials

Results from the Center for Survey Research's Lion Poll

The fall 2020 Lion Poll, administered by the Center for Survey Research, aimed to explore Pennsylvanians’ experiences with and attitudes toward the coronavirus pandemic using statewide, scientific data. The data collected found that a higher coronavirus impact is possible among Black/Latino communities and some Pennsylvania regions due to lower expected vaccination rates. The survey also found that the 65 and over population are more certain about getting vaccinated.

View the Report

Publications and Reports

The Institute produces many publications and reports; here is a sample of our recent products.

United Way of Lebanon County – 2017 Needs Assessment

Institute staff completed a needs assessment for the United Way of Lebanon County. The research team completed secondary data analysis, focus groups, a community survey, and facilitated a Community Conversation session in an effort to understand the demographic make-up, unmet needs, utilization of services, and barriers to receiving services for those living in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.

View the Community Needs Assessment

Pennsylvania’s Perceptions of Police Worn Body Cameras – Dr. Jennifer Gibbs, Timothy Servinsky Jr., Nicole Sturges, and Stephanie L. Wehnau

The Center for Survey Research collaborated with Dr. Jennifer Gibbs to explore views of adult Pennsylvanians’ regarding feelings of safety if a police officer was wearing a video camera. In addition to the research brief, the Center sponsored a panel discussion event. More information on the panel can be found here: Police-Worn Body Cameras Panel.

View the Research

School of Public Affairs Lion Poll – Fall 2018

The Center for Survey Research assisted the Penn State Harrisburg School of Public Affairs with an omnibus survey of adult Pennsylvanians on a series of public policy and crime and justice-related issues. The poll explored the following topics: crime victimization, homeland security, satisfaction with government services, human trafficking, criminal justice reform, and the Affordable Care Act.

Read announcement of poll results

York Counts Indicators

The Pennsylvania State Data Center works with the York County Community Foundation to create the datafiles and graphics necessary to update and expand county-wide quality of life indicators for York County.

View the data

United Way of the Capital Region

The Pennsylvania State Data Center developed and continues to update a Community Dashboard to serve as a web-based resource for residents of the Capital Region to access data and information on key indicators that impact the lives of all.

View the website

Pennsylvania Criminal Justice Trend Reports

The Pennsylvania State Data Center has provided data services, data management, web development and digital dashboards to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for over 10 years. This include the commission’s annual Crime Trend reports.

View the website

Pennsylvania Population Projections

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania contracted with the Institute (Pennsylvania State Data Center) to conduct population projections for the commonwealth and its 67 counties for 2010 to 2040.

View the projections

Homelessness in the Commonwealth

The Pennsylvania State Data Center developed a story map about homelessness in Pennsylvania. The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program divides Pennsylvania into 16 Zones. These zones serve as the area in which Point-in-Time counts will be coordinated in the last 10 days in January each year. The count serves as a snap shot of the homeless population and the estimates are used for funding within each zone. Each map is interactive and shows homeless statistics for the corresponding CoC Zone when clicked on.

View the map

Population Characteristics and Change: 2010-2017

The Pennsylvania State Data Center developed a research brief with a interactive charts showing population characteristics and change. At the end of the report, there is a link to a dashboard which show the state and county population estimates by detailed characteristics for every state and their counties.

View the estimates