Silicon Valley Poll

About the Silicon Valley Poll

The Silicon Valley Poll is an extensive public opinion survey placed in the field annually by Joint Venture and its research arm, the Silicon Valley Institute for Regional Studies. Carried out in partnership with The Mercury News and Bay Area News Group, the Poll tracks recurring questions probing how residents feel about the general direction of the region and their stance on a range of policy and planning questions. Each year the poll also poses timely and topical questions about current events.

What is the poll methodology?

The Silicon Valley Poll is a scientifically valid survey of 1,736 residents carried out online over a four-day period. Conducted in English, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), and Vietnamese, Poll respondents reside in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties. The survey is stratified by age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, sub-region, and the respondents’ vote in the most recent presidential election. The modeled margin of error is typically 2.7 percent.

Change Research, Inc., and its subsidiary Embold Research carry out the field work in partnership with Joint Venture’s Institute for Regional Studies.

Reach and impact

The Poll is a tool placed in the hands of the community, and it provides valuable information for decision makers.

Residents and their leaders from every sector gather each year for a detailed briefing on the Poll results, which are also reported extensively in the press.

The Silicon Valley Poll is a companion piece to the Silicon Valley Index, a comprehensive report presenting hundreds of indicators on the strength of the Bay Area economy and the health of its community. The Index reports on the facts about the region; the Poll provides valuable information about people’s view of Silicon Valley’s major trends and challenges.