The Docking Institute of Public Policy recently released the annual Kansas Speaks Survey of public opinion. A panel of 520 adult residents of Kansans age 18 and older were surveyed online to assess their attitudes and opinions regarding various issues of interest to Kansas citizens. This year’s survey covered topics including quality of life, the economy, satisfaction with government, politicians, and election integrity, a range of public policy issues, and the state of education in Kansas.
“With continuing inflation and persistent declines in the stock market since December, the positive rating of the Kansas economy has slipped somewhat in comparison to the 2021 Kansas Speaks survey,” said survey co-author Jian Sun.
Docking Institute director and survey co-author Brett Zollinger added, “Support for Medicaid expansion in Kansas remains high, with again over 70% supporting it this year.”
Select findings from the 2022 Kansas Speaks Survey include:
- The majority of those surveyed (66%) believe Kansas was on the “right track,” this year, no different than in last year’s Kansas Speaks Survey
- Fewer (16.1%) respondents felt the state economy was “very good” or “excellent” in this year’s survey, slightly lower than last year (21.4%)
- Support for Medicaid expansion in Kansas in 2022 (72%) remained very similar to the support registered in the 2021 survey (73%)
- For four consecutive years, Gov. Laura Kelly continues to enjoy the highest satisfaction rating (50.4%) among a list of state and federal officeholders and governing bodies.
Three political scientists from other Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) universities collaborated with Docking Institute staff on this year’s survey, including Patrick Miller from the University of Kansas, Alexandra Middlewood from Wichita State University, and Michael Smith of Emporia State University.
These policy fellows worked closely with Docking Institute researchers in establishing survey content and in methodological decisions. Miller offered survey items in the areas of election security, climate change, and abortion attitudes/policy; Middlewood contributed to gun ownership and attitudes toward various common gun control measure questioning, and Smith offered survey items on election security.
About the Docking Institute of Public Affairs
The primary mission of Fort Hays State University's Docking Institute of Public Affairs is to facilitate effective public policy decision-making among governmental and non-profit entities. The Institute’s work is centered on four primary areas of focus, including:
- Public policy and public opinion, survey research for governmental and nonprofit entities
- Strategic planning and consulting
- Public affairs programming through conferences, speakers, forums, television and radio programming, newspaper columns, and scholarly publications
- Public administration and leadership training programs
Original source can be found here.
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