Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why are you contacting me? 

To ask your valuable opinion on important issues in your area 

Why should I participate in your poll?

We the People is not just a phrase, but it is the fundamental structure that gives all people in voice in our country.  Public opinion holds elected officials accountable and gives a voice to the non-voter.  Public opinion research helps shine a light on economic, social, business, and political issues by asking people. 

How can I participate in your poll?

The vast majority of our research relies on random samples of the population to complete surveys. While this means that people cannot volunteer to do our survey, it also means that everyone has an equal chance to be selected. We use randomly generated lists of phone numbers in a process called Random Digit Dialing or RDD. This process only generates phone numbers, not names or personal identifying information. RDD ensures that all people in the population have an equal chance of being surveyed.

How did you get my phone number?

Our phone numbers are randomly generated by a computer. Our results do not contain names or phone numbers. Be assured of the confidentiality of your answers to our questions. Respondents’ phone numbers are not kept with the survey answers. Sometimes when we call, we ask for a person by name.  In these instances, we are calling randomly from a state voter file.

I am on the Do Not Call List – isn’t it illegal to contact me?

As stated on the FTC’s website, “calls from legitimate “survey” organizations are not covered because they are not offering to sell anything to consumers”.

Why haven’t I been called?

With a population of greater than 15 million adults in New York state, the likelihood of being selected is incredibly small. Nationally, the chances of selection are even smaller.

How Do I know that you’re not spam?

When our interviewers call, they usually start with a greeting like “Hello, this is Don from the Siena College Poll. We are conducting a brief confidential opinion survey today with people in your area. Are you 18 years of age or older?” At any point, you may ask the telephone interviewer for more information about the survey.

If you received an invitation to participate in a survey that is not a phone call, we include information about the study and refer you back to our website. 

Who is funding the research?

The short answer is that it depends.  While many of the surveys conducted are sponsored by Siena College, some work is sponsored by our clients who may include media entities, hospital networks, local governments, and much more. We never work for political candidates or campaigns nor do we participate in unethical research.

Is this a partisan poll? 

No, Siena College Research Institute does not work for political campaigns.

Who are your telephone interviewers?

Many of our telephone interviewers are students, mostly from Siena College but also from nearby institutions, who call in our Loudonville call center.  We also hire a small number of community members from across the nation to call remotely.

What languages are your survey conducted?

Many of our surveys are conducted in both English and Spanish.

How do I contact SCRI?

The main number for SRI is 518-782-6808 or 518-782-6833.

Where is Siena College?

Loudonville N.Y. Two miles north of Albany, Siena is located in the heart of New York’s Capital Region.

What is the ICS survey?

The Quarterly Consumer Confidence Index is a snapshot poll on the economy of New York State as seen through the eyes of its residents. The purpose of this survey is to inform the public and policy makers about voters’ opinions on important economic issues, such as gas and food prices.

What is the SNY survey?

The Siena New York Poll (SNY), is a snapshot poll on timely events and political topics conducted with registered voters from throughout New York State. This survey is generally conducted monthly.  The purpose of this survey is to inform the public and policy makers about voters’ opinions on important political and policy issues.

What happens after I take the survey?

SCRI will send a press release to a list of interested parties including, but not limited to, members of the press, politicians and other policy makers. Television, telephone and radio interviews will be conducted. The press release and cross-tabulations will also be posted on our website: scri.siena.edu.

I’ve been called. Where can I find the results?

The vast majority of our surveys are publicly released. Results of our polls are published on our website; X, Instagram, and Facebook. Please follow us on social media to see our latest results as soon as they are released. You can also sign up to receive our email newsletter. On rare occasion, our client work is not released publicly. Results of these studies are also made available to people in government and business, and are published online, in newspapers, journals and on radio and TV.

X: @SienaResearch

Instagram: @SienaResearch

Facebook: Siena College Research Institute