{"id":40802244401,"date":"2019-10-10T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-10T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/?post_type=poll&p=40802244401"},"modified":"2019-10-09T13:39:03","modified_gmt":"2019-10-09T17:39:03","slug":"monmouthpoll_us_101019","status":"publish","type":"poll","link":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/reports\/monmouthpoll_us_101019\/","title":{"rendered":"Halloween Faves, Costume Don\u2019ts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

West Long\nBranch, NJ<\/em> \u2013 The Monmouth University Poll<\/em><\/strong> finds that\nabout half the American public loves Halloween and half does not. Most parents\nsay their kids will be trick-or-treating this year, but not without an adult\nchaperone \u2013 even the teenagers. Just under one-third of adults will also be\ndonning a Halloween costume, but one with blackface makeup is a definite\nno-no.  The poll also finds the nation\u2019s\nmost popular candy is a runaway favorite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost\n1-in-10 Americans (8%) say that Halloween is their favorite holiday of the year\nand another 37% say it is one of their favorite holidays.  A slight majority (53%), though, say it is\nnot a favorite holiday for them.  Younger\nadults aged 18 to 34 years old (58%) are the most likely to rank Halloween as\namong their favorite holidays, while those aged 55 and older (32%) are the\nleast likely. People aged 35 to 54 years old (48%) fall in between those two\ngroups. Hispanic (53%) and white Americans (46%) are more likely than black\nAmericans (28%) to rate Halloween as a favorite holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a\nsplit decision on Halloween. Nearly half the country ranks it up there with\ntheir top holidays while the other half could do without it,\u201d said Patrick\nMurray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Halloween\nwould not be complete without treats. Among a list of eight top-selling types\nof candy, the most popular one by far is Reese\u2019s Peanut Butter Cups, with 36%\nof Americans picking this as their favorite. In second place is Snickers at\n18%, and M&M\u2019s round out the top three at 11%. The other five candies named\nin the poll receive far fewer votes as top choice, including Hershey bars (6%),\ncandy corn (6%), Skittles (5%), Starburst (4%), and Tootsie Pops (2%).  There are some slight regional variations \u2013\ne.g. Reese\u2019s cups are somewhat more likely to be the top pick in the Midwest\n(41%), Northeast (37%), and Southeast (36%) than they are in the West (32%) and\nSouthwest\/Mountain (30%) regions \u2013 while Snickers bars are slightly more\npopular in the West (22%) and Southwest\/Mountain (21%) regions than they are in\nthe Southeast (17%), Northeast (16%), and Midwest (16%). However, the top three\ncandies stay in the same order across every region of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCandy corn\neven making the list may surprise some people, but it is one of the top-selling\nHalloween candies in the country. We don\u2019t know if it\u2019s one of the top-eaten\ncandies, but it does have a fan base. And candy corn make great fake teeth to\ncreep out your parents with,\u201d said Murray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seven-in-ten\nparents and caregivers (70%) report that their children plan to go\ntrick-or-treating this year, including 82% who have at least one child age 12\nor younger in the household and 37% of those who only have teenagers in the\nhousehold. Very few of these parents will be allowing their children to go out\non their own for Halloween. Nearly all (95%) of those with younger children who\nare trick-or-treating this year will have an adult chaperone. Even most parents\nof teenagers who will be trick-or-treating this year (76%) say that these older\nchildren will also be accompanied by an adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThose days\nare long gone when parents would usher their costumed little ones out the door\nand tell them to be home by dark. Even teenagers get a watchful eye, which was\npretty much unheard of a generation ago,\u201d said Murray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The poll\nfinds that 3-in-10 adults (29%) intend to dress up in a costume themselves for\nHalloween.  This includes 50% of those\naged 18-34, 29% of those aged 35-54, and 10% of those aged 55 and older. Women\n(32%) are slightly more likely than men (25%) to don a Halloween costume. This\nis also somewhat more popular on the coasts (37% of Western US residents and\n32% of Northeast residents) than it is in other parts of the country (28%\nSouthwest\/Mountain region, 24% Midwest, 24% Southeast). Hispanic adults (38%)\nare more likely than white (27%) or black (19%) adults to say they will dress\nup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One practice that most Americans frown upon is when white people use face-darkening makeup to dress up as a different race as part of a Halloween costume. Just 31% say this is acceptable and 58% say it is not. Negative opinion softens a bit, but not much, if the intention is to dress up as a specific celebrity or famous person \u2013 38% say darkening one\u2019s skin for this type of costume is acceptable and 52% say it is not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White (30%), Hispanic (28%), and black adults (24%) are about as equally as likely to say that it is acceptable for a white person to darken their skin as part of a Halloween costume in general. Acceptance of this practice rises somewhat among whites (39%) and Hispanics (39%) if the costume is of a known celebrity, but opinion among black Americans (25%) does not budge regardless of who the costume is meant to portray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is\nalso a partisan difference in views of this practice among white Americans.\nFour-in-10 white Republicans (41%) are okay with the idea of skin darkening for\na Halloween costume in general and 51% say this is acceptable if the costume is\nof a known celebrity.  Three-in-ten white\nindependents (30%) are okay with skin darkening for a costume in general and\n41% say it is acceptable for a celebrity costume.  On the other hand, just 18% of white\nDemocrats find skin darkening for a Halloween costume to be acceptable and only\nslightly more (22%) say the same if the costume is portraying a known celebrity\nor famous person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProminent\nfigures dressing in blackface has been in the news recently, but those\nincidents all occurred many years ago. \nWhile most of the public finds this behavior objectionable, there is\nstill a sizable minority who say it could be acceptable under certain\ncircumstances,\u201d said Murray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Monmouth University Poll<\/em>\nwas conducted by telephone from September 23 to 29, 2019 with 1,161 adults in\nthe United States.  The question results in this release have a margin of\nerror of +\/- 2.9 percentage points. The poll was conducted by the Monmouth\nUniversity Polling Institute in West Long Branch, NJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QUESTIONS\nAND RESULTS      <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(* Some columns may not add to 100% due to\nrounding.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Q1-24 previously released.<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

25.<\/span> Would you say Halloween is your most favorite holiday of the year, one of your favorite holidays, or not a favorite holiday?<\/span><\/p>\n
\n  \n <\/td>\n Sept.
\n 2019<\/strong><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Most favorite holiday\n <\/td>\n 8%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n One of your favorite holidays\n <\/td>\n 37%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Not a favorite holiday\n <\/td>\n 53%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL) Don\u2019t know\n <\/td>\n 2%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (n)<\/em><\/em>\n <\/td>\n (1,161)<\/em><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

[Q26 was asked of households with children under\nthe age of 18; n=328, moe +\/-5.4<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

26.<\/span> Will any children in your household go trick-or-treating this year, or not? [If YES: <\/em>Will they go out on their own, or will they be accompanied by an adult chaperone?]<\/span><\/p>\n
\n  \n <\/td>\n Sept.
\n 2019<\/strong><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Yes, on their own or\n with teen\/sibling\n <\/td>\n 4%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Yes, adult chaperone\n <\/td>\n 64%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Yes, not sure who with\n <\/td>\n 2%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n No, will not go\n <\/td>\n 26%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL) Don\u2019t know\n <\/td>\n 4%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (n)<\/em><\/em>\n <\/td>\n (328)<\/em><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

27.<\/span> Of the following choices, which is your favorite candy for Halloween? [CHOICES WERE ROTATED<\/em>]<\/span><\/p>\n
\n  \n <\/td>\n Sept.
\n 2019<\/strong><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Candy corn\n <\/td>\n 6%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Skittles\n <\/td>\n 5%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Reese\u2019s Peanut Butter Cups\n <\/td>\n 36%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Snickers\n <\/td>\n 18%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n M&M\u2019s\n <\/td>\n 11%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Starburst\n <\/td>\n 4%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Tootsie Pops\n <\/td>\n 2%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Plain Hershey bars\n <\/td>\n 6%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL) Other\/none of\n these\n <\/td>\n 6%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL) Do not eat candy\n <\/td>\n 4%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL) Don\u2019t know\n <\/td>\n 2%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (n)<\/em><\/em>\n <\/td>\n (1,161)<\/em><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

28.<\/span> Will you personally wear a Halloween costume this year, or not?<\/span><\/p>\n
\n  \n <\/td>\n Sept.
\n 2019<\/strong><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Yes\n <\/td>\n 29%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n No\n <\/td>\n 67%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL) Don\u2019t know\n <\/td>\n 4%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (n)<\/em><\/em>\n <\/td>\n (1,161)<\/em><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

29.<\/span> Do you think it is generally acceptable or not acceptable for a white person to use makeup to darken their face to dress up as a different race as part of a Halloween costume?<\/span><\/p>\n
\n  \n <\/td>\n Sept.
\n 2019<\/strong><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Acceptable\n <\/td>\n 31%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Not acceptable\n <\/td>\n 58%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL) Depends\n <\/td>\n 6%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL) Don\u2019t know\n <\/td>\n 5%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (n)<\/em><\/em>\n <\/td>\n (1,161)<\/em><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

30.<\/span> Do you think it is acceptable or not acceptable for a white person to use makeup to darken their face to dress for Halloween if they are going as a celebrity or other famous person of a different race?<\/span><\/p>\n
\n  \n <\/td>\n Sept.
\n 2019<\/strong><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Acceptable\n <\/td>\n 38%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Not acceptable\n <\/td>\n 52%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL) Depends\n <\/td>\n 4%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (VOL) Don\u2019t know\n <\/td>\n 6%<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n (n)<\/em><\/em>\n <\/td>\n (1,161)<\/em><\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

METHODOLOGY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Monmouth\nUniversity Poll<\/em> was sponsored and conducted by the Monmouth University\nPolling Institute from September 23 to 29, 2019 with a national random sample\nof 1,161 adults age 18 and older, in English. This includes 465 contacted\nby a live interviewer on a landline telephone and 696 contacted by a live\ninterviewer on a cell phone. Telephone numbers were selected through\nrandom digit dialing and landline respondents were selected with a modified\nTroldahl-Carter youngest adult household screen. Monmouth is responsible for all\naspects of the survey design, data weighting and analysis. Final sample is\nweighted for region, age, education, gender and race based on US Census\ninformation. Data collection support provided by Braun Research (field)\nand Dynata (RDD sample). For results based on this sample, one can say\nwith 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling has a maximum\nmargin of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points (unadjusted for sample\ndesign). Sampling error can be larger for sub-groups (see table below). In\naddition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and\npractical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into\nthe findings of opinion polls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n DEMOGRAPHICS (weighted)<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Self-Reported<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 26%\n Republican<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 44% Independent<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 30% Democrat<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n  <\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 48% Male<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 52% Female<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n  <\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 31% 18-34<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 33% 35-54<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 35% 55+<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n  <\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 64% White<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 12% Black<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 16%\n Hispanic<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n   8% Asian\/Other<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n  <\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 69% No\n degree<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n 31% 4 year\n degree<\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n  <\/em> <\/em>\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

Click on pdf file\nlink below for full methodology and crosstabs by key demographic groups.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Very few trick-or-treaters will be unchaperoned<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":40802244402,"template":"","geography":[18],"class_list":["post-40802244401","poll","type-poll","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","geography-national"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll\/40802244401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/poll"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll\/40802244401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40802244413,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll\/40802244401\/revisions\/40802244413"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40802244402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40802244401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"geography","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/geography?post=40802244401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}