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Transparency
Data Sources
Transparency matters — here’s how we source, verify, and present the data behind the Index.
Transparency matters. The Moral Decay Index uses public data, peer-reviewed research, and clearly identified reputable surveys to provide context for its eight indicators. The Index is an independent editorial framework—not an official government statistic or a clinical instrument.
Our sourcing standard
We prioritize original, current, and methodologically transparent sources. Preferred sources include the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Justice Statistics, CDC and National Center for Health Statistics, SAMHSA, FBI, NIH, Congressional Research Service, Government Accountability Office, peer-reviewed journals, major universities, Gallup, and Pew Research Center.How evidence is presented
- Claims should identify the relevant population, time period, geography, and definition.
- Estimates and survey results are labeled as estimates rather than treated as exact counts.
- Correlation is not presented as proof of causation.
- Uncertainty, limitations, and meaningful disagreements between sources are disclosed.
- Where data changes over time, articles should show the publication or update date.
When sources disagree
Different datasets can use different definitions, collection methods, or time periods. When credible sources conflict, we explain the difference and avoid implying that one number settles a complex moral or political question.Index scores
Current indicator and overall scores are provisional editorial estimates intended to organize public discussion. They should not be interpreted as scientifically validated measurements. A detailed calculation table and revision history will be added as the methodology develops.Indicator by indicator
The datasets behind each indicator
The six indicators in the State and Country Index are built from the public datasets below. Each entry names the specific programme rather than only the agency, because agencies publish many series and the distinction matters when a reader wants to check a figure.| Indicator | Primary sources | Publication cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Religious Decline | Gallup annual religion tracking (attendance and affiliation); Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study | Gallup annual; Pew periodic |
| Family Breakdown | U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, and the America’s Families and Living Arrangements tables; CDC National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System marriage and divorce series | Annual |
| Crime and Violence | FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program and the National Incident-Based Reporting System, via the Crime Data Explorer; Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey | Annual, with revisions |
| Substance Abuse | SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health; CDC National Center for Health Statistics drug overdose mortality data via CDC WONDER | NSDUH annual; mortality provisional then final |
| Mental Health Crisis | CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; SAMHSA state and national prevalence estimates | Annual |
| Civic Disengagement | U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey Voting and Registration Supplement; the Volunteering and Civic Life Supplement produced with AmeriCorps | Voting biennial (November); volunteering periodic |
International figures
Country-level scores draw on cross-national series rather than U.S. federal collections: the OECD social and health indicator databases, the World Bank World Development Indicators, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime homicide and drug statistics, and the World Health Organization Global Health Observatory. Where a country reports through a national statistical office on a different definition, the cross-national series is preferred so that countries remain comparable to one another.Why the cycles matter
These programmes do not publish on a common schedule, and several revise prior years after first release. Crime reporting is voluntary for some agencies and coverage changes between years. Survey-based indicators carry sampling error that a single point estimate does not show. A composite built across them describes a period, not a moment, and small differences between two jurisdictions should not be read as meaningful.Naming a dataset here indicates that it informs an indicator. It does not indicate that any agency listed has reviewed, endorsed, or participated in the Moral Decay Index. The scores are this publication’s own editorial estimates, and any error in them is this publication’s own.