{"id":101279,"date":"2020-06-04T12:15:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-04T17:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2020\/06\/04\/video-what-is-machine-learning-and-how-does-it-work\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T16:19:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T20:19:48","slug":"video-what-is-machine-learning-and-how-does-it-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/data-labs\/2020\/06\/04\/video-what-is-machine-learning-and-how-does-it-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Methods 101: What is machine learning, and how does it work?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This video from our\u00a0Methods 101 series explains the basics of machine learning \u2013\u00a0using computer programs to identify patterns in data \u2013\u00a0and how it allows researchers at the Center to analyze data on a large scale. To learn more about polling basics, watch our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLZ9z-Af5ISavJpPlvdMU4T-etIDOUmldk\">Methods 101 video series<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<nav style=\"line-height:1\" class=\"items-justified-left is-style-pills wp-block-navigation is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-956e015c wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Methods 101 Menu\"><ul style=\"line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__container items-justified-left is-style-pills wp-block-navigation\"><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/2017\/05\/12\/methods-101-video-random-sampling\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Random Sampling<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/2018\/03\/21\/methods-101-video-question-wording\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Survey Question Wording<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/2019\/02\/07\/methods-101-mode-effects\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Mode effects<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/2018\/08\/06\/video-explainer-what-are-nonprobability-surveys\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">What are nonprobability surveys?<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/2019\/07\/16\/video-how-is-polling-done-around-the-world\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">How is polling done around the world?<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/2020\/06\/04\/video-what-is-machine-learning-and-how-does-it-work\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">What is machine learning, and how does it work?<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/2025\/11\/20\/video-why-have-polls-underestimated-donald-trump\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Why have polls underestimated Donald Trump?<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/2026\/02\/11\/video-how-do-polls-work-when-no-one-answers-the-phone-anymore\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">How do polls work when no one answers the phone anymore?<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Methods 101: What is machine learning, and how does it work?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A4KIW4O8bYM?feature=oembed&#038;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" 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