WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Americans are somewhat pessimistic that Democrats, who assume control of Congress this week, will carry out "real" reforms, according to survey findings released Tuesday.

New members of the 110th Congress will be sworn in Thursday.

The CNN poll conducted last month by Opinion Research Corporation found 49 percent of the 1,019 respondents believe Democrats will carry out no significant reforms; 46 percent believe they will.

Still, the 46 percent is an increase over a poll taken after Republicans took over both houses of Congress in 1994, and pledged to follow their "Contract With America." At that time, only 37 percent of Americans expected reform to follow.

In the latest poll, six in 10 people approve of how the Democrats are handling the transition from Republican control -- in 1994, just 50 percent approved of how House Speaker Newt Gingrich was handling the transition.

Full poll results