In my 40 years I have never actually known any one who was asked to participate in things like the Gallup Poll. And most the time I find my views different greatly from the poll results. So I always wonder who it is that they actually ask ... are they real people? or just made up ones? :)
2007-08-15 06:10:10 · 7 answers · asked by wildflowerblossom 2 in News & Events ➔ Media & Journalism
A few, over the phone, and I think we did a Neilson survey about tv shows years ago.
I agree... normally the 'polls' mentioned in the news don't match my opinion of things. The big thing is, and they don't really mention this part.... is how many people did they actually poll? Were all the people all in the same geographic area? If they ask 275 women in south Florida if they like thermal underwear/long johns, the overwhelming answer would probably be 'no'. As the same number from Bimidji, MN and the answer will probably be 'yes'.
So, the next time you see a poll, or even results of a clinical trial (for a new drug or vaccine or something), look at the numbers and location.
That's a really sad thing about the media these days... they think that everyone will fall for the hype of their 'polls' which are hardly scientific.
My 2 cents.
G
2007-08-15 06:25:45 · answer #1 · answered by Genie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A reputable polling organization will always ask "real people" and further, they will calculate the sampling error. This is that + or - number given after the poll results that takes into account the size of the sample that they used. There are statistical formulas that calculate this error rate for them based on the size of the universe they are attempting to grasp via the sample and the sample size. The larger the sample size, the smaller the margin of error.
As for the poster who talks about sampling Florida women about longjohns, no REPUTABLE polling entity would ever commit such an obvious error.
The reason an INDIVIDUAL can and frequently does differ from the "majority" opinion expressed via a poll is natural. If 75% of people feel some way, that leaves 25% who feel otherwise. Someone has to fall into that 25%!!
2007-08-15 06:35:47 · answer #2 · answered by jurydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've done a few of them -- I'm in a radio survey that starts tomorrow, in fact.
If you look at probability, you know that you don't need to flip a coin 1,000 times to find out you'll get heads 50 percent of the time. Same with asking any question -- it takes a smaller sample size than you'd think.
The polling companies should be filled with professionals, who give everyone an equal chance of being asked,and whose questions are "loaded" in a particular fashion. Besides, they have a big interest in getting scientifically accurate results. If they cheat and are found out, they are out of business the next day.
2007-08-15 14:26:26 · answer #3 · answered by wdx2bb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did one..it was a poll and survey thing..someone called me..and said that if i went online and filled out this survey and participated in the poll they would send me a 50 dollar gift card to the place i choose..they had a few options...so i went online..took the survey..it was a medical one but i dont remember what for what exactly but a lot of it was about hospital care..and if i thought about it how i thought it could have been improved
i did get the gift certificate tho!
2007-08-15 06:22:45 · answer #4 · answered by hi_iduntcyber_doyou 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wish I had been asked - I could give them an ear full!
Only polls are the non-scientific ones for the news websites on-line. I do those all the time.
2007-08-15 06:18:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One night I was sitting at home, and the phone rang. It was CBS Evening News. They called my house at random, and asked me to participate in a poll.
2007-08-15 06:28:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yah lots of them, mostly in the net only..
2007-08-15 06:16:11 · answer #7 · answered by Dale rocks 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋