Difference between revisions of "Poll"
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A '''poll''' is a survey of a group of people, often the public, about an issue in [[politics]], [[religion]], business or other subject matter. | A '''poll''' is a survey of a group of people, often the public, about an issue in [[politics]], [[religion]], business or other subject matter. | ||
| − | There are many different ways to conduct a poll. [[Straw polls]] are very common on the [[Internet]], like when they ask if you like [[Pepsi]] or [[ | + | There are many different ways to conduct a poll. [[Straw polls]] are very common on the [[Internet]], like when they ask if you like [[Pepsi]] or [[Coca-Cola]] better. These are very unreliable because, like in phone-in polls, people can vote as many times as they feel like. |
| + | Random sampling is a method which is much more reliable because a large number of radomly chosen people each vote once on pertinint issues. Ther is always a [[magin of error]], like + or - 5%, because no poll is entirely accurate. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Exit polls are controversial | ||
[[category:politics]] | [[category:politics]] | ||
Revision as of 19:32, October 22, 2007
A poll is a survey of a group of people, often the public, about an issue in politics, religion, business or other subject matter.
There are many different ways to conduct a poll. Straw polls are very common on the Internet, like when they ask if you like Pepsi or Coca-Cola better. These are very unreliable because, like in phone-in polls, people can vote as many times as they feel like.
Random sampling is a method which is much more reliable because a large number of radomly chosen people each vote once on pertinint issues. Ther is always a magin of error, like + or - 5%, because no poll is entirely accurate.
Exit polls are controversial