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 [[Coca-Cola]] better. These are very unreliable because, like in phone-in polls, people can vote as many times as they feel like. | + | 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. [[Push-polls]] contact potential voters and ask questions intended to plant a message, usually negative, rather than gauging attitudes. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,311957,00.html McCain Campaign Asks N.H. Attorney General to Investigate Anti-Romney Calls]</ref> |
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 [[margin of error]], like + or - 5%, because no poll is entirely accurate. | 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 [[margin of error]], like + or - 5%, because no poll is entirely accurate. | ||
| − | Exit polls are controversial, because voting is considered private, and exit polls ask people when they leave the booth how they voted. They usually ask only a fraction of the voters, but they're able to make a pretty good estimate of who's going to win the election. | + | Exit polls are controversial, because voting is considered private, and exit polls ask people when they leave the booth how they voted. They usually ask only a fraction of the voters, but they're able to make a pretty good estimate of who's going to win the election. |
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | {{reflist|2}} | ||
[[category:politics]] | [[category:politics]] | ||
Revision as of 23:30, November 16, 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. Push-polls contact potential voters and ask questions intended to plant a message, usually negative, rather than gauging attitudes. [1]
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 margin of error, like + or - 5%, because no poll is entirely accurate.
Exit polls are controversial, because voting is considered private, and exit polls ask people when they leave the booth how they voted. They usually ask only a fraction of the voters, but they're able to make a pretty good estimate of who's going to win the election.