Measuring Public Opinion

Non-Scientific Methods Party organizations have traditionally provided reliable information on public opinion. Letters, e-mails, phone calls, and faxes provide elected officials with public opinion. Straw polls provide a biased sample of public opinion. Public opinion is also reflected on political websites, blogs, and social networking sites.

Scientific Polling Scientific polling begins by determining a universe, or group, to be studied. A representative sample of the group being studied is polled by random sampling. Interpreting a poll requires knowing who paid for the poll, who responded, and the sampling error. Writing questions which push a respondent to a particular answer is called “push polling.”

Uses of Polling Data Politicians may use polling data to introduce a bill or decide how to vote on a related bill. Media use of polling data may shape public opinion.