[et_pb_section fb_built="1" fullwidth="on" _builder_version="4.16" _module_preset="default" background_color="#f9f9f9" use_background_color_gradient="on" background_color_gradient_direction="330deg" background_color_gradient_stops="#2ea3f2 0%|#2e6df4 100%" background_color_gradient_start="#2ea3f2" background_color_gradient_end="#2e6df4" global_colors_info="{}" theme_builder_area="post_content"][et_pb_fullwidth_header title="Assessing Poll Validity" content_max_width="none" _builder_version="4.18.0" _module_preset="default" title_text_color="#000000" subhead_text_color="#5F6A72" background_color="#F9F9F9" custom_padding_tablet="" custom_padding_phone="0px||0px||false|false" custom_padding_last_edited="on|phone" title_font_size_tablet="" title_font_size_phone="28px" title_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" global_colors_info="{}" button_one_text_size__hover_enabled="off" button_two_text_size__hover_enabled="off" button_one_text_color__hover_enabled="off" button_two_text_color__hover_enabled="off" button_one_border_width__hover_enabled="off" button_two_border_width__hover_enabled="off" button_one_border_color__hover_enabled="off" button_two_border_color__hover_enabled="off" button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled="off" button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled="off" button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled="off" button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled="off" button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled="off" button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled="off" theme_builder_area="post_content"][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built="1" module_id="about" _builder_version="4.17.3" _module_preset="default" custom_padding="||13px|||" global_colors_info="{}" theme_builder_area="post_content"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.18.0" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}" theme_builder_area="post_content"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.17.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}" theme_builder_area="post_content"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.18.0" _module_preset="default" hover_enabled="0" global_colors_info="{}" theme_builder_area="post_content" sticky_enabled="0"]<p>There is no universal rule to determine what makes a poll ‘valid.’ However, all public reports of survey findings should include reference to the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>Sponsorship of the survey</li>
<li>Dates of interviewing</li>
<li>Method of obtaining the interviews (in-person, telephone or mail)</li>
<li>Population that was sampled</li>
<li>Size of the sample</li>
<li>Size and description of the sub-sample, if the survey report relies primarily on less than the total sample</li>
<li>Complete wording of the questions upon which the release is based</li>
<li>The percentages upon which conclusions are based</li>
</ul>
<p>The key things to look for are sample size and corresponding margin of error (be cautious of results when the margin of error exceeds 5 or 6 points); whether the sample was scientifically chosen or whether respondents were self-selected (typical of ‘900’ call-in polls and many web-site polls); and the wording and order of the questions (look for questions that seem to ‘push’ the respondent to an answer by describing some options more attractively than others).</p>
<p>More information is available in the short publication Twenty Questions A Journalist Should Ask About Poll Results by Sheldon Gawiser and G. Evans Witt. The pamphlet is available from the National Council on Public Polls or using the link below.</p>
<p><a href="https://ropercenter.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/20%20Questions%203rd%20edition_Web%20ver_2006.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">20 Questions A Journalist Should Ask About Poll Results</a></p>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]