Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Being Discerning When It Comes To Polling Data

Every now and then I see “man-on-the-street” interviews in which random people at a mall or random people on a busy street are asked relatively simple, basic questions, about political issues or matters of American history.  These interviews reveal that many people are woefully uninformed when it comes to these matters.

So, when I see polls which tell how the American public feels about some slightly more complex issue I must admit I am skeptical regarding the value of such information.

If many average people cannot identify a picture of the Vice President of the United States or provide his name, what are we supposed to think when we encounter the results of a poll which tells us the opinion of the public regarding some type of policy initiative?  Are these poll results reflecting the opinions of, basically, the same folks who are unable to tell us whether or not Lincoln finished out his final term in office?

If some group seeks to influence us by reporting the results of a poll which claims to provide insight into the public opinion about a matter it would probably be wise for us to be careful and discerning when it comes to our interpretation of those poll results and their usefulness.

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