This document discusses internet activity, public opinion polls, and how to conduct scientific polls. It notes that websites may not be legitimate and to verify information from unknown sources. Wikipedia is mentioned as a starting point but not authoritative. Public opinion polls are used by candidates, analysts, and media to understand preferences and opinions. Scientific polls involve defining the population, a random sample, valid questions, and controlled administration. The document provides examples of bad question types to avoid, such as double negatives, double-barreled questions, leading questions, question order bias, unbalanced questions, and complex language.

1. The Internet & Public Opinion
Polls

2. Here’s What’s Going On.
• Go over Internet Activity from
yesterday.
• Then, talking about the Internet.
• Then, chatting about public opinion
polls.
• Last, a special surprise.

3. So, what was the point of
yesterday?
• Websites can look legit, but aren’t.
• Pay attention to who made the website
(candy association telling you about the
nutritional value of candy?)
• Just because it says that it has been updated,
doesn’t mean it has.
• Use Google and other resources to discover
more information about any organization

4. A Quick Word About
Wikipedia…
• NOT an authoritative source
• HOWEVER, it can be very useful
– Good starting point
– Check the sources cited at the bottom for
good resources

5. Future of the Internet and
Politics?
• Obama Campaign
– Mobilize large number of people cheaply
– YouTube = free advertising
– Fact checking
– Spreading the message across social
networks (Facebook, Myspace etc.)
– More efficient communication

6. Public Opinion Polls
• Why use public opinion polls?
– Candidates want to discover public
preferences
– Political analysts want to know about public
opinion
– Media find it to be an interesting story

7. Types of Polls
• Straw
– Attempt to discover the public’s opinion by
asking the same question to a large
number of people
– Common on TV, talk radio & Internet

8. • Scientific poll
– Valid questions!
– Random sample
– Large sample

9. 5 steps to conducting a
scientific poll
1. Define the population to be polled.
2. Construct a sample.
3. Prepare valid questions.
4. Select and control the means by which
the poll will be taken
5. Report your findings

10. Avoiding “Bad” Questions
• Double negative
– An affirmative constructed from two
negatives
– Ex. “I did not want to not go to the store.”
– Better = “I wanted to go to the store.”

11. Avoiding “Bad” Questions
• Double-barreled
– A pair of options is offered but the
response alternatives are only “Yes” or
“No”
– Ex. “Did you vote in the 2004 and the 2006
election?”
– How can we make this better?

12. Avoiding “Bad” Questions
• Leading
– Initial phrase leads respondent by
suggesting the position of an authority with
which it might be difficult to disagree.
– Ex. “Do you support President Bush’s
decision to send additional troops to Iraq?”
– Better = “Do you favor or oppose sending
additional troops to Iraq?”

13. Avoiding “Bad” Questions
• Question order
– The order of questions may be designed to
“lead” the respondent to a certain
predictable response.

14. Avoiding “Bad” Questions
• Unbalanced questions
– Do not equally represent two sides of an
issue
– Ex. “Do you support the United States
taking military action against Iraq?”
– Better = “Do you support or oppose the
United States taking military action against
Iraq?”

15. Avoiding “Bad” Questions
• Complex language
– Questions are worded awkwardly or use
highly specific or technical language
– Ex. “Do you think Congress should pass
legislation to facilitate single-payer cost
reimbursement plans for indigent patients?”