the misuse of stats. I've consulted for companies on survey design and
analysis. I think that I may know a little bit about the topic.
Reputable firms and organizations always publish the poll questions.
They also include the methodology of the survey. Just from that alone
you can tell a lot about the reliability and validity (both internal
and external read Cook and Campbell for definitions of that, or other
decent quasi-experimental design book) of the poll.
Internal political polls, or those with an agenda who are reporting
polls may use misleading questions or will slant the polls. The most
egregious ones I have found lately have been those organizations who
support the Bush agenda. The poll published recently by a republican
oriented 527 is a good example of that. I'll get the URL tomorrow.
The Harris organization has a good reputation for its polls.
Similarly Gallup and the Pew Trusts tend to be very neutral on the
development of its polling questions. The last survey Fox News
sponsored is a good example of biased poll design.
larry
On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 19:36:39 -0700 (PDT), Sam Morris
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Take a class called lying with statistics.
>
> OK, maybe saying they are NEVER accurate isn't
> correct. Most polls can be read to say whatever you
> want them to. I rarley see one that's not misleading.
> Just look at the questions asked when they're
> published. They usually force an answer they want.
>
> -sm
>
> --- "Larry C. Lyons" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Say what. And what do you base this on? I know a
> > little bit about
> > statistics, survey taking and design, and that is an
> > astonishing piece
> > of ignornace. You simply don't know what you are
> > talking about.
> >
> > larry
> >
> >
> > On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 16:38:28 -0700 (PDT), Sam Morris
> > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> > > Polls are never acurate and should never be
> > thought of
> > > as so. I never said the poll was fact, I was just
> > > pointing out that there's no love for America up
> > > North. If your poll says there is than I'm not
> > sure
> > > how much I would trust it.
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
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