All polls are surveys based on samples drawn from parent populations
Public opinion polls stimulate considerable debate and speculation amongst the media, the public and politicians.
Opinion polls essentially attempt to capture public opinion, or the public’s mood, on a given issue at a particular moment in time. Opinion polls are regularly conducted on voting intentions and leadership preferences, but can be undertaken on any social or commercial matter that the polling groups or commissioners of such polls determine.
“Some people think cola drinks are bad for you. What do you think?”
Instead, frame the question neutrally.
“What is your opinion about cola drinks?”
By keeping questions neutral, you reduce question bias.
A poll is only as good as the questions it asks. Questions, therefore, should be simple, clear, and above all, neutral. For example, instead of "Don't you think that funding social programs is more important than spending on defense?" a more neutral question would be "Which do you feel is more crucial, spending on social programs or on defense?"
The two basic types of polling questions are open questions, questions that pose a problem and ask respondents for their opinions, as in "What do you feel is the most serious problem facing the United
States?" and closed questions, questions in which the responses must be from among the choices offered, as in "Which of the following candidates do you favor at this time? a) Gephardt b) Simon c) Hart
d) None of the above."
It is imperative in qualitative research that participants perceptions and beliefs in understanding social processes must be given priority over the researchers own.
Research bias and the expectations of the researcher consciously or unconsciously does affect the findings of the study.
Example
Don’t you agree that social workers should earn more money than they currently earn?
The phrase “Don’t you agree” leads the respondent. A more neutral wording would be:
Do you believe social worker salaries are a little lower than they should be,
Opinion polls essentially attempt to capture public opinion, or the public’s mood, on a given issue at a particular moment in time. Opinion polls are regularly conducted on voting intentions and leadership preferences, but can be undertaken on any social or commercial matter that the polling groups or commissioners of such polls determine.
“Some people think cola drinks are bad for you. What do you think?”
Instead, frame the question neutrally.
“What is your opinion about cola drinks?”
By keeping questions neutral, you reduce question bias.
A poll is only as good as the questions it asks. Questions, therefore, should be simple, clear, and above all, neutral. For example, instead of "Don't you think that funding social programs is more important than spending on defense?" a more neutral question would be "Which do you feel is more crucial, spending on social programs or on defense?"
The two basic types of polling questions are open questions, questions that pose a problem and ask respondents for their opinions, as in "What do you feel is the most serious problem facing the United
States?" and closed questions, questions in which the responses must be from among the choices offered, as in "Which of the following candidates do you favor at this time? a) Gephardt b) Simon c) Hart
d) None of the above."
It is imperative in qualitative research that participants perceptions and beliefs in understanding social processes must be given priority over the researchers own.
Research bias and the expectations of the researcher consciously or unconsciously does affect the findings of the study.
Example
Don’t you agree that social workers should earn more money than they currently earn?
The phrase “Don’t you agree” leads the respondent. A more neutral wording would be:
Do you believe social worker salaries are a little lower than they should be,