Stop Writing About Polls Comparing Obama to Frank Underwood
The results are misleading, and tell us more about our own insecurities than they do Obama's popularity.
Browsing Tag
Polling
24 posts
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Interviews in Political Coverage
Actually talking to voters can be invaluable. It can also lead you to believe things that are completely wrong.
Freaking Out About Outliers: When the Polls Are Way Off
The idea of such a small number of people being used to predict how millions will vote sometimes irks observers, but it's actually a very reliable process—most of the time.
Where Do Latinos Stand on Major Political Issues? Well, It Depends
New research finds the political opinions expressed by Latinos in America can be quite different depending on whether they are polled in English or Spanish.
Can the United States Government Ever Be Trusted?
For the first time ever, the American National Election Study has allowed respondents in its annual survey of trust in government to answer "never." Here's how that simple addition changed results.
The Use and Abuse of Polling in American Politics
Last week's fight over PPP's decision to hold back the results of a poll highlight how too many pollsters operating in the political sphere take an Ivory Tower attitude, disavowing responsibility for the consequences of their work.
We All Want More of Everything—Except Taxes: How Opinion Polling Constrains Washington
How are politicians supposed to take cues from their constituents when polls don't account for economic realities?
Gay Marriage: A Country Is Moving, Its People Not So Much
Comparing a multi-year study of attitudes with other surveys suggests that America's growing acceptance of gay marriage does not necessarily mean that individual feelings have shifted.
Why Are You So Smart, Stan Greenberg?
Noah Davis talks to the democratic pollster and political strategist about the over-reliance on numbers, understanding new places, and being really intelligent.
Sample This: Making Sense of Surveys
There are a lot of shoddy polls out there. Some are frank about their shortcomings and some aren't. Here are some ideas for getting an accurate picture of what a poll can tell you.