What Do You Think About On-Line Polls?

[ThomWV]

Nobody seems to think on-line polls have an ounce of validity, but an awful lot of us take the time to participate in them. Sometimes I wonder if they might tell us more than we give them credit for.

This seems interesting too. I just saw one in which 82% of those responding said they did not seek religious guidance in an entertainment choice. So 18% do. Now that second number, the 18% who do look to outside religious guidance, isn't a number that I find surprising. I suspect that depending on your circle of acquaintances it might seem a little high or a little low to you, but overall I don't think anyone is much amazed by it. Why then would the very same people who would accept that number not agree that there was any validity in a similar poll from same web site asking as question such as should there be serious inquiry into impeachment of the President by the Congress? I don't understand how the results, like them or not, of asking one question are seemingly valid but the other is not.

[Jara sang]

1. I think ALL polls are bullshit.

They are devised by propagandist and marketing expert to manipulate the publics moods and perceptions.

[OKNancy]

2. They just do them to get hits

on their site. Websites like CNN and MSNBC know we are going to vote in them.
They just want us to visit.
I think they give us an idea about what people with computers and those who like to vote in polls think.
It's a fraction of the general populace.

[ThomWV]

3. I Realize That

But the question is this, are they a representative fraction?

I don't doubt that the questions may be bullshit, but that doesn't mean that the answers are too.

[RagingInMiami]

5. You should have asked this question

in an online poll.

[4morewars]

9. LOL !

That was my first thought !

:bounce:

[Gormy Cuss]

7. In a word, no.

In order for them to be representative one would need to know the demographics of the eligible population and whether the respondents reflect those demographics. For example, knowing that the responses reflect twice the participation rate by green eyed monsters as is present in the eligible population means that at a minimum before reporting the results you must attach statistical weights to give the smaller number of responses by the cookie monsters a more representative percent. Even then there may be residual bias.

Bullshit questions are a whole other story.

[robbedvoter]

4. CNN used to pawn them on the air during the recount in 2000

If that's done, it's worth doing it - just for the publicity. Otherwise, a waste of time LIKE ALL POLLS!

[BuyingThyme]

6. The online polls are EXTREMELY useful.

They constantly reflect how people are being affected by the media.

You can discount the numbers, and use that line about "non-scientific" (which has no place in any such discussions), but the online polls always seem to tell us, on an issue to issue basis, whether or not the truth is getting through.

[slackmaster]

8. Any poll in which respondents choose themselves is WORTHLESS

They always get hit by people who care strongly about whatever issue, and by people who want to influence the outcome.

[TahitiNut]

11. You mean like a General Election, right?

After all, that's a poll where people choose themselves - whether or not to vote at all. So, a General Election is "worthless" because it doesn't 'represent' what ALL people want, right?

I'm waiting for the ballot to have a "Warning: This Is Not a Scientific Poll" notice.

[slackmaster]

12. I think I need a drink

The intellectual content of posts on DU is going downhill rapidly.

So, a General Election is "worthless" because it doesn't 'represent' what ALL people want, right?

A properly run election, with safeguards to prevent people from voting more than once and to ensure an accurate count, determines the will of all the eligible people who care enough to bother to vote in it. It has nothing to do with science.

[dalaigh lllama]

10. I rather enjoy them

They at least indicate how many computer users care enough about an issue to participate in the poll. And, even if they're not scientifically valid, I'll bet they still get looked at for some indication of public opinion trends.

Besides, it's nice to see our vote counted somewhere.