I was just polled!

[mamalone]

I just spent about 1/2 hour with someone from "IPSOS" polling.. has anyone here ever heard of them? Is there any way of finding out who they were working for? I did look the outfit up online and they seem legit. I had the immense pleasure of saying that I am absolutely sure I will be voting for Mr. Barack Obama for the POTUS:loveya: I also had the pleasure of sharing my disdain for Palin, and in particular expressing my "concern" over her lack of experience and questionable character.

Just wanted to share.. it was my first time ever being polled about anything remotely political and it was a hoot!

[TahitiNut]

1. Ipsos is the polling firm most often partnered with AP for polling.

It's allegedly "non-partisan" and has a fair track record and can be regarded as one of the "majors" in polling along with Rasmussen, Zogby, Gallup, etc.

[mamalone]

5. Wow...

How very nifty!

[lonestarnot]

14. I wanna be polled damn it!

}(

[TahitiNut]

15. It's common to poll Herefords in Texas.

:dunce:

I remind myself of that whenever I'm feeling horny.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polled

[lonestarnot]

16. Mooo.

Remember that commercial? I think it was the first of "got milk"

[TahitiNut]

17. Isn't that the sound of one hand clapping?

:dunce:

[lonestarnot]

23. LOL

:rofl:

[Zynx]

2. They poll for the AP.

[IndyOp]

3. Yes! Thank you for sticking with them for the full 1/2 hour - IPSOS is the real deal.

Here is the IPSOS website: http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/

I don't know if IPSOS leans right-ward or left-ward -- but I think they are generally well-respected.

Isn't it wonderful to know that you've gotten to contribute to an opinion poll that might just impact the opinions of others?

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[mamalone]

6. It really is wonderful!

I'm just a chubby little single mama from the middle of nowhere, so this is really a big thing for me... it's made my day, I'll tell ya:D

[livetohike]

4. Good for you!

:thumbsup:

[DeeDeeNY]

7. Nice to hear

Thanks for sharing.

[lpbk2713]

8. I received a 'poll' call a couple of days ago ... very annoying.

The pollsters couldn't even use a human. It was a computer generated
voice and I found it so annoying that I hung up early on. I would
have even preferred "Bob" from India over this.

[mamalone]

18. I got "Dave"...

but it was the first time I've ever talked to a Dave with such a strong Indian accent, so maybe in reality he was your friend "Bob" from India in cognito:hide:

[Better Today]

9. Could you share some of the questions? I understand that the wording can be critical

to the outcome of the results. . . so just wondering if they tried any sleight of hands?

[mamalone]

19. It seemed pretty straightforward...

I had to rate various views on a numerical scale, such as how qualified I felt Biden and Palin were to be VP- I gave them a 10 and a 1 respectively:D I also was asked multiple choice questions such as "How likely are you to vote in this Presidential election?" "certain to vote, very likely to vote," etc. Sorry I can't be more specific as to wording:(

They asked a bunch of questions about home ownership, mortgages and the like, and also some about the economy. They didn't ask anything at all about my faith or religious affiliation, which disappointed me- I wanted to be able to say that I go to church 3x/week and I'll be voting for Obama!

[Better Today]

24. Thank you, sounds like it was fair then.

[KharmaTrain]

10. Which State Are You In...

It'd be curious where they're polling this weekend...

[mamalone]

20. The wilds of upstate NY nt

[Patiod]

25. They generally use a national sample

And then call respondents that will reflect the national distribution of the population (I'm a market researcher)

The only time they would call somewhere specific is if they were looking at a local race.

[Patiod]

26. self-delete

[mamalone]

29. So how do you think I was selected then?

Was it on the basis of where I live? or did they possibly have personal info on me that led them to choose me?

[Patiod]

33. Random digit dialing

The poll organization buys sample from a company that creates lists as part of its business.

It says to the sample house "we want a nationally representative sample for a poll of 1200 people", and the sample house provides area codes and the first three digits of sample that should accurately represent the US geographically, racially, and income-wise (for example, very few numbers in WY, AK, SD, ND - lots of numbers in NY, CA, FL, TX) Then the polling company's random digit dialer will randomly dial up to 9999 numbers to go with those area codes and first three digits until they get somebody like you on the phone, instead of a hang-up, a fax machine, a business number, or someone who doesn't speak English (I'm not sure if companies have quotas for Spanish speakers - I used to do this back before it was as much of an issue - now I'm a focus group moderator - same industry, different specialization).

Anyway, once they talk to you, then the computer counts that as a complete.

The computer will tally the number of completed interviews in each sample cell to ensure that not too many or too few people from your exact area, and your self-identified race, income level, sex, party, and educational level are called.

The pollsters may also have set quotas for all these things, and when your call is finished, they will check off whatever you told them about those items, so they can tell how many more Dems they need, or women, or whatever.

So that's all to say that you're in no way pre-selected except for the first three digits of your area code (which are, however, preselected to help give them the geographical, racial, income, and education mix that they seek for as little money as possible.

[WillyT]

11. Land-Line, Or Cell Phone ???

:shrug:

[mamalone]

21. Land line nt

[Pirate Smile]

12. I bet everyone is polling this weekend. CNN just said they were doing one right now.

[Warpy]

13. AP/Ipsos/Reid and Harris are the only two polls worth watching

because they're the only two polls that don't fudge their numbers by "weighting" what they think party representation in the general population should be.

Congratulations! You just got polled by a real company!

[mamalone]

22. Thanks!

I really do feel honored. And like I was able to actually help the campaign a teensy bit- kinda like I was able to give Obama a hug in an odd sort of way, lol.

[Patiod]

27. Like winning the lottery - here's some more info on polls

Most people aren't aware how small a national sample has to be to be representative - usually <1200. Any smaller, and it's not likely to be accurate, - larger, and the chances of it being accurate aren't improved.

For the nerdlingers who are interested in polling, from a layman's perspective:
http://www.ncpp.org/?q=node/6

(why yes, this is my industry!)

[mamalone]

28. Cool, and thanks for that link!

All that makes it even better! Here's a question for you, Mr. Poll expert;) They asked me if I felt the country was on the right track... I had a hard time with that question and here's why. We have been on a terrible track for the last, but it almost seems like the tide is turning and we are starting on a new path. Of course the guy couldn't let me answer that way, and just repeated the question as it had been previously worded. I ended up responding that I felt we were on the wrong track... So how does one respond to questions like that, anyway?

[Patiod]

32. Yeah, that sucks that you're limited by your answers

You have no idea how much time is spent wording and re-wording questions, and then once the wording is set, it can't be changed because the questions are then used for "tracking", or following public opinion over time.

Since Obama can't change the direction of anything officially yet (except of course, the way campaigns engage people and collect money), your answer will reflect on your opinion of the current administration.

Glad to be of help - it's a strange little business, I know!

And it's Ms. Poll expert to you, mamalone! (:hi:)

[SheilaT]

30. I have been polled

many times in the past.

To add to what some others have said, good polling also requires that the sample include representatives from lots of different groups, one of which is going to include single moms who live in the country. It is possible that you're such a good one, and reachable by land line, that you may find yourself polled again in the future. Or not. Who knows?

[mamalone]

31. Well now, wouldn't that be nice!

They did aske me if I'd be willing to be polled again. I said Yes!:D

[Patiod]

34. Nope, they throw away the lists when they're done

I get polled a lot, but the polls are specific to Pennsylvania - I think they do state-specific polls in swing states more than in solidly blue or red states, but I could be wrong (I've never done political polling, just national consumer surveys)

[quantass]

35. mamalone , you're the best!