The issue: Poll questions (mostly those in which information is limited and citizens are less informed) are often worded in a misleading and loaded fashion, therefore, significantly changing the results of the poll and how the public accepts it. In addition, there are many sampling techniques (snowball, probability, systematic, etc.) that each serves a different purpose to both the poll and the organization conducting the poll.
Major Strength: A major strength of this reading is that Asher covers possibilities for why each method of sampling is important and why it would be the chosen alternative. He uses his explanations and in-depth analysis (talking about time, thought and effort given) of each method to combat the anxiety and skepticism people have about polling techniques.
Major Weakness: Asher talked about various kinds of polling methods like mail-in and telephone polls, however, I feel that he left out a method that is becoming increasingly more popular – the online polls. I don’t have experience with telephone or mail-in polls, but I have been prompted and participated via online polls. Most times it is on a website asking for feedback on a particular article or product the site is featuring. For example, Cosmopolitan constantly generates polls like “What do you think of this outfit?” which require easy responses like one click of the mouse. Since we are in the digital age and everything is going more towards a web presence I was surprised he didn’t include this type of modern polling in addition to the more traditional methods.
Underlying Assumption: I think a major underlying assumption is that researchers and those conducting the polls are using sampling techniques that are with the country’s best interest at heart and not just doing what is easiest for them. Keeping the polling process as organic as possible will generate effective and accurate results instead of skewed and biases opinions erroneously reflecting the nation’s beliefs.
Provocative Questions:
1) Asher encourages the public to be more aware about the selected population answering these polls on behalf of the nation. He suggests we ask questions revolving around the willingness to participate and how the sample size was chosen. With this is mind, why is it a surprise that every time the same poll is given to a different population the results are somewhat different? If every sample size (of volunteers not hand picked citizens) is generated by people of different backgrounds, makeups, experiences, etc. then shouldn’t the results always be different?
2) What is the likelihood of a person consenting and participating in a poll when approached via phone or mail-in form? What is the percentage of individuals who actually participate verses the number of people they contacted in hopes of getting a varied enough sample?