Author Topic: poll about poll questions.... (Read 226 times)

lazs2 · « **on:** February 28, 2004, 10:05:37 AM »

Which of these questions appears to be the better poll question..

"Would you like to see guns and gun ownership introduced to your country, guns to be made freely available at retail outlets, and for gun ownership by private citizens to be all but unrestricted, and guaranteed by contitutional right?"

or...

do you think that your countries firearms laws are too strict... not strict enough?

I am sure that there are people on this BB who are familiar with polls... It just seems that the first one needs to be answered to each of four parts while the second only requires that the person at most... have 3 options all very clear... he can say too strict or not strict enough or baby bear just right.

Would you take a response to the second part of the first poll question (guns be made freely available at retail outfits) to mean that the person had answered all they other three parts?

What conclusions could you draw from the answer "I don't think that criminals or children should be allowed to have fireams."?

What conclussion could you draw from the answer "I think my countries firearms laws are too strict."? or... "not strict enough"?

which poll would best describe how people felt about their countries fireams laws?

lazs

Nilsen · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2004, 11:21:30 AM »

Swoop · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2004, 11:22:49 AM »

That to.

Leslie · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2004, 12:27:28 PM »

The second question is not leading or manipulative. It is straight forward and seeks one answer only, while the first question is actually four separate and distinct questions, each requiring an answer. You may agree with parts of that question, and disagree with other parts. So how could a single answer yield accurate results? Would be better if it was broken down into separate questions for a meaningful poll.

Any poll participated in by volunteer poll takers, such as one here on this BBS for example, would be a non-scientific poll. Scientific polls must represent a random sampling of the community, i.e. the poll conductor must chose who answers from a random sampling to ensure everyone being polled has an equal chance of responding.

Poll results also contain a margin of error due to the science of Statistics. It is a fairly complex undertaking. Volunteer polls can be entertaining, but for all practical purposes are meaningless in reaching a conclusion.

Here is a link for more information:

20 Questions for Journalists

Les

lazs2 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2004, 01:30:35 PM »

so... I guess it is fair to say that everyone agrees that their countries firearms laws are too stict and that beetles poll question was indeed.... 4 questions.

lazs