3. What Problems Can Be Created by Public Opinion Polls?

Name:

A. http://www.cnn.com/fyi/interactive/news/10/election.special/teachers/bg.5.html

1. Historically, why and how was The Literary Digest poll of 1936 and the Gallup Poll of 1948 flawed? What lessons about polling were learned from these two polling mistakes?

2. In a poll, why must there be a clear and accurate link between sample and population?

3. What problems can be created by public opinion polls?

4. What are exit polls?

5. Why do most polls today rely primarily upon phone banks?

6. Could instantaneous polls via the Internet help or hinder American politics? Why?

7. What is meant by a poll's "sampling error"?

8. How is public opinion scientifically measured?

B. http://articles.latimes.com/2012/may/24/news/la-pn-five-rules-on-how-to-be-smart-about-polls-20120523

Summarize the five rules on how to be smart about polls:

C. http://www.people-press.org/files/legacy-pdf/292.pdf

1. Who votes? Why?

2. Who does not vote? Why?