Journalists are constantly bombarded with data from polls, particularly as election day approaches. Here are some questions you should ask as you’re covering the numbers:
- Who conducted the poll?
- Who sponsored or paid for the poll?
- How many people were surveyed and what’s the margin of error?
- Who are respondents (registered voters, likely voters, state residents, etc.)?
- When was the survey conducted?
- How the respondents were contacted (in person, by phone, internet, etc.)?
- Were the data weighted? How?
Remember that all public opinion surveys offer a slice of what people are thinking at one given time. Consider these additional questions to put the results in context:
- What is the environment in which the poll was conducted?
- Have any events occurred that might affect people’s knowledge and views? Fast-moving election campaigns might need context such as: The survey was conducted before Candidate X was endorsed on Sunday by the two largest media organizations in the state.
Taken from Understanding and Interpreting Polls, a self-directed course at Poynter NewsU, developed in partnership with the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR).
Have you missed a Coffee Break Course? Here’s our complete lineup. Or follow along at #coffeebreakcourse.
