OPINION POLLS

AND SURVEYS
 Difference between
a poll and a survey
= methods used to gather feedback from an audience or
population
A poll allows you to ask one multiple choice question.
Participants can choose from among answers that you
predefine. You can allow the voter to select just one answer or
allow them to choose multiple answers. You also have the
option of adding an Other field to allow a voter to enter their
own answer.
A survey allows you to ask multiple questions across a wider
range of question types. So you can ask for a comment, an
email address, a name, an address etc., as well as multiple
choice questions.
 Survey Questionnaires
Types of Questions
Structured (fixed response)
keep it short while ensuring that you capture all of the
information that you need
develop a set of objectives and list out the information that
you are trying to capture
make certain that the list covers all possible alternatives that
the respondent might select AND that each answer is unique
How much time do you spend, on average, solving your homework every
day? "less than 1 hour","less than 2 hours" etc.
include general catch all responses: "Other", "Don't know",
"None of the above"
use consistency in writing the list of responses
How many hours a day do you spend doing homework?
( ) 0 to 1 hour ( ) 120 to 180 minutes etc.
 Survey Questionnaires
Types of Questions
To capture varying degrees of emotion about a subject, it is
best to use either a rating or a ranking question.
A rating question - the degree with which respondents feel
about a certain topic, subject, event, etc...
Please describe how you felt about the Homecoming Rally.
Unsatisfied Somewhat Satisfied Satisfied Very Satisfied Extremely Satisfied
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
A ranking question - explain how they feel about something
by comparing it to other items in a list.
Please rank the following Homecoming activities in order of preference
(starting with 1 for your favorite activity).
___Homecoming Rally
___Homecoming Parade
___Homecoming Football Game
___Homecoming Dance
 Survey Questionnaires
Types of Questions
Non-structured (open-ended) - questions where there is no list
of answer choices from which to choose
you may have a partial list of answer choices
Why did you sign up for the Erasmus Buddies Program (please select all
that apply)?
( ) I really enjoy science
( ) My teacher asked me to sign up
( ) My teacher made me sign up
( ) My parents asked me to sign up
( ) I'm bored in science class & thought this would be fun
( ) I thought it would help me do a better project
( ) I thought it would help me win the Science Fair
( ) I thought having a Mentor to talk to would be fun
( ) I knew other students who were doing it
( ) Other _____________________
Tips to creating a good survey
questionnaire
Clearly state your intentions with the research: write a brief
statement explaining why you are collecting the information
and reassure each respondent that the information is entirely
anonymous.
Include instructions with your survey questionnaire:
Please mark the appropriate box next to your answer
choice with an "x" . Please answer all of the questions to
the best of your ability.
Don't ask for personal information unless you need it (place
the questions at the END)
Keep the questions short and concise
Ask only one question at a time (avoid the double barreled
question: How have teachers and students at your school
responded to the new 45-minute lunch period?)
Tips to creating a good survey
questionnaire
Make sure the questions are unbiased (leading)
Do you think that the new cafeteria lunch menu offers a better
variety of healthy foods than the old one?
( ) Yes
( ) No
( ) No Opinion
How do you feel about the new cafeteria lunch menu compared to
the old one?
( ) The new menu offers a better variety of healthy foods
( ) The old menu offers a better variety of healthy foods
( ) The selections are similar
( ) No opinion
Tips to creating a good survey
questionnaire
Ask questions that can be answered by your subjects
How much did you spend on school supplies last year?
( ) $0 - $10
( ) $11 - $20
( ) $21 - $30
( ) over $30
How much do you estimate you spent on school supplies in the
last year?
( ) $0 - $10
( ) $11 - $20
( ) $21 - $30
( ) over $30
Order/group questions according to subject
Test the survey questionnaire
 Valid Questions?
How much do you like doughnuts?
Do you like high quality pastries?
How many times a month would you visit a doughnut shop
located within three blocks of campus?
A Congressman sent a questionnaire to his constituents:
Should the phased-in tax reductions passed in 2001 be sped up
in an effort to stimulate the economy?
Do you favor killing unborn babies?
Do you believe that abortion should be legal?
Do you support the Presidents efforts to completely disarm
Iraq?
 Valid Questions?
1992 poll: did the Nazi Holocaust really happen?
Does it seem possible or does it seem impossible to you that
the Nazi extermination of the Jews never happened?
-22% possible, 12% did not know
Does it seem possible to you that the Nazi extermination of
the Jews never happened, or do you feel certain that it
happened?
- 91% the Holocaust happened
 Valid Questions?
Which of the following gaming systems
Do you currently own?
Have you used in the past 3 months?
Have you used in the past week?
(Please select all that apply in each column)

Which systems do you...

Own?
Use?
Use a lot?
(Please select all that apply in each column)
Valid Questions?
 Tips on Reading Polls
Check out the margin of error.
A 3 percent margin of error means plus or minus 3 percent, turning a
50 percent approval rating into one of 47-53 percent
What is the timing?
The further away from Election Day, the less meaningful the results
The random sample is the gold standard
If the respondents chose themselves (by deciding to take the survey)
= not an accurate picture of the public
What is the sample size
Be wary of polls that interview a small number of people
Compare across polls
Sources:
GUIDELINE ON OPINION POLLS AND PUBLISHED SURVEYS , 2014 ESOMAR and WAPOR
Http://www.Uky.Edu/AS/polisci/peffley/pdf/473measuring%20public%20opinion.Pdf
Http://obsurvey.Com/blog/the-difference-between-polls-and-survey-questionnaires/