The
margin of error in polling is a very controversial topic. A margin of error in polling is how wrong or
how varied the poll could be from the actual opinion of the group. The margin of error can be decreased with a
larger random sample. The introduction
and large use of online polling has caused a huge problem with coming up with
and how accurate a margin of error is.
Since our society so heavily demands this statistic when shown a poll,
the people taking the poll must work hard to come up with their best estimate
on how big it is. The problem is that in
order for a margin of error to be accurate, it must have a truly random sample
and all the characteristics of a truly scientific poll. An online poll does not allow for this to
occur because the whole population is not available for polling and the people
that do take the poll are not at random.
Arguments
are taking place that the online surveys should not have to include the margin
of error in them because they are not a truly scientific and random poll to
begin with. Annie Petit, writer for the
Huffington Post, stated that people should stop having to ask for the margin of
error, especially in online polls. She
believes that the margin of error has encompassed the study and the
media/people are too worried about the margin of error than the actual data
found in the polling process. I side with
her on this because often times people will try and discredit/disregard a poll
or not believe it when it has such a large margin of error. The AAPOR or American Association for Public
Opinion Research has recommended to many polls that they should leave out the
polling error whenever dealing with opt-in polls like online polls. Huffington Post has stated that they are in a
bit of a pickle because they would be going against the AAPOR if they provided
the margin of error. But then again, if
they fail to do so then the general public could be angry that they cannot see
how accurate the data provided is.
Sources:
No comments:
Post a Comment