Social Sciences and History / Unit 9 SSH 0803 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Push Polls, Bradley Effects, Exit Polls: Naming a Poll's Flaw
The idea
The exam describes a poll and asks what is wrong with it, and the anchor's key terms supply the names. A straw poll is informal and non-random. A push poll is biased campaign information presented as a poll to change minds, a campaign device rather than a measurement. A leading question is worded to draw the desired answer. The Bradley effect is the gap between a poll and an election when respondents gave the socially desirable answer rather than a true one that might read as racist. An exit poll interviews voters leaving the polling place. A favorability poll measures positive feeling about a candidate.
In practice
Given "a call that asks whether you would still support the candidate knowing he was indicted", push poll. Given "readers of one magazine mailed in ballots", straw poll. Given "the candidate led by six and lost by two, and respondents feared seeming prejudiced", the Bradley effect. Given "interviews at the door of the precinct on Election Day", exit poll. Given "do you agree the reckless plan should be stopped", a leading question. Ask whether the poll measures, persuades, or mispredicts, and why.
Where people slip
The trap is calling a push poll a bad poll; the anchor says it is not a poll at all but campaign information in a poll's clothing. The second trap: a straw poll can be honest and still worthless.
Your place on the trail
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Unlocks
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