How much do you rely on political polls?

2016-07-15T13:12:23-04:00

Statistical analysis is essential to many areas of human endeavor and study. No sport has benefited more from statistics than baseball. Quality assurance programs cannot operate, cannot improve and maintain the production of reliable products and services without proper application of statistical arts and sciences. Sadly, political polls have been used to influence voting rather than predict voting. Their failure in recent decades causes me to wonder if anyone actually pays attention to them anymore. Then I see the many recent postings on RP inspired by stories about pollsters and poll results and it seems they still do. Do you?

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jul 15 at 2016 1:18 PM

2016-07-15T13:18:11-04:00

I don't rely on political polls CPT Jack Durish at all. As a trained ORSA I learned years ago about survey design and sampling techniques. Most political polls are biased either intentionally or sometimes unintentionally.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Jul 15 at 2016 1:20 PM

2016-07-15T13:20:03-04:00

Bernie Sanders: " I don't give a damn about the Polls"

Response by LTC Thomas Tennant made Jul 15 at 2016 1:20 PM

2016-07-15T13:20:16-04:00

Ha Ha Ha ... you have got to be kidding me. At this point of the political process I put very little stock in political polls. Any publicly announced poll is conducted to drive a narrative. It is great for the talk shows and so called media news sources in that it gives them something to talk about and debate. They are a distraction and frankly I would rather talk about substantive issues

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2016 1:48 PM

2016-07-15T13:48:59-04:00

Never.

Response by Alan K. made Jul 15 at 2016 2:11 PM

2016-07-15T14:11:15-04:00

Zero......

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Jul 15 at 2016 2:25 PM

2016-07-15T14:25:50-04:00

I don't pay attention to polls.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2016 2:26 PM

2016-07-15T14:26:34-04:00

They're an interesting read but otherwise no.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2016 2:42 PM

2016-07-15T14:42:52-04:00

To me polls are not truly representative of the voting population. It depends on how the question was asked, who they are surveying and the total amount surveyed over a period of time. The only true poll is on election day and the people that turn out. I ran for office in 2008 and followed the polls that had me up by two percentage points and I lost by 47 votes and that's why I'm not as trusting of the polling that is conducted.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jul 15 at 2016 2:44 PM

2016-07-15T14:44:53-04:00

I worked on some polling. It can be a great indicator and tool if conducted correctly. Some poling is better than others.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Jul 15 at 2016 2:53 PM

2016-07-15T14:53:00-04:00

Zero, zip, nada! Biggest joke in the political world that usually reflect the ideology of the group conducting the poll, not reality.

Response by SPC Kirk Gilles made Jul 15 at 2016 3:07 PM

2016-07-15T15:07:19-04:00

Tommy Boy : "I can take a dump in a box and make it Guaranteed!"
Polls are designed to achieve a desired outcome by the pollsters.

Response by Capt Chris McVeigh made Jul 15 at 2016 4:48 PM

2016-07-15T16:48:38-04:00

You can make a political poll will tell you whatever you want it to based on how you conduct it. Scientific data and research is only as good as the method that is used to gather it. So no, I pretty much ignore all political polls.

Response by CPO Frank Coluccio made Jul 15 at 2016 6:33 PM

2016-07-15T18:33:58-04:00

Since I learned that in order for the poll to be considered "scientific" the sampling number has to be 800 or greater, not one bit.
I'll look at polls, but just to see the demographics of the poll.

Response by TSgt J.L. Brown Jr made Jul 15 at 2016 9:08 PM

2016-07-15T21:08:10-04:00

i dont follow them, we the people will vote, the count will show who wins

Response by TSgt Joe C. made Jul 15 at 2016 11:41 PM

2016-07-15T23:41:51-04:00

I do not rely on them at all.