Name That Polling Error
After polling fifteen people, I can confidently announce that Americans prefer sour candy to chocolate.
What is too small of a sample size?
This is a small gathering of people who have a longer conversation that yields more qualitative data than a typical poll.
What is a focus group?
These shifts in priorities and values tend to reflect different stages of life like job hunting, parenthood, and aging.
What are life cycle effects?
This term is sometimes used interchangeably with "liberal" but can also be used to describe an ideology to the left of that, with more of a focus on actively correcting past inequality.
What is progressive?
This case ruled that a man urging people not to fight in WWI constituted a "clear and present danger" (like yelling fire in a crowded theatre) and therefore was not protected speech.
What is Schenck v. The US?
"Is Chicken Souvlaki Salad better than Grilled Cheese?"
a) obviously
b) of course
c) yes
d) I guess not
What are uneven response options?
This is data gathered by contacting people over time to see how opinions change.
What is a tracking poll?
This is the process of developing political beliefs and ideology.
What is political socialization?
This term generally reflects an alignment with the Democratic Party, a belief that the government should be more active, and valuing equity and social progress.
What is liberal?
This case ruled that Amish parents had a right to pull their children out of school after the 8th grade because of the free exercise clause of the 1st Amendment.
What is Yoder v. Wisconsin?
"Which is better, fresh crunchy green beans or dirty potatoes that grow in the ground?"
What is biased wording?
This is the practice of gathering information by asking voters who they voted for as they are on their way out of their polling places.
What is an exit poll?
The years between 18-24 when people tend to develop their core political beliefs.
What is the formative age?
This term generally reflects an alignment with the Republican Party, a desire for smaller government, and a focus on traditional values and personal freedoms.
What is conservative?
This case overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and ruled that schools could no longer be racially segregated.
What is Brown v. Board of Ed?
A poll on Tumblr recently revealed that the Star Trek: The Original Series episode Amok Time is The Most episode of all time.
What is selection bias?
This term, in polling, means the entire group a poll is trying to represent.
What is the population?
These shifts in political values tend to affect most people based on significant shared experiences.
What are period effects?
This describes the ideology that decisions should always be made with the good of the group in mind, even when that might interfere with individual liberties.
What is communitarian?
This case found that prayer in public schools violated the establishment clause of the 1st Amendment.
What is Engel v. Vitale?
After texting with 10,000 Americans about their favorite stores, our polling numbers show that most people like to shop at Forever 21.
What is failing to correct for technology usage?
This is data gathered at the beginning of a campaign in order to have something to compare later data to.
What is a benchmark poll?
These shifts in political values tend to happen within one cohort due to the way events affected them specifically.
What are generational effects?
This term describes an ideology that places individual rights and freedoms above all else, and advocates for the smallest possible government.
What is libertarian?
This case ruled that public school students had some protections on speech and expression at school, as long as their speech did not fundamentally disrupt the workings of the school.
What is Tinker v. Des Moines?