TED-Ed: Pros and cons of public opinion polls - Jason Robert Jaffe

The video discusses the role and challenges of public opinion polls. It highlights historical inaccuracies, such as the 'Dewey Defeats Truman' headline, and explains the importance of sample size and diversity in polls. The video also addresses biases, including interviewer bias and push polls, and explores why polls remain prevalent despite their flaws. Polls provide insights into public moods and influence political decisions, but their results should be viewed critically.

What historical event is used to illustrate the inaccuracy of public opinion polls?

• The 'Dewey Defeats Truman' headline

• The Watergate scandal

• The moon landing

• The election of John F. Kennedy

Why is a poll with a small sample size considered unreliable?

• It is too expensive to conduct

• It takes too long to analyze

• It lacks diversity

• It cannot accurately predict outcomes

What is a key characteristic of a narrow poll sample?

• It includes people from various regions

• It is conducted over a long period

• It only asks a specific group of people

• It covers a wide range of topics

What is interviewer bias?

• The tendency to ask leading questions

• The influence of the questioner's presence on responses

• The use of complex language in polls

• The selection of a biased sample

Why do public opinion polls remain prevalent despite their flaws?

• They are always accurate

• They are required by law

• They are inexpensive to conduct

• They provide a sense of public mood and opinion