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What I Learned From Watching New York Times Live Polls
Self | October 13, 2018 | PJ-Comix

Posted on 10/13/2018 2:10:39 PM PDT by PJ-Comix

The BIG TAKEAWAY I got from watching their live polling is that ONLY about 1 in every 40 or 50 people bother to even answer their calls. I was surprised because I thought it would be more like at least 1 in 10. So isn't there something unusual about people who actually do answer their phones and respond to the polling questions? Most likely people with lots of time on their hands.

I rarely answer my phone if I don't recognize who is calling me or the phone number. And those rare times I do answer and realize the stranger on the other end is going to eat into my time, I just hang up immediately.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: nyt; polls
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I think the subgroup of people who will answer their phones and respond to polling questions is far from representative of the general population.
1 posted on 10/13/2018 2:10:39 PM PDT by PJ-Comix
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To: PJ-Comix

I never do phone surveys about anything.


2 posted on 10/13/2018 2:12:32 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: PJ-Comix

Agree.


3 posted on 10/13/2018 2:14:31 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists call 'em what you will they all have fairies livin' in their trees.)
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To: PJ-Comix

I havent answered a phone call from someone i dont know in, well, probably decades.


4 posted on 10/13/2018 2:15:03 PM PDT by Afterguard (Deplorable me!)
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To: PJ-Comix

The only way someone can get into my building is calling me and getting buzzed in-——so I HAVE to answer the phone-—but I quickly hang up if it’s a poll,charity, or sales pitch.

.


5 posted on 10/13/2018 2:16:33 PM PDT by Mears
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To: PJ-Comix

I think you are correct. Somebody should do a study to find out what kind of people respond to polling questions and what their political tendencies/leanings are. Chances are most of them are idle, and not very productive people (i.e., they are the Takers, not Makers).


6 posted on 10/13/2018 2:29:21 PM PDT by Starboard
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To: Starboard

I was polled about an hour ago. We live in Arizona. We moved here in 2016 (escaped from California). I was happy to participate in the polling because I feel as though at least our vote makes a difference here.


7 posted on 10/13/2018 2:43:15 PM PDT by davandbar
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To: Starboard

“Somebody should do a study to find out what kind of people respond to polling questions and what their political tendencies/leanings are. “

Hmmm. Better send that idea to Trump!


8 posted on 10/13/2018 2:43:51 PM PDT by TexasGator (Z1)
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To: PJ-Comix
They only get through once, for about five seconds.


9 posted on 10/13/2018 2:44:32 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Democracy dies when Democrats refuse to accept the result of a democratic election they didn't win.)
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To: Starboard

Yeah, that’s what you never hear about — what’s the profile of the people taking the calls! To have that data will tell you a lot — and the real polls that the campaigns take on their own they try to correct for that bias.

When 1 in 50 answers, the poll is not valid. Period. Because the audience answering is totally different than the target audience.


10 posted on 10/13/2018 2:46:31 PM PDT by poconopundit (MAGA... Get the Spirit. Grow your community. Focus on your Life's Work. Empower the Young.)
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To: PJ-Comix

Exactly.

I used to answer the polls, but then it occurred to me that even though they say it’s confidential, they called my phone number and when I learned they can reverse search the person based on the phone number, then I realized their *confidential* claim was a bunch of baloney.

I decided that I am not revealing my political position to someone who has no qualms about going after people they disagree with.


11 posted on 10/13/2018 2:48:25 PM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: PJ-Comix

My guess is that a lot of the people who respond are teh activists on both sides.


12 posted on 10/13/2018 2:51:32 PM PDT by TBP (Progrssives lack compassion and tolerance. Their self-aggrandizement is all that matters.)
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To: PJ-Comix

I was surprised at the low response rate as well.

My understanding is the campaign polls have a response rate of about 10 percent (like you said)

It’s not clear to me if they are calling the same 5000 people over and over until they get a 500 sample. Or if they just keep calling more and more people until they get to a 500 sample.

For avoiding a non-response bias, even a 10 percent response rate is risky


13 posted on 10/13/2018 3:06:38 PM PDT by Reverend Wright (I am a Putin bot. (they, their, theirs))
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To: PJ-Comix

I lie to pollsters. That is, when I do answer. GIGO


14 posted on 10/13/2018 3:15:02 PM PDT by outofsalt (If history teaches us anything, it's that history rarely teaches us anything.)
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To: PJ-Comix

My big takeaway is that people tend to trash polls that don’t agree with their hopes, and laud polls that do.

As far as actual polling accuracy, it’s all over the lot.


15 posted on 10/13/2018 3:17:15 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Stop The Madness. Do Not Respond To Vanity Posts.)
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To: outofsalt
I lie to pollsters. That is, when I do answer. GIGO

When an automated poll asks about me, I'm a black female Democrat for Trump. Bonus if I can say I'm a lesbian.

16 posted on 10/13/2018 3:21:54 PM PDT by PapaBear3625 ("Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities." -- Voltaire)
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To: PapaBear3625

Me too! Left handed though.


17 posted on 10/13/2018 3:25:06 PM PDT by outofsalt (If history teaches us anything, it's that history rarely teaches us anything.)
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To: Paladin2

I do political phone surveys - and I lie through my teeth.


18 posted on 10/13/2018 3:58:51 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: davandbar

Sucker.


19 posted on 10/13/2018 8:42:57 PM PDT by wgmalabama (The government murdered Robert LaVoy Finicum - what makes you think you are not next)
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To: PJ-Comix
I rarely answer my phone if I don't recognize who is calling me or the phone number. And those rare times I do answer and realize the stranger on the other end is going to eat into my time, I just hang up immediately.

Same here...and, the last time I picked up an unknown number, it was another NRC donation plea and i never donate over the phone for anything where I didn't initiate the call...asked them repeatedly to not call and take me off but it just increases (No good deed goes unpunished...). I told the last one my finances had changes and I was moving out of my house and couldn't help them anymore (I still donate to individual campaigns) and I said i was almost sorry i did donate because ever since, i get a LOT of phone calls/text/SMS messages and over 50-60 emails a day...

20 posted on 10/14/2018 3:03:54 AM PDT by trebb (So many "experts" with so little experience in what they preach....even here...)
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