Comments on: Poll Update: No clear leader in GOP race

By: Cindy S.

Cindy S. — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 21:45:08 +0000

This is not a scientific poll. The method used is what is know in the sales industry as “suggestive selling”.

For example, an average joe goes out for dinner an orders a vodka and tonic. The server says, Would you like Absolute, Stoli Crystal or some other? 9 out of 10 times, the average Joe will orders one of the suggestions.

Word to the wise. Suggestive selling is used to get you to buy the option that will Cost you the MOST, the one they can profit the most from.

The method of this poll is manipulative sales tactics. Nothing scientific or fair and unbiased is about it.

By: Rolf Lindgren

Rolf Lindgren — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 04:05:16 +0000

Steve;

Good to see you fighting the battle against polling bias. Please keep up the great work!

By: Frank H. Cofer, Jr.

Frank H. Cofer, Jr. — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 00:17:25 +0000

I picked up that the poll was conducted with “other” and not rotated for some candidates. Is this a fact? If so, either you are suffering from the worst case of confirmation bias extant. If not, you need to explain it right away or you need to be removed as a “scientific” opinion source.

By: John Scott

John Scott — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:06:25 +0000

Biased methodology produces the results you want right? Just initially
list the annointed front runners. Shame on you!

By: Steve Dasbach

Steve Dasbach — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:25:49 +0000

True scientific polls rotate the names of all the choices to eliminate bias. Rasmussen offers the candidates in the same order every time, and initially offers only five candidates plus “other”. You have to pick “other” before you get a chance to hear the names of the other candidates. This methodology simply doesn’t produce accurate results.

By: undergroundrailroad

undergroundrailroad — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 23:26:51 +0000

Reports have gone public that Rasmussen does not offer Paul, Brownback, Tancredo or Hunter as initial choices in its phone presidential poll. The respondent must navigate deeper into a phone tree to vote for them. This poll does not accurately represent the support for those candidates.