Just a few words about polls....will just take a second

[Dover]

Please, before you swallow whole information from polls, PLEASE at the very least check out who owns and operates the service. There is just too much room for abuse of information with so many people relying on this source for gaging events. A case in point...there is a poll on this very board that claims Clark is Gaining in the Red States. This was put out by a company called Rasmussen Reports. Just a cursory search on this company turned up the following info. If you accept this company's report after reading more about them...fine. But I beg you all to just get in the habit of checking the source. Thanks.

--------

Scott Rasmussen - President, ScottPolls.com - DIALTEK Board of

Advisors: Political and Media Project Analyst

Scott W. Rasmussen is an independent public opinion pollster, broadcast commentator, research analyst, and writer. His new book, A Better Deal: Social Security Choice, provides a timely overview of public attitudes towards the nation's retirement program while explaining the underlying public support for reform.

Scott is a regularly featured guest analyst on many Fox News Channel programs including the top-rated O'Reilly Factor and the morning show, Fox and Friends. Scott and his research have also been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, the Today Show, Hardball, NBC Radio, the Business News Network, and on local broadcast outlets in just about every media market in the nation. In print, his work has graced the front pages of USA Today, the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor and scores of other newspapers.

Working with noted economist Larry Kudlow, Rasmussen provides a daily Economic Intelligence Briefing reporting on the attitudes of consumers, investors, and workers. Beginning February 1, 2002, he will also be providing a daily Political Intelligence Briefing. DIALTEK is the primary data collection provider for all projects that Scott undertakes.

Rasmussen believes that the key to opinion research is asking the right questions and is constantly looking for ways to examine old issues. Confirming this approach on a poll about the booming economy, the Wall Street Journal said, "Rasmussen had the moxie to pose a question few DC pollsters would dare ask."

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

http://www.dialtek.com/about_us/staff_bios.asp

[jmaier]

1. Wouldn't it be

nice if we had arguably neutral pollsters who actually viewed it as an honorably profession. This is pretty negative stuff. Fortunately, Rasmussen doesn't seem to be sporting much a noticeable agenda so far this primary. His polls have been generally consistent with other folks -- now it doesn't trend far off of CNN/Gallup.

All the same, worth keeping an eye on. Thanks.

[maddezmom]

2. take them all with a grain of salt n/t

[newyawker99]

3. Dover

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news
source.


Thank you


DU Moderator

[Dover]

4. Ooops...can't edit it now. If you can edit it, please do. Thanks.

...