Poll: Poll: Are polls effective?

[PumpItUp]

While surfing news sites, I've noticed that polls are frequently quoted in regards to who likes what, what candidate is more likely to win, etc.
While browsing the Escapist, I've notice that polls often have nonsensical answers that people choose for sheer novelty, often before even reading the opening post.
So my question to you is, are polls actually effective, both in and outside of the Escapist.

 

[theallmightybob]

yeah that's right, I chose the X one before reading...

but seriously polls have very little to do with the truth of any matter, rarely will they even have that large of a sample for them to really have any merit IMO.

 

[ellimist337]

Only when a random number of random people are randomly polled about random subjects at the most inconvenient of times. And sometimes, polling the same people multiple times about the same subject is good. Then you have to poll less people to fill your quota.

Sometimes they're helpful, and sometimes a random sampling doesn't actually adequately reflect the larger group it's supposed to reflect.

 

[Souplex]

Me: Do you like candy?
Small child: Yes.
Me: I can now safely say that %100 of candy is consumed by small children.

 

[USSR]

yeah that's right, I chose the X one before reading...

Same here..same here.

 

[Lord Krunk]

Polls are effective if you don't have nonsensical choices.

 

[vede]

Me: Do you like candy?
Small child: Yes.
Me: I can now safely say that %100 of candy is consumed by small children.

You've done it all wrong!

See, from that, you would only be able to conclude that 100% of all small children consume candy, because you polled the children, and not the candy.

Other than that, I think you have the basic gist of propaganda-oriented polls. Some polls are actually honest, though.

 

[Figgis Fiddis]

X! I win!

But I think that polls are a great way to estimate a general consensus without having to read each individual wordy post. I don't have tolerance for "Coke or Pepsi" polls and the like, but most polls can inform both the polled and the creator of the poll. For example, product recommendations are perfect poll material.

 

[The Grue]

The Grue sees not the wisdom of incorporating the very factor that makes polls inaccurate in a poll about the accuracy of polls.

 

[Sewblon]

Polls are effective in very specific matters but democracy is a treacherous thing that must be regulated and diluted, for the majority is a schizophrenic hive-mind.

 

[Fronken]

Depends on the situation, for example, if its a poll about something in society, say, a new tv-show or a new restaurant or something like that, doing a poll using random people who have seen/eaten at the show/restaurant, that will give a broad perspective on what needs changing and if the public likes the subject in question.

But sometimes they are just dumb, so its all about the situation/context.

 

[SimuLord]

GameFAQs [http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=2962] asked people what they thought of polls with silly or "joke" options and over 56% of people picked "Do a barrel roll!" from the available options. That speaks volumes.

(and yes, I chose the nearest thing the Escapist has to a catchphrase in that little poll up there.)

 

[PumpItUp]

GameFAQs [http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=2962] asked people what they thought of polls with silly or "joke" options and over 56% of people picked "Do a barrel roll!" from the available options. That speaks volumes.

(and yes, I chose the nearest thing the Escapist has to a catchphrase in that little poll up there.)

Yeah, I remember that poll. I actually answered the poll seriously.

The Grue sees not the wisdom of incorporating the very factor that makes polls inaccurate in a poll about the accuracy of polls.

I'm providing an example of nonsensical poll choices while making fun of polls at the same time. Also, did anyone notice that the thread title has one too many polls in it?

 

[Abedeus]

Press B to jump.

Press B to jump.

Red presses Left + A + B + Enter.

That is, I chose the 4th option in the poll. Because it makes no sense xd

 

[SnowCold]

Depends on the situation

 

[PureChaos]

they are effective as long as there are no answers like 'press X not to die' because people like me instantly go for that regardless of what the others say. why? i dunno, shits and giggle, mainly.

 

[Lukeje]

Well... I didn't want to die!

 

[Mythbhavd]

Polls are only as effective as the information gathered. For example, if a political poll is taken in the US, an even number of liberal and conservative people should be asked. If numbers are stacked, then a poll is useless. If the questions don't reflect the topic, again you have a useless poll. I saw one of the latter here on Escapist last week.

Polls aren't meant to be definitive, though. They're just supposed to give a general idea of what is happening or being thought at the time.