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Author: Kevin McConway
  • Video
  • 10 minutes

Opinion polls in a nutshell

Updated Monday, 27th April 2015
Have opinion polls got you baffled? Fear not - Professor Kevin McConway explains opinion polls in these short videos.

This page was published over 7 years ago. Please be aware that due to the passage of time, the information provided on this page may be out of date or otherwise inaccurate, and any views or opinions expressed may no longer be relevant. Some technical elements such as audio-visual and interactive media may no longer work. For more detail, see how we deal with older content.

Who needs a poll?

Ever wondered how opinion polls work? As election fever grows - so does the importance of opinion polls which today are an essential part of modern political life. Political strategists, voters and the media all lap up the data generated - but where does it come from? How many people do you need to interview to get trustworthy data? and just how easy is it to predict the future based on the opinions of the present? Who carried out the first opinion poll and why are they so popular? This lighthearted and revealing clip examines the real purpose of polling voters and how you ensure the accuracy of a sample. Narrated by Professor Kevin McConway.

 

Transcript

What's the point of exit polls?

Self-explanatory as it seems, there's more to Exit Polls than the name suggests. Learn what makes them a valuable tool for voters, politicians and the media alike. Said to be so accurate and influential they can predict future results and even help to avoid fraud.

 

Transcript

Polls and predictions

Who carried out the first opinion poll and why are they so popular? This clip examines the real purpose of polling voters and how you ensure the accuracy of a sample.

 

Transcript

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