PranayGupte

McPalin on the rise?

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McPalin on the rise?

Polls and their usefulness

from JoeUser Forums

It's fascinating to see all these polls showing the fortunes (or misfortunes) of the presidential candidates. But just who do the pollsters call? Who qualifies to be a respondent? What about American citizens living abroad?

barack obama john mccain sarah palin elections
16,031 views 28 replies
Reply #26 from JoeUser Forums Top

How old are you? I am disapointed to tell you that.. well, cellphone are very much commonly used by everybody of my generation - hippies and technocrats alike.

You missed the point (and I am over 50 BTW).  Yes, younger people do tend to use them.  But which ones have dumped the land lines?  Poor?  MBAs?  Technocrats?  And what are their political demographics.

I concede the point that it is probably young that have dumped land lines.  But I dont think it is homogenous across the young folks.  And therefore, additional information is needed to determine if their exclusion in the polls have a real impact on the numbers, or a neglible effect.

Reply #27 from JoeUser Forums Top

But which ones have dumped the land lines? Poor? MBAs? Technocrats?

Most of them all! It's a totally generation thing! That's what I've been trying to say.

At least, in Montreal.

I concede the point that it is probably young that have dumped land lines. But I dont think it is homogenous across the young folks.

Hum... you should think it is. Cellphones are simply more conveniant, and cheap. Seriously, from my point of view, punks, hippies, technocrats, fratboys, etc.. all of them have, in pretty much equal number, cellphones. Older peoples, however, have different habits.

Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #28 from JoeUser Forums Top

Hum... you should think it is. Cellphones are simply more conveniant, and cheap. Seriously, from my point of view, punks, hippies, technocrats, fratboys, etc.. all of them have, in pretty much equal number, cellphones. Older peoples, however, have different habits.

We can opine about that, but for pollsters to have credibility, they should know what it is.  I think they have some homework to do as the trend is increasing, not going away.

Oh, and there is another group (as I just found out - I just got caller ID).

Those with Landlines and caller ID.  LIke I am going to answer an 800 number! ;)