Polls 101: Don't be fooled ... a poll is a poll, and they are not infallible

You know it is getting close to election season when the polls start to rear their ugly heads.

You will see them about everything -- from presidential approval ratings to who has the best chance of taking over the job.

But there are some things to remember about polls.

Most of them are conducted via telephone, during working hours. So, there is a bias inherent in them. There is not really a cross section of America sitting around waiting to answer the phone.

Second, people do not like to answer robocalls of any kind -- so the poll is even further skewed.

And third, it is all about the question. You can imagine how easy it is to turn an answer one way or another just by how you ask.

So as the barrage begins, keep the warnings in mind. Cheer when the polls say what you want them to say, but don't make any decisions based on them.

What you are hearing around the water cooler and on the weekends is a much better barometer of what Americans like you and around you really think.

Polls should be for amusement only.

Published in Editorials on January 31, 2014 9:20 AM