Straw Polling

Definition

Straw polling refers to the informal and non-scientific method of gauging public sentiment by asking a sample group of people for their opinions or preferences. Unlike tracking, straw polling does not follow rigorous methodologies and is often conducted as an impromptu survey.

Related terms

Sample bias: Sample bias occurs when the group selected for the poll is not representative of the entire population, leading to inaccurate results.

Margin of error: The margin of error indicates the potential variability between survey results and actual population values due to random sampling errors.

Leading questions: Leading questions are phrased in a way that influences or biases respondents' answers, potentially affecting the accuracy of the polling results.