Straight Goods: Polls don't tell the whole truth

[tuvor]

Be sure to read the fine print before accepting the results.

...when I contacted Environics Research last week to ask what the BC sample size was in their provincial poll, vice-president Tony Coulson e-mailed me that it was just 200, with a margin of error of plus or minus seven percent.

But their online information doesn't mention that and even says that the results were from a poll of 2,032 residents of Canada with an estimated accuracy of within 2.2 percent. Coulson said the lack of BC information was a "quality control error" and would be corrected.

Still, Ipsos-Canada senior vice-president John Wright isn't impressed by such complaints.

"Forgive me, but I've heard the argument on small sample size for 19 years," he said in an interview. "Would you have us put the margin of error after every number?"

Well, yes.

...

http://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewFeature8.cfm?REF=76

[daleo]

1. If he was a legitimate researcher, he would

"Would you have us put the margin of error after every number?"

It's what honest people do.