In April 2016, I started capturing information about public opinion polls that were released to the public. Many but not all of these polling numbers enter the public domain through the media but many are not newsworthy enough to get any media attention. Of course, many earn media attention because of an explicit media-polling firm […]
After collecting data for 6 months, it is very clear that online continues to hold the top spot when it comes to surveys that are for public consumption. More than half of all releases are conducted using an online methodology. IVR is second followed by telephone. IVR is the second most used methodology that drives […]
Poll sponsorship is very intriguing but a look at the database of public opinion poll releases finds a significant number of polls where no sponsor is explicitly identified. Almost a quarter of releases (28%) were sponsored by a non-media sponsor while another 23% were sponsored by the media (e.g. CTV, Global, La press). While we do not know […]
The overall volume is stunning. More than 2.7 polls per day are released in Canada. A plurality of these polls are national in terms of their data collection such that 43 national polls were released in June of this year; 1.4 polls per day. 1.4 unique poll releases represents a massive public investment in understanding what Canada […]
There has been a fairly large pool of questions on the assisted suicide issue and while it is fair to say that the public is onside in general with permitting it, this support should not be overstated. Assisted dying is a well polled issue in 2016; 5 polls were released in 2016 in addition to the report […]
Assisted dying is a well polled issue in 2016; 6 polls have been released in 2016 in addition to the report from the External Panel on Options for a Legislative Response to Carter v. Canada, which included public consultation results. In fact, since 2011 there have been 17 public opinion releases on the topic of assisted dying and […]
In April of 2016, Jenkins Research found 68 public opinion polls in the media or through a search of the Internet. The 68 polls were conducted on 47 fielded surveys. For more information, see the methodology information here. Other key findings: Only 19% of survey releases were associated with a non-media sponsor such as a company, […]
One of the compelling and topical issues from a public opinion perspective at present is the question of assisted dying. There have been a significant number of polls in Canada over the past couple years reflecting the need for new legislation since the Supreme Court set aside the criminal treatment of assisted dying. While the […]
Bias has considerable negative consequences and the easiest critique of a public opinion survey is to suggest that the questions are biased. But bias is inherent in asking questions and relying on truly unbiased questions risks stripping the questions of meaning, leaving them stale and irrelevant. While probably everyone could recognize extreme bias, bias can be […]
Companies are no doubt very interested in knowing the degree to which their corporate social responsibility activities drives their business success. The case for supporting causes is particularly interesting because the activity takes place outside of its core business (e.g. Tim Horton’s is not in the business of providing kids camps). Contributing a portion of […]