J-Source

Poll Dancing

Back in 2005, researchers at the universities of  British Columbia and Saskatchewan found that the press was sloppy in its poll reporting during the ’04 federal campaign. The study concluded with a “hope” that future poll reporting would be more compliant with the Elections Act. Now, a group of Laurier University researchers, critiquing the Globe…

Back in 2005, researchers at the universities of  British Columbia and Saskatchewan found that the press was sloppy in its poll reporting during the ’04 federal campaign. The study concluded with a “hope” that future poll reporting would be more compliant with the Elections Act.

Now, a group of Laurier University researchers, critiquing the Globe and Mail’s ‘key constituency’ poll information, state: “Unfortunately this innovative approach seems to be making claims that cannot be substantiated by the data.” 

Are we coming down with  Poll-mania? A review of the Committee of Concerned Journalists’ How Poll Sampling Works may offer a cure.




Back in 2005, researchers at the universities of  British Columbia and Saskatchewan found that the press was sloppy in its poll reporting during the ’04 federal campaign. The study concluded with a “hope” that future poll reporting would be more compliant with the Elections Act.

Now, a group of Laurier University researchers, critiquing the Globe and Mail’s ‘key constituency’ poll information, state: “Unfortunately this innovative approach seems to be making claims that cannot be substantiated by the data.” 

Are we coming down with  Poll-mania? A review of the Committee of Concerned Journalists’ How Poll Sampling Works may offer a cure.


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Patricia W. Elliott is a magazine journalist and assistant professor at the School of Journalism, University of Regina. You can visit her at patriciaelliott.ca.