All surveys are subject to problems that can effect the quality of the results.
Survey quality depends on such factors as the representation of the sample, to the level of non-response, or the way voting intentions, public opinion, or other characteristics are measured. Carefully designed surveys employ methods to reduce the importance of these problems, or introduce adjustments to the survey findings to correct for known errors. Examples of survey problems in sample selection, non-response, and measurement are present to illustrate the nature of survey quality. For each illustration, methods are discussed which have been devised to reduce or compensate for the error introduced by the problem. For more information on the Undergraduate Mathematics Colloquium Series, please contact John Clifford.