The scope of services provided and quality of work performed by these or other consulting firms can vary widely, so careful shopping is advised. Sampling considerations for public polling For all but the very smallest municipalities, assessments of citizen attitudes and knowledge will be based on polling a representative sample of the total population. While most of the points noted under Sampling from Populations apply, demographic factors also need to be considered to avoid bias in the study design. It may be desirable to account for differences due to age, sex, sociological, or other demographic factors in the survey. Such information may help local governments decide whether education or other programs need to be targeted toward certain segments of the population.
European elms are a common street tree in the downtown area of Sacramento, California.
These large trees are attacked by elm leaf beetle each summer, and the mess associated with these infestations had drawn numerous complaints. In response, the city had initiated an elm replacement program, which in turn provoked a public outcry, although not necessarily from the affected neighborhoods. When the city conducted a mail survey of householders in the downtown area, it found that the majority liked their elm trees, and wanted them retained. This data was then used to revise city policies regarding elms.