Polling and the Public: What Every Citizen Should Know, Fifth Edition
by By Asher, Herbert B
Category: Political Science , Political Process , Campaigns & Elections

Although information from public opinion polls is ubiquitous wielded by political candidates, the media, and all kinds of organizations hoping to prove a point polling is poorly understood by most people. Asher (emeritus, political science, Ohio State U.) explains how surveys are constructed, conducted, and interpreted. He covers polling in campaign politics and media coverage and discusses issues such how a survey's questions influence the very attitudes they purport to measure. It's intended for students of political science, public opinion, communications, and journalism as well as for reporters, editors, and campaign managers; also useful for general readers who want to better understand the numbers in the news. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)