Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1954-07-30
Difference In
Scientific Polls
& Straw Votes
ny SIDNEY GOLDFISH
Editor Minnesota Poll

Minnesota Newspapers have re-
ceived from the Henncpin County
Republican Club press release
captloned Public Opinion Poll"
II reported results Of straw vote
on questions posed In n paid al.
veTtisement published by the club
June ~ In the Minneapolis Sun
day Tribune.
The release says there In q wide
discrepancy between its results
and recent findings OF the Mime
apolis Tribuns's Minnesota Poll
on similar topics though the
questions were wordsd differently.
The comments of some Mime
sofa editors show a gratifying In
sight into differences between
straw votes and polls which EN-
ploy scientific research methods.
Other editors have published the
release without comment. or have
said that the ''indiacrepanoy"
means the Minnesota Poll IL at
fault. A few decry all straw votes
and polls.
Lat us call these facts to your
attention;
I. Readers OF the June ~ issue
Of the Minneapolis Sunday Trib-
uns were invited by the Hsnnspin
County Republican Club to check
yes" or no" answers Ia a dozen
questions contained In the clubs
advertisement. then 90 clip the al
and mail u back 10 he clubs
headquarters In Minneapolis, An
Hwers. the club says. came from
Minnesota, North Dakota. South
Dakota. Wisconsin and Montana.
Minnesota Poll studies are con.
fined 10 Minnesota. Opinions Of
other Upper Midwest residents
cannot be assumed or expected 20
conform. n would be surprising
n no discrepancy" appeared
2. Nothing except the residence
In known Of tho characteristics OF
the readers who cast ballots for
the Hennepin County Republican
Club. whether or not they arc
Representative. Of the regions a.
dulta In entirely oonIecturai Nor
In there any way OF heading off
an individual desiring Ia stuff
the ballot boxes" by marking
many ballots and mailing them.
The Minnesota Poll applies rigid
controls m 10 IN. types Of per-
Aons interviewed In It's studies.
They are people who. In tho agEre-
gate, mako up a sound croas sec
ton sample Of MinnesotaA entire
adul, population, The kinds OF
persons interviewed arc properly
apportioncd M 10 ser, age. place
Of residence, socio-sconomie sta.
tu". etc. Rarsiy IN the same per-
son ever re-intsrviswed. Ths
sampiing plan has bssn worked
out and 10 maintained In consul
tation with tho Research Divialon
81 tho University OF Minnesota
School Of Journalism
=, The Htennepin County Repub.
iican Clubs president, John q.
Alexander, says 1000 10 10000
straw votes have boon received
Tho results contained In ita reIaese
however. appear 10 have been has.
81 on tabulation 90 about the first
2,2o0 ballots 20 arrive tAa you
may be- aware by now. the club
erred in lts release In reporting
only seventeenth Of irs 20 tho
question. Have you ever been In.
terview by anyone from the Min
neaota Polly" A subsequent, cor.
receive message 60 editors put the
figure at dp7ss nearly ten times
morel
The release did not reveal the
number % straw votes counted.
hut made disparaginE reference
10 the fact that Minnesota Poll
samples are small"
II should be noted that when
responses are haphaEardly collect.
ed IN straw votes, mere numbers
Offer no assurance % accuracy,
The Literary Digest counted near
~ AZ million straw votes In 1884.
but its prediction OF the presiden.
tial election outcome was 10
points off
six hundred Ia 900 persons are
interviewed by tho Minnesota
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