| Marcus Maximus | 22 Jul 2003 2:59 a.m. PST |
I think Polls are pretty useless without an analysis of the results - yes we can see at first glance popularity or not for a question or subject, yet without analysis the results invariable do not result in much at all.
So, wouldn't it be an idea to conduct some analysis of these polls - an explanation as to why the poll was conducted, what is the anticpated outcome, why did the poll produce such results........
Otherwise they are boring and without much thought.
An example is the poll about real combat - that could be better explained (for instance you can fight in the Army go to Iraq but never see or hear one bullet whizz by!?)
and an analysis conducted.
There have been some good thought provoking polls yet no analysis of the results espeically with regards to rule trends or product trends..........Analysis of such could bring conducive results to the industry.......
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| Operon | 22 Jul 2003 3:35 a.m. PST |
Why bother? Any voluntary poll is statistically useless. It only tells you information about the people who bothered to respond in the first place. You would need a random sample of the interest group which in this case would be TMP readers. The polls are meant be fun, that’s about it. |
 Flashman14  | 22 Jul 2003 3:36 a.m. PST |
well, the problem is they can't possibly be scientific and thus statistically valid. The only thing they prove is what certain people said about certain issues. As long as participation is both optional, anonymous, and unregulated they will remain useless as a reliable data source. But still they are a load of fun - just don't extrapolate the data to a population as a whole. But otherwise you're exactly right but analysis will not necessarily make them more valid . . . just too many variables and unknowns and not enough controls. |
| 2nd British Bulldog | 22 Jul 2003 4:45 a.m. PST |
There is some analysis, almost every poll madehere, is then started as a topic that we all talk about. Cheers Neil T |
| rogersraul | 22 Jul 2003 4:50 a.m. PST |
I did study sociology, and psychology. I do not believe this is the place for either. What is serious about anything that is written here. Common sense should prevail. A fool is born every minute, do not be that fool. |
| Scurvy | 22 Jul 2003 6:09 a.m. PST |
you have done stats analysis of the polls! Crikey moses man you really need TV in your life. |
| Steve Hazuka | 22 Jul 2003 6:38 a.m. PST |
How can the poll be valid if after you see the results you can change your vote? I didn't take a stat class. |
 Editor in Chief Bill   | 22 Jul 2003 6:42 a.m. PST |
I'm considering cross-wiring the Polls and Message Boards. What that would mean is that you could make comments on the Polls right on the polls page, without having to go to the Boards and start a topic. The polls comments wouldn't show up under Message Boards, though, or on the homepage. Might make it easier for people to talk about the polls. |
| TWhitley | 22 Jul 2003 7:11 a.m. PST |
Let's do a poll on how worthwhile polls are.... |
| Chris Morgan | 22 Jul 2003 9:40 a.m. PST |
If all the pollsters and statisticians were laid end to end across the Atlantic...It'd be a good start. |
| Marcus Maximus | 23 Jul 2003 5:15 a.m. PST |
Excellent idea Bill. That way then some anaylsis even when conducted by one self, can possibly help in illuminating voters decisions. |
| dafrca | 23 Jul 2003 11:48 a.m. PST |
I only look at the polls for fun. The whole idea that a poll that is ran for such a short time and for such a limited group could tell me anything is laughable. For me, the polls are a fun divertment in an otherwise hecktic workday. Nothing more. dafrca |
