Definition
Political pollsters estimate voter attitudes, candidate support, issue preferences, and message response using samples and statistical methods.
Political Dictionary
Pollster
A pollster designs and analyzes surveys of public opinion.
Why It Matters
Polls influence campaign strategy, resource allocation, media coverage, and expectations.
How It Works
Pollsters define a population, sample respondents, ask questions, weight results, and report uncertainty.
History
Scientific polling developed in the twentieth century and later expanded through telephone, online, and mixed-mode methods.
Example
A campaign pollster tests which economic message is most persuasive.
Common Misconceptions
- Pollsters predict outcomes with certainty.
- A large sample eliminates all bias.
- Campaign polls and public polls always use the same methods.
Related Terms
Related Topics
See Also