Bias in Polling

After class today I tried to find some articles that may discuss the bias in healthcare polling. Much to my surprise, I found just that. David M. Moore, who is the author of "The Opinion Makers," a recent book that just came out, wrote an article discussing Gallup's poll bias in healthcare. He accuses the Gallup organization of having a more conservative outlook on the healthcare issue and also accusses them of attempting to delay the legislation process by giving the public the more conservative outlook on the polls. Moore stresses that after working for Gallup for 13 years, the organization does attempt to not be biased in their polls, however he says that it is impossible due to personal preference. In the most recent healthcare poll, "Americans on healthcare reform: Top 10 Takeaways," he says the bias is the most prevalent.

The terminology used in this article is what bothers Moore. He states that in one example, the Gallup poll states that, ""Most Americans do not believe that the U.S. healthcare system is in a state of crisis." However, Moore specifies that other data shows that there is no "state of crisis" and Congress does not believe the healthcare system is in a 'state of crisis.' In addittion, there is no information from Gallup to conclude that the healthcare system is in crisis. Once again, the terminology that is used may promote certain reponses from those being polled although they are inaccurrate assumptions.

Another example from this Gallup poll says that,["The economy outweighs healthcare as the most pressing problem facing the country and in Americans' personal lives." To support this contention, Gallup notes that "almost 7 out of 10 Americans say economic-related issues are the nation's top problem; 16% say healthcare is the top problem."]
Moore claims that the question is, "specious." He says that it implies that only one problem should be dealth with at once, when there is no evidence to disregard the idea that the President and Congress from addressing both problems at once.

Nevertheless this article explores the problematic questioning and bias construction that may be present within a poll and upon the creation of one. David Moore points out some valid misconceptions from one of the most notable polling organizations. This validates the scrunity that everyone must have when observing poll data because no organization can obtain the perfection of being able to avoid a mistake.

http://www.beaconbroadside.com/broadside/2009/08/david-w-moore-gallups-anti-health-care-bias.html