Polls are Indications of the Status Quo
Polls are simply indications of the status quo. With a presidential election looming, political polls generate tremendous interest and dominate news headlines. Why is the pre-election polling data so popular? Perhaps, there is an innate human desire to convince ourselves that we are capable of predicting the future. Certainly, current and historical data can be a guide for the future. However, the future is always in the realm of the unknown (scriptural prophecy may be an exception to this). If the future is always unknown, what is the value of opinion polling? Do the results of a poll that you have not participated in influence decisions you have not yet made? Do the results of polls that you have contributed to cause you to question your responses to the poll? Are your principles so strong that opinion polling has no effect on you? If you are undecided about a particular issue, do opinion polling results assist in helping you make an informed decision?
Regarding the presidential election, do significant historical data exist that link poll data to actual election result data? If such data exist, will this data have any effect on current and/or future elections? Perhaps. However, affectation will never be an accurate indication of future events.
Opinion polls are interesting. Opinion polls can be fun. However, beyond a simple indication of the current state of affairs, opinion polls are just what they claim to be, opinions. Opinions can certainly shape future events, however, opinions have no predictive qualities.
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17
Thank you for sharing.
This, for sure, has been a crazy election. Well, we will see what happens. Not much we can do.
Lisa
Thank you for the post. I don't follow much of the poll. I have my own opinion. Just hope who ever win, the other party will just accept it.
Interesting e-mail going around talks about Trump being very far ahead of Clinton in social network responses and follows. Perhaps in this day and age it is much more telling than polls.
Polls are the mainstay of many people who must have something to validate themselves. This is not necessarily bad or to be shunned or ignored, as I validate myself in other ways.
As far as do they change your mind if you are 1) participating in them or 2) simply reading them occasionally or even following them closely, is a matter to discover for yourself.
The scientific principle (I forget the name) that 'observing something to monitor it changes it' is apropos at this juncture.
Your beliefs about the validity of any poll (especially a political one and especially in this year) really means nothing unless you allow it to!
Mickeyb
Thanks for the post. Polls are something I don't really follow that close since they are constantly changing. But does make for an interesting thought process
Polls have the effect of generating a multiplicity of hypothetical outcomes based on the conception of an individual or think tank that conceives them and they are great for generating news copy.
I form my own opinions based on research, observations and interests.
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As someone who does not live in the US, I am waiting in the wings in anticipation of what is to come. The election result is going to be very interesting indeed!