Do phone polls represent society accurately?

Question

If we assume the following can phone polls be accurate?

1.a lot of poor people don't have phones

2.those that do have landlines and not cell phones

3. those that have landlines do not have caller ID as an added expense

4. if you do have caller ID a lot of people won't answer the phone when they see it is a telemarketer

Wouldn't that mean that a disproportionate number of poor people answer polls compared to moderate wealth and rich people.

Since poor people would like more help from the government, would they tend to be more democratic than republican?

Answer 1

No.The only republicans who are polled by the major network polls are registered republicans with land lines. They don't call any people on cell phones. Hmmm....Most registered republicans are middle-aged to elderly upper-middle class men.  Many of Ron Paul's strongest supporters are in their twenties, and only  have a cell phone.

Also, phone polls this early in the race merely reflect NAME RECOGNITION.  That is why John McCain has high numbers, despite lack of support from conservatives.

So when you hear someone say that Ron Paul doesn't have a chance, and they cite polls, know that it is a crock.

Answer 2

Reasonable logic, I think you have something!

Answer 3

There are very strict guidelines used in forming a research. They have to do with statistics and math and political science and sociology, etc. (you need to know what kind of people are being interviewed, if they are telling the truth, what proportion of your population or your target group they represent, etc) I can assure you that phone polls are the less reliable of all.

Answer 4

It entirely depends on who was contacted and what questions were asked.  Telephone polls are certainly harder to do these days (for some of reasons you stated).  

Polling is a bit of an art but with a strong scientific, statistical, and mathematical foundation.  Accurate results can be obtained with a properly conducted telephone poll.  If you have ever been polled they will also ask you questions that they use to qualify and categorize you in their sample.  Once they have enough of a sample size within the pre-determined parameters, the poll can be very accurate.  They will know how many poor, rich, middle class, young, old, etc., etc. etc, they talked to.  

Also, many polls are aimed to not gage the opinion of all of America but a very thin slice of it.    If you were polling teenagers on their opinions, the telephone may not work, but might be good for Republican housewives.