Ask Quote by P. J. O'Rourke
“New Hampshire polling data are unreliable because, when you call the Granite State's registered Republicans and independents in the middle of dinner and ask them who they're going to vote for, they have a mouth full of mashed potatoes and you can't understand what they say.”
About This Quote
Source Essay, The Collected Works of P.J. O'Rourke, 1995
Polling in New Hampshire is unreliable due to respondents' distracted, noisy conditions.
In simple terms: Polling data can be flawed by context.
Key Takeaway
Account for environmental noise in surveys.
Themes
politics
media
polling
Mood
humorous
critical
Type
satirical
observational
When to use this quote
- election forecasting
- market research
- public opinion studies
Key Concepts
Survey methodology
communication theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can pollsters improve accuracy?
- What alternative data sources exist?
A Different Perspective
Even with adjustments, bias may persist.
