Abstract

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'Sorry, Wrong Number': Why Media Polls on Gun Control are So Often Unreliable

Gary A. Mauser
Simon Fraser University

David B. Kopel
Independence Institute; Denver University, Sturm College of Law

September 23, 1994

Abstract:
How scientific are the polls reported in the media on the gun control issue? Without arguing for or against gun controls, this article examines the interviewing and sampling methods used by media polls and finds that some polls claiming impressive majorities in favor of severe gun controls may not be accurate.

Keywords: opinion polls, gun control, interviewer effects, sampling biases

JEL Classifications: C42, D70

Working Paper Series

Date posted: September 23, 2008 ; Last revised: September 23, 2008

Suggested Citation

Mauser, Gary A. and Kopel, David B., 'Sorry, Wrong Number': Why Media Polls on Gun Control are So Often Unreliable (September 23, 1994). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1272295

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Contact Information

David B. Kopel (Contact Author) Independence Institute ( email ) 13952 Denver West Parkway Suite 400 Golden, CO 80401 United States 303-279-6536 (Phone) 303-279-4176 (Fax) HOME PAGE: http://www.davekopel.org
Denver University, Sturm College of Law ( email ) 2255 E. Evans Avenue Denver, CO 80208 United States HOME PAGE: http://www.davekopel.org
Gary A. Mauser Simon Fraser University ( email ) Faculty of Business Administration Burnaby, British Columbia Canada 604 936-9141 (Phone) 604 936-9140 (Fax) HOME PAGE: http://www.garymauser.net

Abstract

Date posted: September 23, 2008 ; Last revised: September 23, 2008

Suggested Citation

Contact Information

David B. Kopel (Contact Author)

Gary A. Mauser