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

Mauser, Gary A.; Kopel, David B.

doi:10.2139/ssrn.1272295

Abstract

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

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.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 22

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

JEL Classification: C42, D70

working papers series

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Date posted: 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 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1272295

Contact Information

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
David B. Kopel (Contact Author) Independence Institute ( email ) 727 East 16th Ave Denver, CO 80203 United States 303-279-6536 (Phone) 303-279-4176 (Fax) HOME PAGE: http://www.davekopel.org
Denver University - Sturm College of Law 2255 E. Evans Avenue Denver, CO 80208 United States HOME PAGE: http://www.davekopel.org

Abstract

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

Gary A. Mauser

David B. Kopel

Date posted: September 23, 2008

Suggested Citation

Contact Information

Gary A. Mauser

David B. Kopel (Contact Author)