History of Sorts

Opinions polls are a useful toll to check the sentiments in the country, an indication of what people think.

In the recent past some polls got it spectacularly wrong. But the key to a good opinion poll is how the question is worded.

On April 28 1941 Gallup released the results of a poll,which they had conducted between 10 and 15 April 1941, on the war in Europe.They asked 2 questions, but if you dissect the questions you can conclude it actually is the same question but just worded slightly different. The question really is “Would you vote for the US to go to war?”

By rearranging some words and adding a few, the outcomes were completely different.

EUROPEAN WAR

Interviewing Date 4/10-15/41

Survey #234-K Question #8a

If you were asked to vote today on the question of the United States entering the war against Germany and Italy, how would you vote — to go into the war, or to stay out of the war?

Go in………………………… 19%

Stay out………………………. 81

Interviewing Date 4/10-15/41

Survey #234-K Question #8b

If it appeared certain that there was no other way to defeat Germany and Italy except for the United States to go to war against them, would you be in favor of the United States going to war?

Yes………………………….. 68%

No………………………….. 24

No opinion……………………. 8.

How you ask a question really can make a difference.

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