CNN/ORC and phone survey methods

When conducting a poll of any kind, methodology is a vital question when considering if a poll is accurate. Methods of polling include phone, face-to-face, computerized and written surveys.

Different methodology means different people are being reached. It also determines the kinds of questions that are being asked and subsequently the respondent answers. For example, face-to-face surveys allow for more open-ended questions, as people are more likely to give longer, richer responses if the surveyor is sitting in front of the respondent.

Surveyors weigh the benefits and downsides of factors like response rates and cost.

Response rate can be a huge downside for computerized, phone and written surveys. It is rare that surveys release their response rate of face-to-face interviews.

A recent CNN / ORC International  poll surveyed 547 registered voters by telephone.

In this case, randomness is a key issue. Phone surveys can be more random than other methodologies since lists of numbers can be selected randomly. Issues can include people responding who aren’t actually the correct person or people declining to answer calls from strangers.. Phone surveys can also be quite expensive.

By Brandon White