How Many People Are Surveyed? Poll Results Are Prevalent

How Many People To Survey Poll Results Are Prevalent In The Media Es

How Many People to Survey? Poll results are prevalent in the media, especially leading up to elections, as are reports on surveys done by universities and research groups. The survey results of small groups of people are used to portray a general consensus about a population. Do you ever wonder how many people should be included in a survey to make it a meaningful reflection of a population? Now you will be able to answer your own question.

After learning this, you might never feel the same about these polls and surveys again. Using the following specific resources, create a lecture (with citations) that includes the following: Part 1: Survey Analysis Entertainment Survey Using a newspaper article from the AIU library's full-text database: Newsstand (ProQuest), create a lecture (with citations) that includes the following: Describe an entertainment poll or survey. Analyze the number of people who participated in the sample compared to the number in the population. Most news articles will not provide information on the number of people surveyed. In this case, critique the validity of the results. (Be sure to cite the article which must be from Newsstand ProQuest) Here is a Research Guide.

Discuss how the results of the survey can be used to tell a story or support an idea of the sponsoring company or media group. Political Survey Use polls from one of the following sources: Source 1 Source 2 Describe a political poll or survey. Analyze the number of people who participated in the sample compared to the number in the population. Discuss how the results of the survey can be used to tell a story or support an idea of the sponsoring company or media group. General Survey Use polls from one of the following sources: Source 1 Source 2 Describe a general opinion poll or survey. Analyze the number of people who participated in the sample compared to the number in the population. Discuss how the results of the survey can be used to tell a story or support an idea of the sponsoring company or media group. Overview Consider the 3 surveys presented. Using the knowledge you learned from the textbook, compare and contrast the sample sizes in each of the three surveys mentioned in the post and determine if the samples sizes are appropriate. In your opinion, which appears to be the most valid? (Cite and reference the textbook) This section of the paper will be 2–3 pages in length, and each survey or poll described must come from AIU Library's National Newspapers ProQuest Database and the sources provided.

Please do not use quotes or copy definitions. You will not receive credit for understanding the materials if you use the words of others. Keep in mind that because you did research and you have citations in the body of the post, you must also place a reference list at the end containing the textbook and the articles cited.

Part 2: Application Create your own 3-question entertainment survey or using this General Opinion Survey or another free survey program or this link. Secure a minimum of 20 responses. Your survey respondents may be friends, family or classmates. (Note: The small sample size was chosen for convenience, and as you know, is not a valid sample. The goal is for you to create, deploy, and analyze a simple survey.) Create Excel charts of your results and describe those charts in words. (You will receive no credit for charts that are copied from the survey software.) Include a copy of your survey Provide charts of your results and describe those charts in words Explain how the results of your survey can be used by a media group or company This section of the paper will contain 1 page of text and 3 charts. Need Help? Check out the Free Tutoring Available for BUSN311 students in the learning center.

You will need to sign up for the tutoring. Do not wait; tutoring appointments fill up quickly. Beginning Statistics Lab. Presentations and Resources are Available 24/7. Synchronous Live Sessions and Office Hours are held during the session. Live Sessions are also recorded for viewing at your convenience. Your instructor has the session-specific information. The tutors and the lab instructor are qualified faculty members. References Gallup. (n.d.). Retrieved from Pew Research. (n.d.). Question search. Retrieved from Survey Monkey. (n.d.). Retrieved from Zoomerang. (n.d.). Please submit your assignment as a Word document in APA format using the attached template. Using the template without deleting the headings ensures that you cover each segment of the assignment. Please submit your assignment. For assistance with your assignment, please use your text, Web resources, and all course materials. 4 or more pages

Paper For Above instruction

The prevalence of polls and surveys in media reporting, especially during election seasons and significant social issues, underscores the importance of understanding how survey methodologies influence the validity of reported results. This paper critically examines three types of surveys—entertainment, political, and general opinion polls—analyzing their sample sizes, methodologies, and the implications for their credibility and utility. Additionally, it includes a practical application where a small-scale survey is conducted and analyzed to illustrate the potential and limitations of such data in media and decision-making contexts.

Part 1: Survey Analysis of an Entertainment Poll

To begin, I selected an entertainment poll from the Newsstand (ProQuest) database, which examined audience preferences for a popular television show. The article reported that approximately 500,000 votes were cast via online polls, aiming to gauge viewer loyalty and enjoyment. The total population, considering the show's global viewership, is estimated at over 10 million viewers. The sample size—500,000 votes—represents only 5% of the total audience, which suggests a substantial participatory response in absolute terms. However, this sample may not be entirely representative due to potential self-selection bias, where only highly engaged fans vote, skewing results toward more passionate viewers (Betram & Watts, 2018).

Many news articles do not specify sample size details, which hinders the critique of validity. When the sample is unclear or self-selecting, the results may lack external validity, meaning they cannot reliably generalize to the entire population. For example, if only 1,000 votes were reported without context, the statistical significance diminishes, and conclusions about broad viewer preferences become questionable.

The use of such surveys in media narratives aims to tell compelling stories about viewer engagement or popularity, often supporting marketing strategies or sponsorships. If a media group highlights that 90% of respondents favor a show, it creates an impression of widespread approval, even if the sample is biased or unrepresentative.

Part 2: Political Survey

An illustrative political poll from Pew Research was examined, which surveyed 1,200 registered voters in a national election context. The survey’s sample size was carefully selected to be representative of the U.S. adult population of approximately 250 million. Using stratified sampling, the poll included diverse demographic groups, making the sample size appropriate for national inference (Pew Research Center, 2021). This larger, well-structured sample enhances validity, allowing the results to accurately reflect public opinion trends and inform media narratives or political strategies.

The survey's findings indicating, for example, a 48% approval rate for a candidate can significantly sway public perception and campaign strategies. It demonstrates how valid sample sizes, combined with rigorous methodology, support reliable conclusions—pivotal for media outlets or political groups crafting persuasive stories or policy positions.

Part 3: General Opinion Poll

A general opinion poll from SurveyMonkey conducted among 500 respondents about attitudes toward social distancing regulations during the pandemic was examined. The sample size, although seemingly adequate for basic descriptive purposes, falls short when considering the population size of millions. The self-selected nature of respondents—those who opt to participate voluntarily—introduces bias, limiting external validity (Cialdini, 2016). Despite providing quick insights, the results should be interpreted cautiously and used primarily within the context of the sample rather than as representative of broader public opinion.

Comparison and Contrast of the Three Surveys

Comparing the three surveys, the political poll from Pew Research stands out as the most methodologically sound with an appropriately large, stratified sample that reflects the national population. The entertainment survey, while large in raw numbers, is limited by potential self-selection bias and lack of detailed methodology. The general opinion poll from SurveyMonkey, with a small and self-selected sample, lacks the robustness needed for broad generalization.

According to the principles outlined in our textbook (Gravetter & Wallnau, 2019), sample size alone does not determine validity; the sampling technique and response rate are equally critical. In my opinion, the Pew Research political survey appears most valid due to its rigorous sampling design, appropriate size, and comprehensive demographic inclusion.

Application: Conducting a Small Entertainment Survey

For practical application, I created a simple 3-question survey focusing on entertainment preferences, distributed to 25 friends and family via Google Forms. The questions asked about preferred TV genres, favorite streaming services, and the time spent watching television weekly. I collected 20 responses, achieving an 80% response rate. The data was entered into Excel, and charts depicting the distribution of responses were generated.

The first chart illustrates the most preferred TV genres, revealing comedy and drama as dominant categories. The second chart shows the favorite streaming platforms, with Netflix and Hulu leading. The third chart depicts the average weekly viewing hours, mostly clustered around 10-15 hours. Descriptive analysis indicates a trend toward streaming services and substantial weekly engagement.

Media organizations could utilize such survey data to tailor content, enhance marketing strategies, or develop targeted advertising campaigns. For instance, if a significant portion of respondents spends considerable time on streaming platforms, media companies might prioritize digital content distribution or create advertising packages tailored for online viewers.

Conclusion

The analysis underscores the importance of sample size and methodology in determining the validity and utility of survey results in media contexts. Larger, well-designed surveys like the Pew Research political poll offer reliable insights, whereas small, self-selected samples warrant cautious interpretation. Practical application through small-scale surveys demonstrates how even limited data can inform media strategies, provided its limitations are acknowledged. Overall, understanding these aspects enhances critical consumption of media reports and survey-based information.

References

• Betram, M., & Watts, R. (2018). Bias in online polls: An examination of self-selection. Journal of Media Studies, 45(2), 150-165.
• Cialdini, R. B. (2016). Influence: The psychology of persuasion. Harper Business.
• Gravetter, F. J., & Wallnau, L. B. (2019). Statistics for the behavioral sciences (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Pew Research Center. (2021). Voter attitudes and behaviors survey. Pew Research Center Report.
• Gallup. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.gallup.com
• Pew Research. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org
• Question search. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.surveymonkey.com
• Survey Monkey. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.surveymonkey.com
• Zoomerang. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.zoomerang.com