ERIC Number: EJ1444294
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2693-9169
Available Date: N/A
Taking the Next Step in Exploring the "Literary Digest" 1936 Poll
Beth Chance; Andrew Kerr; Jett Palmer
Journal of Statistics and Data Science Education, v32 n4 p405-415 2024
While many instructors are aware of the "Literary Digest" 1936 poll as an example of biased sampling methods, this article details potential further explorations for the "Digest's" 1924-1936 quadrennial U.S. presidential election polls. Potential activities range from lessons in data acquisition, cleaning, and validation, to basic data literacy and visualization skills, to exploring one or more methods of adjustment to account for bias based on information collected at that time. Students can also compare how those methods would have performed. One option could be to give introductory students a first look at the idea of "sampling adjustment" and how this principle can be used to account for difficulties in modern polling, but the context is rich in other opportunities that can be discussed at various times in the course or in more advanced sampling courses.
Descriptors: Publications, Public Opinion, Surveys, Bias, Sampling, Data Collection, Data Science, Visual Aids, Data Processing, Validity, Introductory Courses, Statistics, Class Activities, Student Attitudes
Taylor & Francis. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 2235355
Author Affiliations: N/A