I don’t trust surveys or petitions (really a type of survey). I’ve taken graduate courses on survey design and still, I can never look survey results or petitions without some level of skepticism. In my opinion and experience, surveys are best utilized when they deal with a very targeted subject matter, and presented to an audience who knows that subject matter well. Petitions are best taken with several grains of salt.

First, survey results and petition signatures are far too dependent upon how the question or issue is worded and presented, and to who it is presented. Its way too … Full Article »