TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Pros and Cons of Public Opinion Polls
How do public opinion polls work? And, more importantly, are they accurate? Jason Robert Jaffe reveals the complexities and biases of polls and provides tips on how to think about polls as we make everyday decisions. [4:25]
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Public Opinion: Voice of the People
Examine public opinion and the various means in which to collect it as well as how the government uses the opinions collected. This resource offers video, readings, web resources, and activities.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Public Opinion and American Democracy
Illustrate the significance of public opinion during political events by utilizing these reading resources.
Other
Polling report.com
This non-partisan site reports the results of the latest national public opinion polls. Constantly updates and informational.
University of Maryland
Department of Sociology: Polls Take Commanding Lead in Politics, Business
Article presents a useful discussion on the basics of public opinion polling, problems with the polling process, sources of public opinion data and tips for consumers.
iCivics
I Civics: The Poll Picture (Infographic)
Use this infographic to show the process of surveying from pollster to prediction. Students will engage with the concept of sampling and gain a better understanding of the purpose of public opinion polls.
Cornell University
Cornell University: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research
This site is useful because it offers a database of over 300,000 questions asked on surveys since the 1930s. Also contains Latin American and Japanese data bank retrieval system as well. Listing of general social surveys 1972-1998.
Other
Polling report.com
How's the President doing? What do people think of the death penalty? Who will win the next election? This polling site offers the results of a number of national polls on a variety of topics. Most are current and include tables and charts.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: The Art of Creating a Poll
You are the head of the Public Relations committee for your hometown Waste Removal Department. Create a poll for your department to find out how the public feels about waste incineration.
Other
Nes Guide to Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior
Since 1948, the National Election Studies group has been polling Americans on public policy issues. Information is presented statistically and graphically on a wide range of topics involved in the "flow of public opinion and electoral...
Other
Gallup Home: Gallup
Official homepage of the Gallup Organization. Fascinating look at all sorts of polls.
Other
National Council for the Social Studies: Political Polling in Past and Present
Students will examine several historical elections where the results may have been different if there had been political polling at that time. Read background on polls impact on elections, study each given election and answer questions...
Other
Ncpp: 20 Questions a Journalist Should Ask About Poll Results
The NCPP site asks 20 questions journalists should consider when using poll information. Click on each question to get a discussion of the answer. A click on a sidebar gives analysis of polls from elections from 1936 to present.
PBS
The History of Using Sampling Methods
This lesson plan will allow students to understand how the sampling methods used in political polls developed throughout the twentieth century. Approximately five hours in length with materials free and downloadable.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 1199: Gallup Poll
An informal, almost light-hearted, discussion of two of the great historical failures of public polling experts. This is a transcript of an accompanying radio broadcast.
New York Times
New York Times: Rebuilding Report Card in Iraq
Graphs, charts, and statistics that show how the rebuilding in Iraq is doing as of June 2004. Gives public opinion polls to show how support has been dropping the longer it is taking to get vital industries, such as phone and electric,...
Library of Congress
Loc: Oliphant's Anthem Presidential Campaigns
Collection of historically significant political cartoons about past presidential campaigns.