Public Opinion Polls

Public opinion polls are types of surveys or inquiry premeditated to measure the view of the public regarding a particular topic or issue that directly or indirectly affects them. From the population being measured, trained interviewees ask questions and the results are measured grounded on the responses given. Different organizations conduct these surveys and come up with a conclusion about the view of the public. Depending on the type of polls, a varied number of participants is selected. In order to ensure the accuracy of the polls, population demographics are considered as well as the sampling error. This paper addresses public opinion polls on two issues. First, the importance of nuclear energy and the future planning of energy. Second, the importance of medical and health research in Louisiana. In both surveys, the results obtained from the participants are analyzed and the final stand of the people is identified.

The survey about nuclear energy has been a long-term trend in which a variety of questions are asked of the participants in the attempt to understand their public opinion. Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) sponsors the research and it also provides a unique database on the insolences towards nuclear energy. The poll conducted by Bisconti Research, Inc. and Quest Global Research, on September 21st to 1st Oct. 2016, was part of NEI’s 33-year program that tracks public opinion (Clarke et al. 136). For quite a while, NEI has conducted surveys in order to know the stance of people regarding the use as well as the future of development of nuclear energy in the United States. The property in question is about the importance of nuclear energy when it comes to meeting the electricity needs of the American people in the coming years. In addition, the relevance maintaining nuclear energy power plants in future is another question asked of the sample population. In general, the pools addressed the need for nuclear energy by the American people. The sample size that was used was 1,000 adults who were representatives nationally. The population sample was large enough to avoid hastiness. (Clarke et al. 134) notes that the population sample of any survey should be between 800 and 2000 depending on the type of survey being conducted. Therefore, the population sample of this particular survey was within limits. The margin of error was plus or minus three percentage points (Nei.org, 2018).

The sample population was taken nationally with a representation of 1,000 adults including male and female sample population. Those below the age of 24 were 10 percent of the population, with participates between the ages of 50 to 64 taking the highest number of 29 percent. Those above 65 years of age were 19%. Of all the sample population, 75 percent were Caucasian or white and only 2 out of a hundred were Asians (Nei.org, 2018). However, the sample population included all races and ethnic groups residing in the United States. The methodology used for selecting the sample population was a random sampling. Participants were selected randomly by telephone with each participant receiving a landline or cell phone call from the interviewers. The questioners asked the sample population questions which were prepared prior to the survey.

The target population was the American people who in their daily lives consume energy in one way or another. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would assign the value of 9 since other surveys had been conducted in the past and the results prove to be consistent (Nei.org, 2018). In addition, the sample population was large enough to provide accurate results. The conclusion of the survey indicated that the supporters of nuclear energy remain steady when compared to the previous polls with 65 percent of the Americans expressing their support. In addition, 84 percent of the sample population believed that nuclear energy should be important in future and 95 percent agreed to the importance of maintaining diverse sources of electricity.

As a leader in medical as well as health research, Louisiana conducted a state-based public opinion survey to determine the importance of its position. The survey was conducted by Research America in partnership with Zogby Analytics in January 2016 (cite). Research America has since 1992 been gauging public opinion regarding improved research on health. The survey indicates the view of the public towards improved medical and health research in the state, therefore, enabling improvements.
The property in question is the importance of medical as well as health research among the people of Louisiana. The survey was therefore conducted by Zogby Analytics on behalf of Research America. The questions asked of the sample population was about research and where Louisiana as a state should be in terms of leadership in health and medical research. The sample size was 800 adult participants who were interviewed and asked questions which were prepared for the survey. The ages were 18 years and above and all the representatives were selected from the state of Louisiana. The margin for error +/- 3.5 percentage points.

The sample population size was enough as it is within the limits of any survey that is supposed to be conducted. Since the minimum number of participant is 800, the sample was enough. However, in order to avoid hastiness, they would have selected a number that is a little bit higher in case some of the people being interviewed were biased. The sample population was selected from the state of Louisiana, including individuals of different ages from 18 years and above. The population sample was selected randomly and called via telephone. The numbers were dialed at random and the participants would be asked questions from a ready questionnaire.

The target population was the people of Louisiana state especially those who are interested in medicine as well as health research such as the University Medical Centre of New Orleans. On a scale of 1-10, I would give the opinion poll a 7 since the population sample was not large enough to avoid errors. In addition, due to the small size, the results of the polls would have been biased in one way or another. Nonetheless, the polls concluded that majority of the residents, 89%, supported the importance of health and medical research indicating that Louisiana should be at the top.

Opinion polls determine what the people in a particular field or members of the public view a certain issue. In order to come up with the correct data, sample people are selected among the affected population in order to determine what percentage agrees or disagrees with a particular subject. Nuclear energy plus medical and health research are examples of subjects which resulted in surveys in order to know the stance of the populace. In both surveys, the sample population was selected at random from the target population and they were all adults, above 18 years. The polls concluded that people have a strong liking towards nuclear energy in the United States. In addition, the polls also showed that the residents of Louisiana viewed research to be important in their state.