In this Book
- The Phantom Respondents: Opinion Surveys and Political Representation
- Book
- 2009
- Published by: University of Michigan Press
- Series: Michigan Studies in Political Analysis
summary
Polls and surveys pervade political and social life in ways that are both conspicuous and subtle. We gauge the success of presidential aspirants by how well they scored in polls broadcast on the nightly news. Our political leaders and candidates for every major office study the polls to identify the public's preferences on controversial policies. The Phantom Respondents develops the simple premise that public opinion surveys and polls have become a modern vehicle for political representation, and that as such, we must attend to the quality of representation that surveys and polls provide. For all the many and varied uses of surveys and polls, there is one weakness common to all: the steadily rising numbers of people who refuse to answer the interviewer's questionnaire. The irony is biting: at the very same time that we grow more dependent upon surveys and polls, the representativeness of the same polls and surveys is in jeopardy. Survey nonresponse undermines the fairness of surveys, amplifies inequalities in political representation, and imperils scientific research by misrepresenting general public opinion. This book will be of interest to anyone who uses data from survey research. While the specific focus of this book is aimed at the effect that survey nonresponse has upon understanding politics, scholars in such diverse fields as economics, sociology, and epidemiology could easily draw extensions to their primary concerns.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- 1. Surveys and Representation
- pp. 1-22
- 2. Who Is Missing?
- pp. 23-38
- 4. Structure of Survey Compliance
- pp. 73-92
- 7. What If Nonresponse Worsens?
- pp. 161-180
- 8. Surveys and Misrepresentation
- pp. 181-196
- Appendixes
- pp. 197-248
- References
- pp. 249-258
Additional Information
ISBN
9780472022960
Related ISBN(s)
9780472095230, 9780472750498
MARC Record
OCLC
651962592
Pages
280
Launched on MUSE
2012-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No