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Validity

Definition

Validity in public opinion polls refers to how accurately and truthfully they measure what they intend to measure. It assesses whether the results obtained from the survey truly reflect people's opinions and attitudes towards a given subject.

Analogy

Suppose you want to bake chocolate chip cookies. You find multiple recipes online, but not all websites are reliable sources. To ensure validity, you would choose recipes from reputable cooking blogs or renowned chefs rather than random sites with unverified instructions. Similarly, in public opinion polling, it is crucial for surveys to be valid so that they provide accurate insights into people's thoughts and feelings on important matters.

Related terms

Bias: Bias refers to any systematic deviation or distortion in data collection or analysis that skews the results in a particular direction, leading to inaccurate or misleading findings.

Nonresponse bias: Nonresponse bias occurs when people who choose not to participate or fail to respond to a survey have different opinions than those who do respond. This can affect the validity of poll results if nonrespondents differ significantly from respondents.

Construct validity: Construct validity is a measure of how well a survey instrument accurately measures the concept or construct it claims to be assessing. It ensures that the questions asked in public opinion polls align with the intended topic and effectively capture people's opinions on that subject.