measurement error
Definition
Measurement error in the context of political science, specifically within political participation and public opinion, is the difference between the true value of public opinion and the value obtained from surveys or polls. It stems from various sources such as sampling errors, response biases, or question wording.
Analogy
Imagine a chef trying to recreate a famous dish without knowing its exact recipe; they might come close to the original taste but there's always a slight difference due to missing or imprecise ingredients. Similarly, when measuring public opinion through polls or surveys, despite efforts to accurately capture the populace's views, there's often a gap (measurement error) between the actual public sentiment and what's reported.
Related terms
Sampling Error: This occurs when the sample drawn from a population does not accurately reflect all segments of that population.
Response Bias: A type of bias introduced into survey results because respondents may answer questions untruthfully or misleadingly.
Question Wording: How questions in surveys are phrased can influence how respondents understand and answer them, potentially leading to inaccuracies in measuring public opinion
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