Polls that ask people to self describe to a limited spectrum of choices mislead people

[Stinky The Clown]

Asking, in a poll, the political party of the respondent is useful if you wish to compare some measurable phenomenon between the two parties.

Asking if you approve of a politician and then give only a very few choices - let's say "conservative," "moderate," and "liberal" - limits people's ability to accurately self describe. Limiting the choices further - let's say "liberal" and "conservative" - skews or distorts the results even further.

Quoting the result of a skewed poll shows you to be more interested in an agenda than the truth. Citing the self description of the majority of the respondents in a skewed poll in the skewed poll's terms renders the "fact" cited as fiction.

Skewed polls are very helpful to partisans and charlatans.

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Not sexy enough?

[Stinky The Clown]

2. Another kick

[Touchdown]

3. K&r

I'm loving ya, Smelly!

[LWolf]

4. True.

I suspect the re-framing of "liberal" has something to do with it, as well.

[SpartanDem]

5. Since when?

Polls based on where people self identify on the political spectrum have been done for ages. Numerous similar polls have been posted here on from legalizing marijuana, the stimulus or gay marriage never once have I seen one them criticized for being "skewed". Disputing the results of a type poll used forwithout any issue when you don't like the results shows you're more interested in an agenda than the truth.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. You completely missed the point.

Sorry. Try again.I realize the OP was written in rather stilted language, but that's how precision works.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

7. There is also another inherent problem with polls. Do the responders have all the facts

at their disposal? Think of the 75% of the people who supported the war in Iraq? DU and other inquiring minds did a great deal of research as MSM deliberately help back information.

Fast forward to the last 18 months.
How much does the self-described Liberal in this poll really know about the implemented policies of this administration? Most of us at DU are informed, but as with the Shrub administration, through the lack of coverage by MSM, most people are left in the dark. I am not talking about cable news, where the viewership isn't that high, but the major networks NBC, ABC and CBS which still remains the source for news for most people.