P. Lynn et R. Jowell, HOW MIGHT OPINION POLLS BE IMPROVED - THE CASE FOR PROBABILITY-SAMPLING, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Series A. Statistics in society, 159, 1996, pp. 21-28
A classification of sources of error in opinion polling is presented,
and related to investigations of observed error in the polls at the ti
me of the 1992 general election. This leads directly to implications f
or reducing the potential for error in future. It is argued that quota
sampling bias, incorporating both selection bias and unit non-respons
e bias, is a major source of error. The adoption of probability sampli
ng methods is proposed as a way to reduce this bias, and pollsters and
their clients are encouraged to experiment with such methods. An exam
ple of a practical probability sampling design is described. Other sou
rces of error which have been identified, and for which methodological
improvement is suggested, are the treatment of item refusals, the tre
atment of those who say they 'don't know' for whom they will vote and
the treatment of respondents' predictions of whether they will vote.