Can you TRUST polls?

A day doesn’t go by when you’ll hear about a new survey or poll.  And you might even be asked to participate.  But just how credible are they?It’s one thing if we’re talking about “are we a dog or cat person” but quite another if we’re asked “who will we vote for in the next election” or “should we stop the flow of immigration?”  These are weighty issues.Like it or not, polls and surveys are important.  What do we need to know about them?  What makes a good or bad poll?  How do they influence our actions?We speak with an expert on polls who’ll tell us what to watch out for. INFO ON GUEST:Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme is a sociologist and Associate Professor in the Dept. of Sociology at the Univ. of Waterloo:https://uwaterloo.ca/sociology-and-legal-studies/profiles/sarah-wilkins-laflamme She also runs the International Social Survey Program in Canada.  The survey explores our attitudes in a number of areas incl. the Role of Gov’t, Social Networks, Family and Changing Gender Roles, Work Orientation, Religion, and the Environment: https://uwaterloo.ca/statistical-consulting-survey-research-unit/about/projects/issp-canadaWe’d really appreciate your support!  Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.  Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993