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Ethics of Polls Ethics of Polls March 30, 2011 March 30, 2011

Ethics of Polls

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Ethics of Polls. March 30, 2011. Objectives. By the end of this meeting you should be able to: Apply the guidelines of the AAPOR to survey research. Identify the rights of survey respondents. Effectively consider ethical professional practices when doing survey research. Polling Ethics. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Ethics of Polls

Ethics of PollsEthics of Polls

March 30, 2011March 30, 2011

Page 2: Ethics of Polls

ObjectivesObjectivesBy the end of this meeting you should By the end of this meeting you should

be able to:be able to:

a)a) Apply the guidelines of the AAPOR to Apply the guidelines of the AAPOR to survey research.survey research.

b)b) Identify the rights of survey Identify the rights of survey respondents.respondents.

c)c) Effectively consider ethical Effectively consider ethical professional practices when doing professional practices when doing survey research.survey research.

Page 3: Ethics of Polls

Polling EthicsPolling Ethicsa)a) Worries about scientific abuse has Worries about scientific abuse has

led to the creation of a number of led to the creation of a number of codes of conduct for researchers. codes of conduct for researchers.

b)b) For instance, in order to be certified For instance, in order to be certified by the American Association for by the American Association for Public Opinion Research you must Public Opinion Research you must sign a code of conduct that expresses sign a code of conduct that expresses how you should act. how you should act.

Page 4: Ethics of Polls

Excerpts from the AAPOR Code Excerpts from the AAPOR Code of Professional Ethics of Professional Ethics

a)a) When preparing a report for public When preparing a report for public release we shall ensure that the release we shall ensure that the findings are a balanced and accurate findings are a balanced and accurate portrayal of the survey results. portrayal of the survey results.

b)b) We recognize our responsibility to We recognize our responsibility to the science of survey research to the science of survey research to disseminate as freely as possible the disseminate as freely as possible the ideas and findings that emerge from ideas and findings that emerge from our research. our research.

Page 5: Ethics of Polls

Excerpts from the AAPOR Code Excerpts from the AAPOR Code of Professional Ethicsof Professional Ethics

c)c) We shall avoid practices or methods We shall avoid practices or methods that may harm, humiliate, or that may harm, humiliate, or seriously mislead survey seriously mislead survey respondents. respondents.

d)d) We shall respect respondents' We shall respect respondents' concerns about their privacy. concerns about their privacy.

e)e) Aside from the decennial census and Aside from the decennial census and a few other surveys, participation in a few other surveys, participation in surveys is voluntary. surveys is voluntary.

Page 6: Ethics of Polls

Excerpts from the AAPOR Code Excerpts from the AAPOR Code of Professional Ethicsof Professional Ethics

f)f) We shall not misrepresent our research or We shall not misrepresent our research or conduct other activities (such as sales, fund conduct other activities (such as sales, fund raising, or political campaigning) under the raising, or political campaigning) under the guise of conducting research. guise of conducting research.

g)g) Unless the respondent waives Unless the respondent waives confidentiality for specified uses, we shall confidentiality for specified uses, we shall hold as privileged and confidential all hold as privileged and confidential all information that might identify a respondent information that might identify a respondent with his or her responses. We also shall not with his or her responses. We also shall not disclose or use the names of respondents disclose or use the names of respondents for non-research purposes unless the for non-research purposes unless the respondents grant us permission to do so. respondents grant us permission to do so.

Page 7: Ethics of Polls

Excerpts from the AAPOR Code Excerpts from the AAPOR Code of Professional Ethicsof Professional Ethics

h)h) We understand that the use of our We understand that the use of our survey results in a legal proceeding does survey results in a legal proceeding does not relieve us of our ethical obligation to not relieve us of our ethical obligation to keep confidential all respondent keep confidential all respondent identifiable information or lessen the identifiable information or lessen the importance of respondent anonymity. importance of respondent anonymity.

i)i) The documents goes on to state the The documents goes on to state the minimum disclosure that each survey minimum disclosure that each survey should have, this includes sample size, should have, this includes sample size, margin of error, population, method, etc.margin of error, population, method, etc.

Page 8: Ethics of Polls

Respondents RightsRespondents Rightsa)a) The right not to be injured The right not to be injured

b)b) Informed consentInformed consent• Priming dangersPriming dangers• Social desirability biasSocial desirability bias

c)c) Polling sponsorshipPolling sponsorship

d)d) ConfidentialityConfidentiality

e)e) Sensitive topicsSensitive topics

Page 9: Ethics of Polls

OversightOversighta)a) Institutional review boardsInstitutional review boards• Surveys are generally omitted, provided Surveys are generally omitted, provided

anonymityanonymity• Surveys of public officials are completely Surveys of public officials are completely

acceptableacceptable

b)b) Academic codes of conductAcademic codes of conduct

c)c) Industry codes of conductIndustry codes of conduct

Page 10: Ethics of Polls

Professional practicesProfessional practicesa)a) Disclosure rulesDisclosure rulesb)b) Sponsored researchSponsored researchc)c) Fraudulent polls (including push polls)Fraudulent polls (including push polls)• AAPOR defines a "push poll" as a form of AAPOR defines a "push poll" as a form of

negative campaigning that is disguised as negative campaigning that is disguised as a political poll. a political poll. ““Push pollsPush polls”” are actually are actually political telemarketing -- telephone calls political telemarketing -- telephone calls disguised as research that aim to persuade disguised as research that aim to persuade large numbers of voters and affect election large numbers of voters and affect election outcomes, rather than measure opinions outcomes, rather than measure opinions

d)d) Limits to surveysLimits to surveys

Page 11: Ethics of Polls

For Next TimeFor Next Timea)a) Read Clawson & Oxley: Chapter 1Read Clawson & Oxley: Chapter 1

b)b) Which theory of democracy do you Which theory of democracy do you think more accurately describes think more accurately describes democracy in the United States? democracy in the United States? Democratic elitism or pluralism? Why Democratic elitism or pluralism? Why is that the more accurate theory?is that the more accurate theory?