Survey Says: Cell Phones Left Out

Sep. 28, 2004

In order to craft the most accurate poll, political polling institutions like the Gallup Organization want their surveys to have an equal chance of reaching every U.S. adult. Because nearly every American owns a telephone, most major polls are done by phone.

But pollsters like Gallup's Steve Hanway are worried because a growing number of adults' only phone has no cord. The Hanways of the world don't want cell-phone users to have to pay for minutes during a survey call, and some are afraid of liability issues raised by the possibility that a cell-phone user may be driving. So outfits like Gallup and California's influential Field Poll only call land lines.

And that means that because pollsters are missing out on a small -- but growing -- segment of the population, the veracity of polls purporting to represent the views of all Americans may be in question.

Read More >>