The measure of democracy : polling, market research, and public life, 1930-1945 /
Robinson, Daniel J.
The measure of democracy : polling, market research, and public life, 1930-1945 / Daniel J. Robinson. - Toronto, Ont. : University of Toronto Press, ©1999. - 1 online resource (ix, [8] pages of plates, 252 pages) : illustrations, portraits
Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-242) and index.
Polling Consumers: The Rise of Market Research Surveys -- Selling Toothpaste and Plumbing the Public Mind': George Gallup and American Democracy -- Polling Citizens: Gallup in Canada -- Mobilizing Popular Consent: The Surveyed Home Front -- Pols and Polls.
Politicians, government officials, and public relations officers lean heavily on polling when fashioning public policy. Proponents say this is for the best, arguing that surveys bring the views of citizens closer to civic officials. Critics decry polling's promotion of sycophantic politicians who pander to the whims of public sentiment, or, conversely, the use of surveys by special interest groups to thwart the majority will. Similar claims and criticisms were made during the early days of polling. When George Gallup began polling Americans in 1935, he heralded it as a bold step in popular democracy. The views of ordinary citizens could now be heard alongside those of organized interest groups. When brought to Canada in 1941, the Gallup Poll promised similar democratic rejuvenation. In actual practice, traditionally disadvantaged constituencies such as women, the poor, French Canadians, and African Americans were often heavily underrepresented in Gallup surveys. Preoccupied with election forecasting, Gallup pollsters undercounted social groups thought less likely or unable to vote, leading to a considerable gap between the polling results of the sampled polity and the opinions of the general public.Examining the origins and early years of public opinion polling in Canada, Robinson situates polling within the larger context of its forerunners - market research surveys and American opinion polling - and charts its growth until its first uses by political parties.
9781442681712 (electronic bk.) 1442681713 (electronic bk.) (bound) (pbk.)
22573/ctt56h78 JSTOR
1900-1999
Public opinion polls--History.--Canada
Public opinion polls--History.--United States
Marketing research--History.--Canada
Sondages d'opinion--Histoire.--Canada
Sondages d'opinion--Histoire.--États-Unis
Marketing--Recherche--Histoire.--Canada
SOCIAL SCIENCE--General.
HISTORY--Modern--20th Century.
Marketing research.
Politics and government
Public opinion polls.
Marktforschung
Umfrage
Opinieonderzoek.
Marktonderzoek.
Canada--Politics and government--20th century.
Canada--Politics and government--1914-
Canada--Politique et gouvernement--1930-1935.
Canada--Politique et gouvernement--20e siècle.
Canada.
United States.
Kanada
Electronic books.
Electronic books.
e-books.
History.
Livres numériques.
HM261 / .R62 1999eb
303.3/8/097109041
The measure of democracy : polling, market research, and public life, 1930-1945 / Daniel J. Robinson. - Toronto, Ont. : University of Toronto Press, ©1999. - 1 online resource (ix, [8] pages of plates, 252 pages) : illustrations, portraits
Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-242) and index.
Polling Consumers: The Rise of Market Research Surveys -- Selling Toothpaste and Plumbing the Public Mind': George Gallup and American Democracy -- Polling Citizens: Gallup in Canada -- Mobilizing Popular Consent: The Surveyed Home Front -- Pols and Polls.
Politicians, government officials, and public relations officers lean heavily on polling when fashioning public policy. Proponents say this is for the best, arguing that surveys bring the views of citizens closer to civic officials. Critics decry polling's promotion of sycophantic politicians who pander to the whims of public sentiment, or, conversely, the use of surveys by special interest groups to thwart the majority will. Similar claims and criticisms were made during the early days of polling. When George Gallup began polling Americans in 1935, he heralded it as a bold step in popular democracy. The views of ordinary citizens could now be heard alongside those of organized interest groups. When brought to Canada in 1941, the Gallup Poll promised similar democratic rejuvenation. In actual practice, traditionally disadvantaged constituencies such as women, the poor, French Canadians, and African Americans were often heavily underrepresented in Gallup surveys. Preoccupied with election forecasting, Gallup pollsters undercounted social groups thought less likely or unable to vote, leading to a considerable gap between the polling results of the sampled polity and the opinions of the general public.Examining the origins and early years of public opinion polling in Canada, Robinson situates polling within the larger context of its forerunners - market research surveys and American opinion polling - and charts its growth until its first uses by political parties.
9781442681712 (electronic bk.) 1442681713 (electronic bk.) (bound) (pbk.)
22573/ctt56h78 JSTOR
1900-1999
Public opinion polls--History.--Canada
Public opinion polls--History.--United States
Marketing research--History.--Canada
Sondages d'opinion--Histoire.--Canada
Sondages d'opinion--Histoire.--États-Unis
Marketing--Recherche--Histoire.--Canada
SOCIAL SCIENCE--General.
HISTORY--Modern--20th Century.
Marketing research.
Politics and government
Public opinion polls.
Marktforschung
Umfrage
Opinieonderzoek.
Marktonderzoek.
Canada--Politics and government--20th century.
Canada--Politics and government--1914-
Canada--Politique et gouvernement--1930-1935.
Canada--Politique et gouvernement--20e siècle.
Canada.
United States.
Kanada
Electronic books.
Electronic books.
e-books.
History.
Livres numériques.
HM261 / .R62 1999eb
303.3/8/097109041