How do we judge the success of early polls and predictions?
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  How do we judge the success of early polls and predictions?
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Author Topic: How do we judge the success of early polls and predictions?  (Read 2453 times)
Nichlemn
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« on: September 13, 2011, 07:58:01 PM »
« edited: September 13, 2011, 08:04:56 PM by Nichlemn »

Whenever pollsters or prognosticators tout their record, they almost always point to their final predictions, and most people evaluate them on that. But most of the time they've made predictions well in advance of the elections. I realise there's more uncertainty a long way in advance from an election. But that shouldn't be an excuse to put no weighting on it whatsoever. Otherwise, the predictors could just make stuff up with impunity.

I propose that all forecasters tell us their accuracy rates at various arbitrary points before election day. They won't be all that accurate, but if they're as good as they say they should nonetheless be more accurate than other forecasters.

(I make similar comments here).

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MIKESOWELL
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« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2012, 08:55:28 PM »

Excellent words. I agree completely.
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MorningInAmerica
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« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2012, 10:21:18 PM »


I'm very much a believer in what you say as well. It's fine that PPP or Rasmussen get reasonably close results just before the election. But I'd like to see how "off", or "biased", if you will, they are BEFORE the election.
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