Tools of the skeptic's trade

Online polling is gaining momentum despite a skeptic view of 78 percent (+/-3 percent) by traditional pollsters, reports The New York Times.

Because online sampling methodologies lack the illustrious development history of traditional polling, online surveys are coming under criticism. Additionally, traditional surveyers worked to make sure their samples were random and representative; online surveying is perceived as less random and therefore less accurate.

Online pollsters do try to get as accurate a sample size and even make efforts to involve those not frequently online. Services like YouGov enlist large panels of respondents, a process it says can save money and still yield accurate results. But those involved in older forms of survey-building still feel online is not ready for prime time.

Nonetheless, online surveys reportedly get more media coverage than do traditional polls. This may, however, be due to the comparative speed with which they can be produced.